Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

At 40, life's icons begin to disappear
Independence Institute ^ | 9/13/05 | Jon Caldera

Posted on 09/14/2005 9:05:10 AM PDT by Millee

I am 40 years old. I don't know how that happened. But here I am.

People my age don't have a lot in common. That is, most generations share a common experience or cultural phenomenon during those magic years from adolescence to early adulthood. Those of us who grew up in the'70s didn't really have any bonding experience.

The generation before mine had the Vietnam War, the civil-rights movement, the Beatles. The generation before that had the Cold War and Elvis. Before that, World War II and Sinatra. Before that, the Depression. People had their impressions of those experiences from their own vantage point.

By contrast, for kids in the'70s and early'80s, life was pretty easy; no war, no civil unrest. The biggest threat to the American way was disco, and we shouldn't forget what a serious threat that was or how many lost their dignity and hair styles in that battle. The outrageous inflation, interest rates and gas prices of the Carter years were your folks' problem, not yours. There were few hardships. And because of that there were fewer shared experiences. There is not a lot that connects my generation together.

We don't run the risk of being called the greatest generation in history. While it would be wrong to label us the TV generation, it would be accurate to call us the rerun generation. In the days before 100 channels of cable, we had four TV channels and rabbit ears on top of the box. And after school we watched re Clampet? Mary Ann. Mary Ann or Jeannie? Jeannie.

Jeannie or Samantha? Let's see, here. One comes with serious mother-in-law issues. The other runs around the house in her lingerie, calls you master, wants to grant all your wishes, and when you get tired of her you can put her in a bottle. Yep, tough choice.

I would, rather embarrassingly, argue that the most shared cultural experience for 40-year-olds is old "Star Trek." We all know the Vulcan neck pinch. If Kirk, Spock, Bones and some security guard in a red shirt beamed down to a planet, we all know which one is going to get blasted. We all know who will pronounce that the red shirt is dead, and how he'll say it. (And we get it Bones, you're a doctor not a bricklayer.) And we all know which one is going to get it on with the hot alien girl.

I'm not proud that nearly everyone my age can mouth every line to every "Star Trek" re run, even the one in whichSpock gets to wear the goatee. But at least it is something.

My generation has many of those shared icons. My sense is that younger generations may have many more icons, but they are not shared. My father's generation had only a few media outlets. Everyone in America stopped to listen to Uncle Milty on radio. Not what you call a lot of variety, but the whole country knew Milton Berle.

My generation had more outlets, but with only a few TV stations, Dick Van Dyke and Brady Bunch re runs were known to all, and gave us some shared reference in entertainment.

Today the outlets for media are customizable; hundreds of channels catering to every varying taste. TIVO and I-Pods now allow individuals to become their own station programmers. A million different kids can be watching and listening to a million different things at the same time. This is a terrific thing, but will there again be a shared cultural experience? Recently James Doohan, Scotty on "Star Trek," Bob Denver, better known as Gilligan, passed away. These icons from our childhood are just the beginning of what will be an avalanche of old TV, movie and rock music names that we will soon be saying goodbye to.

When they all go, they may be the last entertainment icons shared by an entire country.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: genx
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 next last
To: RockinRight

Two words. Nels Cline.


61 posted on 09/14/2005 12:00:27 PM PDT by lugsoul (Sleeper troll since 1999.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Millee

Not to mention H.R. Puff n' Stuff, Snagglepuss (exit, staaaage right), Underdog, Charlie's Angels, Three's Company, etc....


62 posted on 09/14/2005 12:03:22 PM PDT by Born Conservative ("I'm expecting that some people who are die-hards will die hard.'' -NOLA parish president)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: RockinRight
My fav

Comin' Under Fire
Pyromania-1983
63 posted on 09/14/2005 12:09:44 PM PDT by PaulaB (Don't cut what you can untie....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Millee

I guess the author has forgotten about The Ramones and The Rocky Horror Picture Show...................


64 posted on 09/14/2005 12:14:53 PM PDT by WhiteGuy (Vote for gridlock)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative
I am with you on that Jimmy Carter thing! Ugh!!

I clearly remember Watergate and watching Vietnam on TV....that really affected me growing up.

65 posted on 09/14/2005 12:16:18 PM PDT by BossLady (Lancelot Link Secret Chimp Lives With Captain Caveman!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
41? Me, too. I thought Jeanie was waaay hot. Ginger AND Mary Anne, too. Samatha didn't do anything for me.

Mondays everybody would be doing their recreations of the latest SNL skits, especially after one Steve Martin hosted.

LOL! I remember those days, back before when everyone on SNL was openly gay...

Jeez, I can almost hear myself relating it to my children "When I used to watch most of them were straight..."

66 posted on 09/14/2005 1:38:45 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Millee

What about STAR WARS? I'll never forget the long lines.

In spite (or maybe because) of the decadence, the 70s was a great period creatively. Hollywood gave us Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese, DePalma. The music industry exploded with LP wonders. (Remember LPs?

Punk rock, anyone?

I believe America began its cultural decline in the early 80s. By then, I no longer cared about any shared icons.


67 posted on 09/14/2005 2:01:26 PM PDT by MoochPooch (A righteous person worries about his or her behavior, an extremist about everyone else's.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WhiteGuy

Let's do the Time Warp Again....


68 posted on 09/14/2005 2:35:53 PM PDT by Vor Lady (I'm too young to feel this d*&m old.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: redlocks322
"70's & Disco - oh yes, I was the roller skating queen in the 70's... those were the good ol days."

I was a skating queen too...there was nothing like it, especially when a cute guy would come up and ask me to slow skate. What great memories!!! My kids laugh too, but it really was good.
69 posted on 09/14/2005 2:52:01 PM PDT by codyjacksmom (I've gone out to find myself... if I get back before I return, please keep me here!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: PaulaB
Heheheh, I love your posts on this thread. I am so there, babe!

I just turned 37 last week. This weekend, I was parked out front of a Subway sandwich shop, waiting for the hubby to pick up lunch. My two year old daughter was in her car seat in the back of the truck.

The only radio station I can stomach is the Classic Rock one. While we were sitting in the car, Eruption starts playing. Now, I wasn't a metal girl. I was a punk as far back as 1979. But... Van Halen is another story.

My husband comes out to the car, subs in hand, to find me air guitaring and singing along to "You Really Got Me..." and the best part, our daughter was head banging and clapping along. She likes the Ramones. She's a cool toddler.

The late 70s were sort of fun, especially when new wave peered its pink striped head around the corner. The 80s were an awesome decade. We had Reagan, MTV when it still played music videos and before it started sucking. The 90s were so pretentious and full of cynical irony; the oughties are better, but still problematic. And the music still sucks.

I never had enough hair for Aqua Net, but I did try to get my spikes to stand up with Scrunch Spray and Studio Line! from L'oreal. Manic Panic hair dye, those dorky lace-up jazz oxfords, and parachute pants. Ah... youth!

70 posted on 09/14/2005 4:26:29 PM PDT by RepoGirl ("The only ho I'm pimpin' is Sweet Lady Propane." -- Hank Hill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Millee

What's a JR?


71 posted on 09/14/2005 4:29:08 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Protagoras
It must be great to be a kid. :^}

You noticed that too?

72 posted on 09/14/2005 4:31:55 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: PaulaB

Hay days?


73 posted on 09/14/2005 4:32:44 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Millee

Nostalgic at age 40? What a maroon...start becoming nostalgic in the rocker....


74 posted on 09/14/2005 4:34:36 PM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RepoGirl
Heheheh, I love your posts on this thread. I am so there, babe

Thanks love
I love the 80's and miss them
we had our issues but nothing a guitar solo from a hair band couldn't get us through..

Tesla/Cinderella/Skidrow-Thanks guys for the therapy ;)
75 posted on 09/14/2005 4:37:36 PM PDT by PaulaB (¿puede usted hablar inglés?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Publius6961
Hay days

aka -Long hair, jeans with holes, concert t-shirts, spending my whole check just to catch a glimpse of Brett Michaels and other lead singers of that day

;)
76 posted on 09/14/2005 4:40:15 PM PDT by PaulaB (¿puede usted hablar inglés?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Millee

I too just turn 40 and I think we do have one shared experience: Islamic terrorism. It started with the PLO (Olympics, Entebee, Hijackings). Continued with Beirut (kidnappings and bombings), Iran, Libya, Iraq and then 911. I bet lots of us saw them as a big a threat as the USSR....


77 posted on 09/14/2005 4:50:15 PM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StrictTime
Remember waiting all week for Saturday morning cartoons?

God, do I. Omce in a while my mom would buy us a special Saturday morning breakfast treat (usually the assorted generic donuts in the box or if we were REALLY lucky, Honey Buns) and we would park ourselves in front of the TV in the basement with that and our orange juice and feel like God Himself programmed the TV just for us.

78 posted on 09/14/2005 4:55:00 PM PDT by ShadowDancer (Stupid people make my brain sad.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Jeeves
I'm 41. We had Ronald Reagan...and right when most of us were first starting to think about politics. That's better than all of the other "shared experiences" the author cites put together. ;)

I'm also 41 and have to agree, although I had a thing for Nixon when I was 10. My parents were horrified. But Carter turned them off to democrats forever.

79 posted on 09/14/2005 4:56:42 PM PDT by meowmeow (Meow! Meow!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Millee
My sense is that younger generations may have many more icons,

Yeah. That's what scares me. Better to have no icons, than to have Puff Daddy and Eminem.

I-Pods now allow individuals to become their own station programmers. A million different kids can be watching and listening to a million different things at the same time.

I prefer radio. I like the idea of not knowing what they'll play next. I like asking my husband "who sings that song again?" I like knowing that i'm listening to the same thing as thousands of others. It gives me a sense of community. You know, the old concept of neighborhoods that people of our generation remember are gone. I miss those old neighborhoods. It's unfortunate our kids don't have that.
80 posted on 09/14/2005 5:03:37 PM PDT by uncitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson