My ramblings for EXPO-1213

Month: April 2022

Research Paper Proposal.

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.

Battle Royale Retrospective

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.

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