Running Head: EXPLORING CULTURE ESSAY

Exploring Culture Essay

Alexa L. Kuziel
The University of Kentucky

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Abstract:

This paper will be focused mainly on different generations and their views exclusively on
popular culture. The generations that will be discussed are generation x, generation y, and
generation z. Because different generations grow up in different time periods, their views on pop
culture are contrasting. Occasionally there are similarities in the generations. Sometimes one
thing in a generation can influence another thing in a different generation.
Keywords: popular culture, generations, generation x, generation y, generation z

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Popular culture. What is your own personal definition of pop culture? What do you think
of when you think of pop culture? Does the generation that you were born in shape your
perspective on popular culture? Many people do have different definitions of pop culture. For
example, generation x, generation y, and generation z all have different definitions of pop
culture.
The three generations that will be focused on are generation x, generation y, and
generation z. According to William J. Schroer, generation x was born around 1966 to 1976
(Schroer, William J., n.d.). They are sometimes considered as the lost generation. They
experienced a lot of daycare and divorce. Generation x is sometimes described as a very
individualistic generation. They were very independent. They wanted to get the corner office and
the trappings of success (N.A., 2014, January 14). The lost generation is characterized by
high levels of skepticism and whats in it for me? attitudes (Schroer, William J., n.d.).
Generation y was born around 1977 to 1994 according to William J. Schroer. They are more
racially and ethnically diverse. Generation y was largely affected by technology. They started
growing up while technology was advancing rapidly. Generation Y is a technological
generation that takes computers, emailing, text messaging and the Internet for granted (Savage,
Sara B., 2006). As reported by William J. Schroer, generation z was born around 1995 to 2012
(Schroer, William J., n.d.). There is not much known about generation z because it is the most
recent generation, they are still growing up, and we are still living through this generation
(Schroer, William J., n.d.).
Forbes interviewed Jamie Gutfreund and Shara Senderoff, both of them are women of the
x generation, and gave some reasons as to why generation x and generations y differ. Their
reasons were; a different concept of authority, a different set of motivations, a desire for a

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different sort of work environment, and a different concept of progress on a project (N.A., 2014,
January 14).

An event called Nerd Night occurred on Thursday, October 2, 2014. The event was put
on by the Student Activities Board Cultural Arts and Concerts Committee in the Rasdall Gallery
in the University of Kentucky Student Center. Nerd Night featured both music and art elements
of popular culture at the event. A band from California called Branches played their original folk

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sounding music along with some favorite popular songs of today. Nerd Night was also a tribute
to three specific fandoms of todays pop culture. The three fandoms there were Harry Potter,
Doctor Who, and Star Wars. There were mostly just works of art hanging on the walls but there
were a few props like a life size storm trooper suit from Star Wars. Also, there was a nerd
themed photo booth in the back of the gallery. A photographer would take around four photos
and then you could choose one of the pictures to be printed for you to take home. Props were
provided to use in the pictures to keep the nerdy theme going. It was really interesting to see the
different artwork and representations of the films and shows. Seeing people that loved those
groups of pop culture look at the artwork and seeing their reaction was really neat as well. You
were able to walk around and look at the artwork at your own leisure, sit down and enjoy the
bands music, and participate in the nerd themed photo booth. Nerd Night was definitely an eye
opener to todays pop culture. Most people realize that pop culture is big, especially in America,
but do not realize how much of an impact it really has on people, culture, and especially
generations.
Melissa Simon, director of cultural arts of the student activities board, said that Nerd
Night was a great representation of todays pop culture. The Student Activities Board put on the
Nerd Night event to shine light on the nerd culture and popular culture. Melissa was asked
what her general definition of pop culture is and she answered with whats kind of seen in the
media and what people can relate to now. So its definitely what is relevant at the moment, what
people are talking about, what gets people excited (personal communication, October 16, 2014).
When asked if she thinks if the different generations like generation x, generation y, and
generation z have different definitions or views of pop culture, Melissa answered with I think
that pop culture is something that changes with the times . . . and it moves with the generations

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so obviously what is going on right now and what is current right now was not current ten years
ago so it is kind of interesting to see how pop culture changes throughout the years (personal
communication, October 16, 2014).
Lauren Fleming is a current student at the University of Kentucky that attended Nerd
Night as a spectator. She also said that she thought that Nerd Night was a good representation of
popular culture. Laurens own personal, general definition of popular culture is things that gain
popularity and grab the publics attention (personal communication, October 20, 2014). Lauren
is considered to be in generation z because she was born in 1996. When asked what her views
and/or opinions of her generation were, she answered with I think that my generation is big on
technology. We depend on it for almost everything. Other than that, I do not think that there is
much to know about generation z because we are still growing up (personal communication,
October 20, 2014). She was also asked what her views and/or opinions were on the other
generations, generation x and generation y. She answered with I do not know much about
generation x or generation y but I sort of think of the 80s and 90s decades and what they are
typically known for when I think of previous generations (personal communication, October 20,
2014).

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The book X vs. Y: A Culture War, A Love Story is an anthology that compares the x
generation and the y generation. There are seven chapters that talk about the differences and even
some similarities in music, fashion, TV, sex and dating, movies, technology, and books and
magazines in both of the generations. It is interesting to see how diverse the two generations are
even though they are so close together. Also, it is interesting to see that there are some
similarities between the two different generations.
The cover of the book X vs. Y: A Culture War, A Love Story shows six Venn diagrams of
a variety of topics displaying generation x in one circle and generation y in the other circle.
Where the two circles meet is where the generations share the same things. There are some
circumstances where two generations grow up with the same thing. That thing could either be the
same in both generations or it could be completely different in each generation. For example,
bands and artists have overlapped in both the x generation and the y generation. X vs. Y: A
Culture War, A Love Story lists Bono, Liz Phair, Madonna, the Beastie Boys, Janet Jackson,
Sting, and Radiohead as overlap acts (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). For Bono, the

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generation x view is Earnest, political, activist front man with awful hair, known for belting out
remarkably well crafted pop songs with arrestingly angsty soul (Epstein, Eve and Epstein,
Leonora, 2014). The generation y view is Douche. With weird sunglasses (Epstein, Eve and
Epstein, Leonora, 2014). This is a great example of how one thing can be in two different
generations and have a different meaning for each generation. For Madonna, the generation x
view is A legend in the making with songs engineered to be hits and a controversial sexual
agenda to keep it going . . . (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). The generation y view is
. . . and going, and going. Still a pop star at fifty. NBD (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora,
2014). This is a great example of how one thing can be the same and have the same meaning in
two different generations.
No matter what generation that you are in, lady celebrities shape womens own personal
style. For generation x, some style icons are Molly Ringwald, Naomi Campbell, Kim Gordon,
Courtney Love, Lisa Bonet, Winona Ryder, Sofia Coppola, and Kate Moss (Epstein, Eve and
Epstein, Leonora, 2014). For generation y, some style icons are Claire Danes, Drew Barrymore,
Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Gwen Stefani, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson, Lindsay Lohan, and
Beyonc (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014).
When thinking of owning a movie during their generation, generation x would normally
think of owning the movie on a VHS and generation y would normally think of owning the
movie on a DVD. Some popular movies for the x generation were Dirty Dancing, The Princess
Bride, Purple Rain, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High,
Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Star Wars IV, V, and VI (Epstein, Eve and Epstein,
Leonora, 2014). A few popular movies for the y generation were Mean Girls, Titanic, Home
Alone, Clueless, American Pie, Romeo and Juliet, Juno, Beauty and the Beast, and Never Been

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Kissed (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). Although these movies gained their popularity
in those certain generations, some of them continue to be popular in the next generations.
Books are timeless. A few popular books from the x generation were Generation X, High
Fidelity, Ghost World, A Supposedly Fun Thing Ill Never Do Again, Prozac Nation, The Secret
History, Fight Club, Bright Lights, Big City, and The Preppy Handbook (Epstein, Eve and
Epstein, Leonora, 2014). Some popular book from the y generation were Tuesdays with Morrie,
Harry Potter, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ella Enchanted, Persepolis, Fear Street, The
Virgin Suicides, Prep, The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing, and Girl, Interrupted (Epstein,
Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). Books, just like movies, gained their popularity in those
certain generations and some of them continue to be popular in the generations to come.
Sex and dating are even different in some ways in different generations. Generation x
took things more slowly with relationships while generation y had hookups all the time. A
description of the x generations dream guy was hipster, musician, sort of feminine, romantic,
and artist (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). First crushes that generation y had were
the nine year old hipster, Bill Nye the Science Guy, the camp crush, and Leonardo DiCaprio
(Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014). The book lists four types of guys, rock dude, skater
boy, hipster guy, and frat boy, as boys we have dated and loved (Epstein, Eve and Epstein,
Leonora, 2014).
At the end of the book, Eve Epstein and Leonora Epstein write our generations are
essentially kindred spirits in many ways (Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora, 2014).
Different generations have contrasting views on popular culture because they grew up
during different time periods. Popular culture changes over time and all the time. That is why
most generations have different views on pop culture. There are still similarities in different

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generations. For example, a lot of musical artists and bands have been popular in more than one
generation. Sometimes one thing in one generation can affect another thing in a different
generation. For example, fashion from one generation has influenced multiple generations
beyond its time. Ultimately, generations are both different and similar throughout the years and
so is popular culture.

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References:

Epstein, Eve and Epstein, Leonora. (2014). X vs. Y: A Culture War, a Love Story. New York:
Abrams Image.
N.A. (2014, January 14). Gen X Is From Mars, Gen Y Is From Venus: A Primer On How To
Motivate A Millennial. Forbes. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
<http://www.forbes.com/sites/robasghar/2014/01/14/gen-x-is-from-mars-gen-y-is-fromvenus-a-primer-on-how-to-motivate-a-millennial/>
Savage, Sara B. (2006). Making sense of Generation Y: The world view of 15- to 25-year-olds.
London: Church House.
Schroer, William J. (n.d.). Generations X, Y, Z and the Others. The Social Librarian. Retrieved
October 15, 2014.
<http://www.socialmarketing.org/newsletter/features/generation3.htm>