Talkin' 'bout my "generation"...

[butterflydreaming]

What defines your generation? I kicked around some ideas with coffeedaiv about this tonight, and among other things we came up with three types of markers. Who was the big pop star of your early adulthood? Major political event? Fad? This demotes year age from its typical prominence in measuring a generation group.

This came up because I'm prickling at the idea of 18-35 being a reasonable age range as a generation, for interactive purposes other than marketing. I was a 20 year old that dated 30-35 year olds. We were *not* the same generation. And that's a soapbox I've already stood on enough tonight.

I identify as a Cold War child. The significant political event for me is the fall of the Soviet Union (circa 1990, also when I graduated high school). Pop stars that come to mind are of my childhood: Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Menudo. For a little older, the Spice Girls are relevant. The fads were... Super Nintendo, Hypercolor T-shirts... AOL?

What are yours?

Comments

[ironymaiden]

18-35 is a lousy range. i think about it this way: i was directing college kids when i was 27. so, at most, i was nine years older than they were. the shocker for me was that they had been videotaped their entire lives.

i'm in your cohort, although i remember different music (which may be a function of where we grew up). your list minus Menudo, plus Poison, Bon Jovi, New Kids on the Block. i was still in school for REM releasing Losing My Religion, jumped around to Nirvana at my senior prom.