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Generations at a
glance
There is a tendency to analyze
history through generations and comparisons between generations are usually
drawn for various reasons to shed light on contemporary times. Some indicators
of how a generation is characterized are based on an abstract image that could
be labeled a legacy. This legacy can be interpreted in many ways though,
ranging from ideas and institutions to music and art left behind for future
generations to analyze. Each indicator has its own values and limitations.
Another important aspect of this analysis is the presentation of the indicators.
If there are a variety of outlets of these indicators then they are more likely
to break through into the so-called mainstream or help shape it. This results
in the creation of a more complete and complex image of a generation because it
is reflective of a variety of perspectives. An example of this multi
perspective is evident when one looks at the 1960’s and 70’s in the United
States of America. Some images that surface of this complex time are those of
the anti-Vietnam war movement, Civil rights movement and a soundtrack to all
these and more, ranging from James Brown to Bob Dylan. The point of this
example is that ideas and accompanying music that were considered anti-establishment
or not necessarily mainstream at that time, were still heard as well as
remembered by many, including the succeeding generations.
However, since that period where
multiple perspectives have broken into the so-called mainstream, there has been
a gradual but ever increasing concentration of ownership of the media. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/giants/
) Some interesting perspectives I have found on this topic are from Noam
Chomsky and Jared Ball. Music itself can be looked at in the US as an example.
If there are more and more monopolies that increase in power, then can the
ideas and music seen in the mainstream still be representative of a generation?
While it is important to look into what content is being shown in the media, it
is enough for this blog post to just look at how much
media is controlled. Does it make a difference if there are many media outlets
if they are owned by one corporation or if they show the same content? Can the
popularity of a song still be judged by how often it is played or heard in
different places if the majority of the music industry is owned by few big
corporations? However one looks at it, there certainly is no denying that
constant exposure to one thing will have an impact on a person that they might
not expect at first. If this is the case then the so-called mainstream is not
so diverse or offering multiple perspectives and as a result its characteristic
as indicator of a generation is questioned.
Since the 1960’s and 70’s there
have been many more wars, scandals and movements that defined a generation but
it seems the soundtrack to them is not as readily available compared to the
previous generations. Considering
the activity present on the internet on an individual basis through various
media outlets, there certainly remains a vibrant spectrum of perspectives.
However, it seems more effort is needed to find these perspectives,
particularly ones that don’t fit with the so-called mainstream. This
concentration of media ownership seems contradictory to defining a generation
if indeed there are many more perspectives still out there. This shift towards
concentration also reflects on other outlets and their role in society. Perhaps
in the end alternatives could be seen as those revolutionary agents of change
that we think of in other generations. These alternatives would by default be
any other outlet than those big corporations. Thus, public institutions would,
whether wanting to or not, be involved in this trend just because of where they
stand in society. This post has just looked at music as an example but this
trend certainly spills into discussions of different natures.
Here are some songs of a soundtrack that could be relevant
to events that future generations might use to characterize this generation.
However, they might not find these songs as readily available because they have
not “broken through”. Rap was chosen as the genre because it is itself a
defining characteristic of the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Tupac Shakur - Words of wisdom
Killer Mike – Reagan
Lowkey – Hand on your gun
Immortal Technique – The 3rd world
Talib Kweli - Bushonomics (feat. Cornel West)
Cornel West & BMWMB - Mr. President Feat. KRS
One and M1
