Observation: steep decline of the generation gap...

[Julius Seeker]

Just an observation: Back in the 80's there was a lot of talk about the "generation" gap and how youth were so different from their parents. It's actually quite obvious looking at parents compared to grandparents, it did exist.

It might just be me, but I have noticed that there doesn't really seem to be much of a generation gap anymore. The 60's were vastly different from the 50's, the 70's different from the 60's, and the 80's from the 70's. The 80's brought on the MTV generation, which was used to describe a generation driven by fashion and music driven by visual media. That hasn't changed.

There is the advancement of information and communications technology as well; though, I would not argue this as creating a new generation gap, but perhaps even closing the chances of a new one. This is at least in the Western World.

[Zeus]

That's because today's youth are so comfortable they have no reason to find an identity for themselves the way the previous generations did. That has manifested itself a lot of ways in fashion, media, etc.

[Julius Seeker]

Which is why we have emos today. Though it is not as if emos are an alien concept to us, we had those in the 80's and early 90's as well, it just wasn't until the mid 90's that they really adopted the title of emo.

The 80's had emos too =P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urW5lfAcaM8

Though, unlike the emo bands today, 80's New Wave/new romantic bands were actually good.

[bovine]

Maybe you've heard of a little band called "the smiths"?

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfk9gKomZE

I challenge anyone to beat this.

[Julius Seeker]

Maybe you've heard of a little band called "the smiths"?

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfk9gKomZE

I challenge anyone to beat this.

Well there is Depeche Mode: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UOYCNcv74Fw






Also while we have mentioned Tears For Fears and the Smiths, can't ignore these songs:
How Soon is Now: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K2NrIALcNOw

Shout: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0bqgy1mebh8

A stadium singing Enjoy the Silence for DM (well, from 2006 but the song is a couple decades old): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwIDovixxCU

[SineSwiper]

Wow, I actually agree with Seeker on something. And Depeche Mode hasn't lost their edge, either. Ultra and Playing The Angel are excellent albums.

Back on topic, I've been thinking about this quite a bit, too. Especially with our current octogenarians and how they stumble through technology or even driving. Music is another big thing. Why does one generation have to stick with one type of music in that era and nothing else? If you're raised in the 40's, do you only have to listen to 40's music?

My parents, though they grew up with music from the 60/70's, still listen to current bands. I always look for new and current bands. I'll still play video games 50 years from now, in whatever form they'll come in. I won't talk about how movies were so much better in the 90's than they are in 2060. I won't suddenly turn Republican because I'm old and I fear change in a changing world.

Hopefully, this is a good thing, because it's so hard to find stuff in common with several generations back. Without a generation gap, ageism won't be as big a factor as it is today.

EDIT: Wow, I just clicked on that Smith video. That makes me want to cut my wrists or something. Much prefer the Shins, which is what I was mistaking them for.

[Imakeholesinu]

That's because today's youth are so comfortable they have no reason to find an identity for themselves the way the previous generations did. That has manifested itself a lot of ways in fashion, media, etc.

Tell that to all the goth emo kids.