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November 1994

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Subject:
From:
James Chadwick Stewart <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 2 Nov 1994 14:54:40 -0600
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I've been thinking alot lately about the whole Generation X thing.  The
movies that attempt to deal with the "problems" of the generation are too
smug to be considered good movies.  Take Reality Bites for instance.  Just
because the movie mentions "Good Times" and things like "den of slack"
does not make it a good movie.  It's much too self-conscious(and
self-serving) for it's own good.
In order for any movie to make a statement about "Generation X" without
making a "statement" about Generation X, it will have to resign itself to
the abyss of pop-culture.  Yes, we all know we watchedc too much T.V. and
we were weaned from the nipple of junk-culture.  So what?  Do the movies
made about a generation of people who are confused (and rightly so) have
to make countless cute meaningless references to things cute and
meaningless?  I mean come on.  Yes, we know too much and endlessly
catalogue trivial things and constantly refer to the vast knowlege of
"That's my Momma" reruns.  For "Gen X" movies to rise above this, they
need to stop being so enamoured with the idea of referencing pop-culture.
It's redundant and condescending, to say the very least.
Yes all the movies mentioned in the previous response could be considered
"Gen X" movies.  I also suggest "Say Anything," "Heathers" and the Alpha
and the Omega of "Gen-X" movies, "The Breakfast Club."  The problems of
the generation are myriad.  We have our work cut out for us.  About the
only thing that seperates us from previous generations is our ability to
watch ourselves and our world self-destruct through the media.
 
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