Vol. 2020s · No. 2021 · PRICE 25¢
The 2021 Times
AI-Generated Historical Illustration
January 6, 2021 | Politics
Vaccines, Memes, and Major Historical Shifts
The year 2021 was defined by a world slowly emerging from pandemic isolation through mass vaccination while adapting to new political realities. From internet-driven stock frenzies to historic space launches and iconic pop culture, it was a year of unpredictable global motion.
GameStop Short Squeeze
Retail investors on Reddit's WallStreetBets triggered a massive short squeeze on GameStop stock, causing billions in losses for hedge funds and reshaping financial culture.
Suez Canal Blockade by Ever Given
The giant container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, wedging itself across the crucial trade route for six days and spawning viral internet memes worldwide.
Also this year
The Summer Tokyo Olympics
July–August 2021 | Global Sports
Delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games took place largely without spectators in an unprecedented showcase of athletic resilience.
Fall of Kabul
August 2021 | Afghanistan
Taliban forces swiftly captured Kabul as American and allied troops completed their final withdrawal, ending the twenty-year U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.
Squid Game Phenomenon
September 2021 | Netflix / TV
Hwang Dong-hyuk's South Korean survival drama became a massive global sensation, breaking viewership records to become Netflix's most-watched series launch of all time.
James Webb Space Telescope Launch
December 25, 2021 | NASA
After decades of development, NASA successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope from French Guiana, embarking on a mission to peer back into the early universe.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
December 2021 | Cinema
Bringing together three generations of cinematic Spider-Men, the superhero blockbuster shattered box office records as moviegoers returned en masse to theaters.