Truthfully, I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I signed up for this class. I am a history major, though I enjoy writing. Having already had credit for COMP 1, I knew I had to take COMP 2. Or so I thought. During a day of freshman orientation, some groups around campus had set up stands and were putting on presentations for us. One of which was a man advertising EXPO as an alternative to a COMP credit. Being an avid writer, I knew that I wanted to take EXPO. Taking this class was more of a coincidence, it was the most interesting EXPO class that also fit with my schedule. Why am I discussing this background before actually talking about the class? Well, I wanted to reiterate that I really jumped into this class without knowing what to expect. And in the end, this class greatly improved both my writing skills and my critical thinking skills.
Before this class, I didn’t think about generations much. I knew I was a part of Generation Z, and I just thought we were the fellas with the weird humor. My siblings are Millennials, they’re always the target of the older generations’ ire. My parents were Generation X and Generation X is…. Well, I had no clue. To me, Generation X had no defining factors. So, I think one of the most important pieces of the class was the unit dedicated to Coupland’s novel, “Generation X”. Walking out of this class, I have an enhanced understanding of Generation X. And, looking back on my research paper, I’ve concluded that to move forward for a better future, generations must come to understand each other. Viewing generations under the lens of the imprint theory has taught me not to look at a generation and say “I don’t understand this generation, so I don’t think we will be able to see eye to eye.” Instead, I say to myself, “I don’t understand this generation, so I want to work to understand how their viewpoint formed.” I am now looking at the world in a more critical perspective thanks to this class and I feel as though I have a deeper understanding of the often forgotten Generation X.
I would like to begin with a change from my previous proposal. Before, I concluded that both the imprint hypothesis and the pulse hypothesis of generations play a part in the formation of generations. After reading through some of the sources I have picked out, I’ve instead concluded that the imprint hypothesis is the most logical explanation to the driving force behind generations. With that out of the way, thinking about the theme of the class, I find myself asking the question; “From the perspective of the imprint theory, how have major historical, social, and geopolitical events shaped generations?” That’s a far-reaching question, that’s why I’ve shortened down the scope of this question. I hope to focus more on how major events in their formative years have “imprinted” ideas onto members of Generation X and Generation Z. Millennials and Boomers will be unavoidably mentioned, but for the sake of keeping the research paper at a reasonable length, they are not included in the focus of the paper. I have picked out some major events that I believe “imprinted” most heavily on generations. There are also many events that can be compared and contrasted between generations, history does often speak in rhymes, after all. Many members of Generation X were born into a United States fighting a losing battle in Vietnam, while Generation Z lived most of their lives in a country always in a war of attrition far from our country. There are also uniquely generational events. Generation X lived in fears of Mutually Assured Destruction during the Cold War. Members of Generation Z increasingly fear a dying Earth with the ever-changing climate. Their lives were also rocked by a global pandemic that seemingly shut down the entire world. Technology has seemingly accelerated this imprinting process, Generation Z has access to an endless stream of information that Generation X didn’t have. Younger generations are constantly at odds with older generations, and seemingly nobody understands why certain generations form certain ideals. That’s why I am asking how did these major events “imprint” ideas into Generation X and Generation Z? What are their differences and similarities?
Generally, I have been finding plenty of sources to support my ideas. Hans Jaeger’s paper about studying generations from a historical perspective provides a wonderful background to my essay and his theories seem incredibly aligned to my own. He also agrees that the imprint hypothesis is key to understanding generations. Due to the closeness in our arguments, to some extent, Jaeger’s paper helps to contextualize my own paper’s motive. The paper was truly a wonderful find and an extremely strong source. I plan to analyze and discuss an article by Otto Barenberg where he discusses his brief thoughts on Generation Z’s differences from other generations. Another interesting source I discovered by William Katerberg is a challenge of Douglas Coupland’s novels and Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History” essay. I’ll be going one step deeper, and I’ll be arguing with Katerberg’s arguments about these two topics. There are definitely points that I agree with, but at the same time I feel Katerberg fundamentally misunderstood some of Coupland’s messages. I’ll also jump back to Menand and Mannheim’s writings about the concept of generations and analyze their own thoughts about the imprint hypothesis. Since the effects of various major historical events on generations seems to be a broad enough idea, I’ve found a lot of sources, however there is a single area that I need to look deeper into. I’ve been struggling to find substantial sources on the affects a country always at war might have had on Generation Z. In most of the sources I find, the War in Afghanistan and the September 11th Attacks are seemingly a brief footnote. I think these two events deserve more attention, as they are vital to understanding dissenting ideas of older generations’ patriotism and younger generations’ tendency to question the actions of the United States. Perhaps I will draw upon my own experiences, but I hope to find some articles with a similar line of thinking to mine about the events.
The film Battle Royale, though over twenty years old, contains themes of generational conflict that remain relevant to this day. I thought the movie was wonderful, it was a movie I kept thinking about long after I finished. In fact, I took a deep dive throughout the linked “online resource for Battle Royale fans.” However, the point I should make here is that this movie might be more relevant than ever with increased conflict between generations, particularly Gen Z rebelling against their Gen X, Boomer, and sometimes even Millennial family members. I also find myself agreeing with Andrea Arai’s analysis of the film, Killing Kids: Recession and Survival in Twenty-First-Century Japan.” A key word out of her paper is, “militarization.” Japan continues to have a troubled relationship with their dark past. A rather infamous example of this troubled relationship is the rewriting of history and glorification of Imperial Japan found in Japanese textbooks. Yet, as Arai herself points out, the glorification of a militarized society is unlikely to be the reason for the film’s popularity. Rather, the idea of youth fighting back against a corrupt older generation that seeks to control their lives is the reason for its greater appeal. And perhaps, therein lies a key defining line between generations. The aforementioned Japanese textbook controversy has mainly been spearheaded by older politicians, Boomers and Gen Xers. They harken back to the perceived “glory days” of Japan, whereas the youth dream of a better future by rebelling against these politicians. This battle between the conservatism from older generations and the idealism from younger generations presented in the movie and referenced in the article is one that continues today. The film speaks to the fears of both the older and younger generations. The older generations fear their influence declining due to rebellious youngsters, while the younger generations fear that those of older generations in positions of power are making decisions that will inevitably harm younger generations.
How did the world arrive to this point? Reactionaries all over the world are on the rise. Conspiracy theorists seem to be gathering a larger following than ever. A new Cold War is seemingly upon the world. As Louis Menand discusses in his essay, generations both enact historical change, while history also acts upon generations. This cycle has been going on for most of recorded history. Many people are shaped by their early years, or by nostalgia for a bygone time, and their outlook on life changes due to their upbringing. With these facts in mind, I want to propose my own topic for the research assignment. The tentative title is, “Generational Geopolitics”, I like alliteration, after all. Though, I want to dive into more than geopolitics. Our culture, our technology, our domestic politics, what is the driving force behind them? I argue that generations have a great effect on the world, with some people’s entire world views being affected by the generation they were born into. For the sources, I will use Menand and Mannheim’s sources as a foundation. Other sources I will research at the library and comb through essays, historical books, and newspaper articles. Through this research assignment, I hope to further my understanding of generations, with a special focus on Generation X and Generation Z, though I will likely mention Boomers and Millennials as well. There will be some elements of the other topics as well, as I believe it’s important to discuss the economy and Covid-19 pandemic. Feel free to let me know if this is an inappropriate topic, but I feel generations are a wonderful tool to understand our world today.
Beginning sometime around the 1920’s, the United States’ culture shifted to become an increasingly consumerist society. By the 1990’s, many households in America had access to televisions and the internet was in its infancy. As an effect, most people in the United States were prey to some form of advertisement. In the chapter, “I am not a Target Market” of Douglas Coupland’s book, “Generation X”, Dag reminisces about his stint working in advertising. Even he admits he wasn’t a likable guy working in advertising. Dag recalls his boss giving him an assignment for a hamburger franchise, with the end goal to make the consumers, “vomit with excitement” at the thought of eating a burger. Advertisement is most often predatory and the people behind advertisements work tirelessly to crack their targeted audience. As Thomas Frank discusses in an essay written about advertising targeted toward Generation X, the advertisements shifted to a “hip and cool” form of advertising. The advertisements appealed to Generation X’s rebellious nature, all for the sake of cracking what was thought to be a savvy generation inherently suspicious of advertising campaigns. The field of advertisement is always evolving with the sole goal of gaining consumers in new generations
A story I frequently tell to others when looking for a conversation topic is a trip to Alaska I took with my father during my freshman year of high school. I often split up the trip into multiple stories, as one cohesive story about the trip would be too long. The story I tell the most is about deep sea fishing off the coast of Alaska. As I sat on the deck of our fishing boat, I felt a certain feeling within myself that I have scarcely felt in my life. This true feeling of tranquility, a near nirvana. Surrounding me is the deep, blue ocean, far more vibrant than even the my home of Hawaii’s ocean. Far in the distance, I saw the Alaskan mountains piercing the skies. It was cold, yet the chill in the air added to the comfort. The boat was surprisingly silent despite the other twelve people there with us. I tell the story of the Alaskan fishing trip mostly to capture a moment in time. I include rich imagery to convey to my listener the strength of the tranquility I felt in that moment. The fishing trip, in the grand scheme of life was a miniscule moment. Yet, the calmness I felt continues to guide my life, as I try to maintain even a fraction of the tranquility I experienced there.
What defines a generation? How do generations even form? After all, the formation of different generations is not some sort of cyclical event that occurs throughout a mandated period. The goal of my essay is to explain the formation of Generation Z. I believe the overall zeitgeist of Generation Z is caused by the fractured and divided world we were born into. The divided society we grew up in is a central theme that I will continually discuss in my essay, as well as the effects technological evolution has had on our society. I want to call upon the older generations who seem to, far too often, misunderstood my generation. I want my voice to be heard instead of continually being silenced due to my age.
The Coronavirus pandemic caused the fall of many already struggling businesses. The lockdowns forced many to adapt, or suffer severe financial loses. One of those businesses that fell hard was GameStop, a chain that specializes in selling video games. GameStop offered little minimal contact options, so their business suffered throughout the pandemic. Many businessmen were already planning on “shorting” GameStop, a complicated financial term but what’s important to know is they only make financial gain if the stock falls. That’s where the online forum, Reddit comes in.
I believe everyone should know about Reddit, as the website is a key example of the power of organizing on the internet. Reddit is an online forum centered around “subreddits”, essentially communities that are formed based around a specific subject. One of these subreddits, filled with Zoomers and Millennials who traded stocks, decided to shake the financial world. They banded together with a plan: To buy up as many GameStop stocks as possible and save the company from financial ruin. To the world’s shock, they succeeded. These teenagers and young adults caused immense loses to people who trade stocks for a living, which even caused a congressional hearing on the subject (which is a story for another time.) Clearly Reddit has immense power. The forum has made national and international headlines numerous times but one theme stays common. Through the power of the internet, thousands of individuals are able band together to create a great change. It’s an interesting phenomenon that even breaches international boundaries at time. I believe that, for better or for worse, Reddit has left a permanent mark on our world.
The most recent example I can recall of an “abuse” of the idea of generations is within my father’s Facebook page. My father is known for his argumentative nature, and though I agree with most of his points, he attracts some misinformed people to his posts. I rarely join in on the arguments, because I believe the people who comment on his posts are unlikely to change their viewpoints. The few times I comment on the posts, I’ll often get dismissed due to my age. Despite providing sources to support my points, people often tell me things like, “you don’t understand what you’re talking about,” without a counterargument. Louis Menand, pondering about generations wondered if, “are they a helpful way to understand anything?” A problem with generations is the tendency for the abuse of their concept with sweeping generalizations.
Something I think is important to note is I am not without my own biases. Though I often find myself enjoying conversation with members of any generation, I’ve bought into some generalizations. Due to my previous experiences with members of older generations, particularly baby boomers, I tend to distrust their viewpoints. To me, they often seem out of touch and misinformed with current world events, however, I have attempted to rectify this viewpoint in recent years. Generations may be a way to define the historical events and technological advancements that shaped an era of people. However, generational stereotyping often sparks conflict across generations.
I had a unique experience during the pandemic. Around four months into the major outbreak in the United States, I was hospitalized. Not from the virus, but rather from severe internal bleeding due to a tumor on my left kidney. There is a high likelihood the tumor has been with me for most of my life. Upon being rushed to a hospital in Dallas, Texas, I saw firsthand the horrors the pandemic had inflicted upon hospitals. Logistics had completely broken down, even though my condition was life-threatening and I was quickly running out of time, I was put in a temporary triage bed. There simply weren’t enough hospital beds and I was not sent to an actual hospital room until around an hour and a half following my arrival. I would later learn that I was actually in the hospital during the infamous time that the state government attempted to halt quarantine, leading to a spike in cases. Had the situation in the hospital been worse, I would have likely died from an easily treatable condition simply due to the fact that there would not have been room for me. The pandemic has made me a stronger person, yet my experiences have also led to long-lasting mental scars.