MTV Generation

The MTV Generation (known as the Much Music Generation in Canada) is a term sometimes used to refer to people born from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s (1975-1986 although 1988 has been suggested as an end date). Every birth year in the span has been labeled by various experts as a generational boundary, thus leading to a confusion of who belongs to what generation. As a group, they constituted the youth culture of at the turn of the Millennium, ranging from age 15 to 25 in 2000.

In the Generations theory of William Strauss and Neil Howe, it can either be seen as a cusp between Generation X (1961-1981) and the Millennial Generation (1982-2001) (1), or as a separate generation or wave similar to Generation Jones(2) . Biologically they were born during the upsweep in birth numbers of the baby bust between the babybooms of 1946-64 and 1987-94(3)

Culturally the term MTV Generation has been widely used to define the generation of young adults in the Western World who are influenced by fashion trends, music, and slang terms shown in music videos on the newly created cable channel MTV. MTV Generation has often been associated as a neologism for Generation X. The teens of the MTV Generation who grew up in the 1990s have also been referred to as the Doom Generation, picked up from Gregg Araki's "The Doom Generation" (1995) and due to the popularity of the 1993 computer game "Doom".

History

An early recognition of this age range came in 1993 when AdAge published an editorial using the first known use of the term "Gen Y" to describe those born between 1974-1980. This was an attempt to note the differences between teenagers of the early 1990's vs those of the 1980's. (4)In the book "When Generations Collide" the authors mention that those born between 1975-80 belong to an Xr Millennial Cusp, possessing the qualities associated of both generations.(5) The book "Generations at Work- Managing the clash between Veterans, Boomers, Xrs, and Nexters in your workplace" refer to this group as "Gold Collar" employees due to their tech skills. (6) There have also been a few studies posted online including "The Net Generation" by Joshua Glenn which spans between 1974-1983 (7) and "Census Scope" (8) which features Gen Y as spanning from 1976-1985.

Generation 9/11

Thomas Reissmann criticized the Newsweek's use of term "Generation 9/11" because it was suspected that the term was used to support an "us" (a Pro-war Generation) versus "them" (a common enemy) mentality. Any young adult who did not believe in or forever commit to the traits of Generation 9/11 would be made to feel guilty and counterproductive towards or undermining society.A study was done throughout several colleges in the Midwestern United States by Patricia Somers and her research colleagues on people born from 1978 to 1988 also shortly after the attacks. The survey was conducted in order to research views of "Generation 9/11" towards the "us" versus "them" mentality, also known as Terror management theory, and showed that the mentality had not fully taken hold.:"The students questioned military and political reactions following 9/11." [ [http://www.edb.utexas.edu/faculty/somers/911/gen_%20911_ver3.htm In Search of Generation 911 ] ] However, despite all the research, Somers still believes that the term Generation 9/11 [http://www.wordspy.com/words/Generation9-11.asp] is still a prediction at best and that only time will tell whether 9/11 has had any lasting effect on this group of people. It may not be for decades to determine whether or not they are a "civic" or "lost" group. However, Somers does predict stronger political divisions in the future based on differing opinions about the meaning of "patriotism." [http://www.utexas.edu/features/2005/generation/] Others believe that the effects of 9/11 would only be temporary as many were already young adults then, and that they would eventually return to their regular ways of life they were accustomed to.

See also

* Twixters
* Generation X
* Generation Y
* Boomerang Generation
* Baby boomers

References

* (1) William Strauss & Neil Howe. (1997). The Fourth turning: An American prophecy. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
* (2) About Generation Jones (2007) JonathanPontell.com. Retrieved February 5th 2007 http://www.jonathanpontell.com/aboutgenjones.htm
* (3) CDC Report (January 11, 2007) National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved February 5th, 2007 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statab/t001x01.pdf.
* (4)"Who's filling Gen Y's Shoes"? by Pete Markiewicz. BrandChannel.com, Retrieved June 25th 2008. http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=156
* (5) When Generations Collide- Who they are. Why they clash. How to solve the generational puzzle at work. Lancaster, Stillman. 2002 New York. Ch. 3 Pg. 38
* (6)Generations at Work- Managing the clash between Veterans, Boomers, Xrs, and Nexters in your workplace. Zemke, Raines, Filipczak. 2000 New York Ch. 4 Pg. 105
* (7)Joshua Glenn .The Net Generation. WWW.Boston.com. Retrieved June 25th, 2008 http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2008/03/net_generation.html
* (8) United States Dominate Generations. CensusScope. Retrieved June 25th, 2008 http://www.censusscope.org/us/map_generations.html

External links

* [http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/documents/01828221.htm Gen (X+Y) + WTC =?] - coming of age in a time of cataclysm.
* [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statab/t001x01.pdf Births per year in the US] - Census of births per year in the "All Races" column. 1975-85 is on the first page.