i think there's an underlying sense that this is not what the historical moment demands. its a hand-me-down.
it's something that's been in the air for awhile now - the idea of the West/humanity/capitalism/etc (depending on who's doing the speculating) is past its peak, on the decline. I remember an early episode of
The Sopranos referencing it 20ish years ago. you might even go further to Jimmy Carter talking about malaise.
the specific thing you're talking about is more slippery maybe, the idea of present as playacting the past because no one has any idea what else to do
it's present in all things I mentioned - unease about technological change, its effect on the work, the economy more generally, climate change
that ultimately there is no responsible adult driving the bus as it drives toward the edge of a cliff