From Generation to Generation

Madison Pruitt, Life & Style Editor|December 18, 2017

Imagine what it would be like to experience the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and then see the US as it is today, where becoming a billionaire at age 23 isn’t impossible. Or think of what it would be like to witness Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington and then see Barack Obama elected as the first African American president of the United States? Or imagine having to adapt from using the first telephone to learning how to work the new iPhone X. Due to the advancement of our medical technology and knowledge, many live long enough to see how the generations have evolved into the next. Over the generations, each has had their impact, both good and bad, and unique characteristics. In the present day, we have a population that consists of 6 different generations: GI Generation (born before 1936), The Silent Generation (1937-1945), The Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1976), The Millennials (1977-1993), and Generation Z (1974-continued). Each of these generations has brought us into the twenty-first century as we know it today.
Speaking as a seventeen-year-old from Generation Z, it would be hard to imagine, much less function, without the technology we have today. Generation Z is the first generation to be fully submerged in technology advancements such as iPhones, laptops, iPads, and other 21st century everyday necessities. Since the GI’s (ending in 1936), the improvements in technology are incredible. The first telegraph from Washington to Baltimore had it right: “What hath God wrought?” I doubt anyone could have foreseen just how far we’ve come. Some people are even more comfortable texting and snapchatting each other than they are with face to face conversations (unless it’s facetime of course). Eyes are glued to the screen for hours upon hours. Sure, you can communicate with just about anyone all over the world, but when it comes to the people standing right before you – many are so fixated on their phone, they forget to look up and have a conversation with the people around them. On the other hand, we are more connected than ever before: through social media, phones, music, travel. You can send an email or text to someone across the world in less than a minute. You can hear about major events from anywhere within minutes of them happening. You can keep up with the Kardashian’s everyday lives, see the President’s tweets, and post your thoughts on social media on a whim. To travel, anywhere you want to go is only a flight away rather than a long voyage across the sea. The stars are no longer the limit; we can reach the moon and as far as our imagination dares to go. Virtual reality, voice-activated devices, and drones were unheard of twenty years ago, and now they’re the latest technological advancements and talk about the future. This interconnectedness seems natural being born in a world submerged in technology, but it wasn’t always.
Technology has created a culture in today’s society that is unlike any other. Everyone is connected through social media. Trending styles, popular music, and pop culture are not just for one city now; they can be for the whole nation, or even as far-reaching as other countries. Regarding music, the genres are endless. Style has also changed drastically, especially for women: from very conservative clothing to bell-bottom jeans, or even disco boots. During the GI generation, most of the American households owned a radio and swing music, and dancing was on the rise with artists like Glen Miller. Rock and Roll evolved during The Silent Generation, and this was when the famous artist Elvis Presley took the stage. The Baby Boomers were the generation of the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and many other musical wonders. As for Generation X, we can thank them for Michael Jackson, King of Pop, and 70’s disco. The Millennials brought us classic movies like Grease, The Breakfast Club, Clueless, Forrest Gump, and many others. Millennials were also the first to experience Apple. Each of these generations had their own unique culture that brought us into today’s society.

Since the GI’s, many major events have occurred that forever changed the American way of life. The GI’s and the Silent Generation both experienced the effects of the Stock Market crash of 1929 and World War II. The Baby Boomers took on an anti-establishment attitude, and many participated in activist movements. Others grew out their hair, experimented with drugs, and dove into the “hippie” life. The young were either fighting against communism in Vietnam or waving their protest signs and throwing up peace signs.The Boomers also knew the fear of the Cold War against communist Russia and the excitement of the Space Race. Generation X experienced the Watergate scandal, the Aids Epidemic, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Millennials have seen some of the most technological advancements with the rise of the internet and Apple. They also experienced the 9/11 terrorist attacks along with the other wars that followed in the Middle East. In the present day, Generation Z, movements and ideas spread like wildfire through social media: gay rights, Women’s March on Washington, and the Black Lives Matter movements. This generation also continues the war on terrorism as we fight ISIS.
Overall, a lot has changed throughout the generations, and who knows how the next generations will look? At this rate, advancements in technology are only going to skyrocket from here. Will TVs still be around in the next ten years, or will virtual reality take over? With styles coming back from the 90’s today, we could be bringing back the disco boots in the next generation (hopefully not). For all we know, we could enter into another world war, or we could be voyaging back into space. Only time will tell what the world has in store for America, and I am excited to see what the future holds.