Popular Culture Review Vol. 8, No. 2, August 1997 | Page 114

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Popular Culture Review

the dependability or altruism of their government. According to
Rushkoff (1994), "The 'uninvolved' status of our nation's young people
is a direct result of our leadership's fear to do its real business in
public." The betrayal of parents and government combined with the
blatant consumerism and public relations strategies of our politicians
has given Generation Xers the impression that they are on their own.
As a result, they have developed resistance to commercial
manipulation, the ability to reflect upon themselves and their
circumstances, and a reluctance to affiliate with any established
group, including political parties. Instead, they prefer to forge their
own path, reviewing propoganda with skepticism and acquiring
information through alternative channels developed by their peers
(such as on-line chat rooms and 'zines). Their focus is on issues and
the perceived ability of each candidate to enact favorable policies,
rather than on political allegiance or "character". After all, how
can a generation which has witnessed Watergate and the savings and
loan scandals put much faith in the character of our political and
economic elite? Few bother to read a newspaper or watch the news.
And much to the horror of business concerns. Generation X throws out
its junk mail without reading it!
Witness to the many warnings concerning global warming and
pollution, they fear for the fate of our environment. Growing up
during an economic "downturn," Generation Xers are often either
unemployed or underemployed, with little security and even less
faith in the future. The uncertainty of their situation in so many
respects has led to the prevalence of their characteristic word and its
accompanying feeling, "whatever" (Saltveit 1994, 52).
All of these influences and more in our society today have
created a self-reflective generation that can "find the heroic in the
mundane and the glimmer of success in even the most disastrous
failures." (Rushkoff 1994, 106)
While the foregoing discussion is based on generalities
gleaned from various other scholars, the authors have personally
witnessed the development of these characteristics as participants in
youth groups during the I980's in Los Angeles. The senior author is an
anthropologist and youth group leader; the two junior authors are her
twentysomething sons and members of Generation X. &֖