Theories of Evolution

Some phenomena remain constant through a succession of historical epochs—the timeless beauty of the Alps, say, or the existence of David Brinkley. But other phenomena, such as those examined below, are more ephemeral, giving way like sated, month-old fruit flies to the next generation, which in turn gives way to the generation after. Profound, isn't it? -DAVID KAMP

DAVID KAMP

Yesterday

Today

Tomorrow

A ranch in western Montana

A Charles Gwathmey house on Georgica Pond

A self-sufficient biosphere 400 feet beneath Puget Sound

The Middle East

The Balkans

That part of Michigan where everyone wears fatigues

Saloons

Coffee bars

More coffee bars

Blaxploitation movies

'Hood movies

Black Republican movies

"Joe sent me"

"Psst! Gotta light?"

'Medium rare, please"

Edward and Wallis

Charles and Camilla

Edward and Elton

Time-Life

Time Warner

Time Eisner

The Bohemian Grove

The Renaissance Weekend

Helen Chenoweth's Hootenanny of Hate

The women's movement

The men's movement

The children's revolt

Kimba Wood, nominee for attorney general

Kimba Wood, tabloid temptress

Kimba Wood, John Waters-movie fixture

Michael Kinsley's beard

George Stephanopoulos's beard

Donna Shalala's beard

Chanel handbag

Prada knapsack

Lagerfeld Snugli

The Cushing sisters

The Miller sisters

The fabulous adoptive daughters of Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Mantello

Vegetarianism

Veganism

Letting animals eat you

Son of Sam

The Unabomber

The Letter Sorter

Gunther Gebel-Williams

Siegfried & Roy

Klaus Schiffer-Copperfield and his amazing nutrias

The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Mayflies

The Way-Out, Plugged-ln Internet Set, or How to Get to Where It's @

James Reston, Tom Wicker

Maureen Dowd, Frank Rich

Roseanne, Tim Allen

The Andy Griffith Show

Matlock

Steven Bochco's Senior Center

The American Century

The Pacific Century

The Canadian Century

Yesterday: PBS's An American Family. Today: MTV's The Real World.Tomorrow: C-SPAN'S continuous coverage of the White House family living quarters.

Yesterday: "ViveJerry Lewis! " Today: "Mickey Rourke, il est magnifique! " Tomorrow: "Corey Feldman, oh, la-la!"

Yesterday: Sunset Boulevard,the movie. Today: Sunset Boulevard, the musical. Tomorrow: Sunset Boulevard,the Valerie Harper TV series.