When Gen Z Craves Collective Effervescence and the Universe Responds
Image courtesy of Lisa Eryn (details below)
One night before the New York Knicks won the championship and the city erupted with joy, a full rainbow appeared over the city skyline and heads everywhere craned up. Gaping as we came out of the subway, nudging each other on the street and sharing images across social media, the rainbow, we felt, was a sign.
A start. A silent streak across the sky that signaled a wave of communal happiness that grew well past the city limits, carrying an energy we are still feeling today. The group of artists who created the image above saw it coming, and through their combined talents gave us a way to capture this feeling and preserve it as a touchstone. Could there be a better way to celebrate?
Commissioned and published by These Fine Walls under the creative direction of founder Lisa Eryn, the piece - aptly titled Collective Effervescence - melds Dan Martlan's original photograph of the June 12th rainbow with artwork by Danielle Becker of Lefty's Right Mind. Those of you who have witnessed my obsession with Danielle's earlier collaboration with Veronica Beard understand why I was hooked from the start - the image perfectly captures a rare moment when, in the studio's own words, "a city rallied behind its team, a team believed in one another, and together they created something larger than themselves."
And what resonates with Gen Z right now is the way that rarest of moments started a ripple effect - sweeping all of us from the Knicks' ticker-tape parade to the World Cup pitch and across the pond to Wimbledon in a wave of transformative global celebration and connection.
I couldn't love it more.
Because while "collective effervescence" is a phrase first coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim in 1912 and expanded upon by organizational psychologist and Wharton professor Adam Grant in 2021, the concept has taken on new life in the summer of 2026.
Think about the real-time multiplier effect that the Knicks' win had on sports fans. The roar that was heard as a title was captured inside an arena spread instantly out to the streets and across the nation to households normally beholden to other teams. Historic fan loyalty, a long-awaited victory and the team passion turned cities everywhere orange and blue, if just for a moment.
Two days later the FIFA World Cup brought collective enthusiasm to the global stage as rowing Norwegian fans took over NYC subways, a Seattle stadium belted out Take Me Home, Country Roads and fan-centric national anthem ceremonies became the ritual we never knew we needed. Host cities are welcoming new fans by introducing them to local favorites, and the resulting content from Waffle Houses and airports confiscating ranch dressing is the gift that keeps on giving.
Nearly two weeks later we saw Wimbledon begin, and even within the refined parameters of such a historic game a sense of shared tradition is emerging. Watch parties in all white tennis dress are popping up in bars, strawberries and cream will be served in New York's Central Park this week, and the news of Serena Williams' return to the ladies' singles as a wild card was met online with Gen Z joy that could not be contained.
Why is the next gen so invested in these moments of joy?
Because they are listening when their role models speak up about the impact a crowd's happiness can have on their game.
Images via Sports Illustrated, ELLE and Getty
When Serena Williams talks about the symbiotic relationship she shares with her fans, the next gen listens.
When Caitlin Clark explains that the collective vibration of a crowd can improve the tempo of her game, the next gen gets it.
When Dawn Staley remarks that she wants to repay the sport of basketball for all the joy it has brought, the next gen understands.
And they certainly understand the impact of being swept up in - and capturing - a viral moment.
Perhaps this is why the new Collective Effervescence artwork speaks to them with such clarity and it's finding its way onto mood boards and into group chats. Because one image of the rainbow that started the ripples says it all:
Something good is coming. Something hopeful we can all take part in and celebrate wherever we are. Look up so you don't miss it. Look up so we can share it.
Look up, indeed. Collective effervescence is thriving this summer - let's enjoy it together for as long as it lasts.
Looking forward (and up) with joy,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three upcoming moments of collective Gen Z joy you won't want to miss this summer: the launch of the Legally Blonde prequel Elle on Amazon Prime on July 1, teen celebrations of independence across all 50 states on July 4th, and Olivia Rodrigo's all-female music festival on August 29th.
