<-- back to archive

Generation X

by Lynda Hawryluk

I was born in the early seventies.
I grew up with the television on.
I know the lyrics to Josie and the Pussycats and still own a Scooby Doo board game.
I wear unisex fragrances marketed at me by slouching models with sour faces.
I read important young fiction by cutting edge authors but when I get together with my friends we talk about Kramer and reminisce about Sunny Boy flavoured ice.
I have seen Kids and Trainspotting and Shallow Grave and Reservoir Dogs and South Park and Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers and laughed at all the sick bits.
I can quote Tarantino films and I know what was in the briefcase because I have read the biography.
A lot of my friends know the dialogue to Star Wars.
I have seen The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, St Elmo's Fire and Sixteen Candles and used to have a deep desire to be just like Molly Ringwold 'cos she's so cool.
I wonder what ever did happen to Ally Sheedy.
I wear Converse sneakers and know what mosh means.
I saw Nirvana when they played The Big Day Out.
I think Courtney killed Kurt and I know all the lyrics to Smells Like Teen Spirit and what they mean.
I don't care about Anna Wood.
I can relate everything back to a movie a song or a TV show.
I gained more knowledge from Trivial Pursuit than I did at school.
I shop at stores where they have collected all the good clothes from St Vinnies to sell. This way I don't have to look for them myself.
As soon as K Mart put out a grunge look line I decided not to dress like that anymore.
I do not practise any form of religion.
I have lived through a decade that is defined by its lack of events with any historical importance.
I have seen the video for 'Jeremy'.
I am employed in a creative artistic field, where I can wear my sneakers to work, or not work at all.
I will stick with my job for only six months, and then find another non - career job.
If I am male I have a goatee, if I am female I have a navel ring.
I don't care about politics but I know about Yugoslavia, because there was a benefit CD.
I am going to ruin the world with my apathy and I don't care.
The American press call me a slacker but I don't care because that's what the principal in Back To The Future called Marty McFly and look what happened to him.
I drive an old gas-guzzler or ride a skateboard to work and I supplement my income by selling handmade jewellery at markets.
I hold serious discussions on the Internet about Xena subtext.
I cried when River Phoenix died.
I watched Reality Bites and nearly threw up because it was so condescending but I bought the soundtrack.
I understand that I am a target market.
I suffer from tinnitus, could you speak up?
I have a degree that I won't use.
I live in share houses and have more CD's than books.
I know what Brit Pop is and I like Manga.
I have tried Jolt and other drinks made from guarana.
I don't have a superannuation fund.
I wouldn't eat at Planet Hollywood, but I own a Swatch watch.
There are more programs on my computer than there is food in my fridge.
I am media saturated.
I spout slogans instead of Shakespeare.
I believe that less is more.
I have not planned for my future.
I am Generation X.
Youth oriented magazines pretend they don't use this term, then put out issues on the subject.
I cringe at the thought, and then buy the magazines anyway, because I like to read about myself.
I am Generation X.