Generation X

Approximately 1961 - 1981

Generation X (1961-1981)A.K.A. (also known as…)

– GenX– Xers– The 13th Generation– Slackers– The MTV Generation

(1975-85)– The Boomerang

Generation (1981-86)“Uhhhhh…heh-heh.”(classic slackers)

Generation X (1961-1981)Defining Historical Events

• MLK is assassinated in 1968• The Watergate scandal taints

public trust in government forever (1973)

• The Vietnam War finally freakin’ ends (1975)

• U.S. Bicentennial (1976) • Mt. St. Helens erupts (1980)• President Reagan is shot but

survives (1981)• The Berlin Wall falls in 1989;

communism fails and Cold War ends

• Space Shuttle Challenger explodes with first teacher in space on board (1986)

• Grunge is born (1987-1994)• Persian Gulf War (1991)• Terrorist bombing of NY World

Trade Center (1993)• O.J. Simpson trial (1994-95)• Oklahoma City bombing (1995)• Bombing at Summer Olympics in

Atlanta (1996)• President Clinton and Monica

Lewinsky scandal and impeachment (1998)

Generation X (1961-1981)Defining Technological Events

• Sony Walkman (1979)• MTV (1981) – yes, they

actually played music videos!

• VCR (1985) – VHS vs. Betamax

• Personal Computers: Commodore 64 (1982), Apple IIe (1983), Apple Macintosh (1984)

• Car Phone and Mobile Phone (1970s-1980s)

• Atari 2600 (1977) – Pong! Asteroids! Pac Man! Chopper Command!

• Nintendo NES (1985)—Mario! Zelda!—and Gameboy (1989)—Tetris!

• The Internet (1995)

Generation X (1961-1981)Defining Movies

– Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)

– Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

– Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

– Risky Business (1983)– Flashdance (1983)– 16 Candles (1984)– The Karate Kid (1984)– Ghostbusters (1984)– Back to the Future (1985)

– The Breakfast Club (1985)– St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)– Pretty in Pink (1986)– Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

(1986)– Stand By Me (1986)– Some Kind of Wonderful

(1987)– Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)– The Lost Boys (1987)– Say Anything (1989)

Generation X (1961-1981)Defining Fashion Trends

• Gloves: Michael Jackson, sequins

• Gloves: Madonna, lacy with cut-off fingers

• Neon• Crimping iron• Blue eye shadow• Rubber bracelets• Jelly shoes and creepers• Shoulder pads

• Pegged jeans• Leg warmers• Members Only jackets• Stirrup pants• Swatch watches• Banana clips• Breakdancing attire• Mullet• Flannel (grunge)

GEN X STEREOTYPES

NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES• LAZY• BORED• AIMLESS• APATHETIC• UNFOCUSED• DISENGAGED• COMMERCIAL SUCKERS• FAILURE TO LAUNCH• DISCONNECTED AND

APOLITICAL• CYNICAL

POSITIVE STEREOTYPES• ENTREPRENEURIAL• SELF-RELIANT• REJECTING OF STEREOTYPES• INCLUSIVE AND TOLERANT• LATE TO LAUNCH, BUT

LAUNCHED• THINKS GLOBALLY, ACTS

LOCALLY• SKEPTICAL, BUT NOT

APATHETIC