It might shock Millenials and Gen Zs, but most of what they have been doing is harvesting or reloading what Gen Xers had planted. In fact, being born before the internet, still highly adjusted to it, Gen Xers are the bridge between Boomers and Millenials. Yet, at the same time, this generation's legacy simultaneously paved the way for Gen Z.
Somewhere in between Boomers and Millenials, Gen X was born, and their impact on pop culture shaped generations to come. Fiercely independent, irreverently cynical outsiders, nonchalant sartorialists, contradictory slackers, and work-hard-play-hard iconoclasts – these are some of the qualities attributed to them. The Gen X icons captured the era's spirit, and their influence and legacy remain, whether true G Xers or late Bloomers who left their mark on G Xers. In many ways, they never left. And they don't show signs of going away any time sooner.
Just look around and see Gen X is still everywhere. Top Gun Maverick - the seventh-highest-grossing movie of all time in U.S. theaters - is there to prove it. But there's more. Recently, we saw the revival of many 80s and 90s hits like Sex and the City, Will & Grace, 90210, Melrose Place, Fuller House, Miami Vice, Footloose, Fame, GhostBusters, Hairspray, and many more. So today, it seems that the long-lasting Gen X's legacy is still fresh enough for a spin-off, reboot, or reload.
Born from 1965 to 1980, Gen Xers have been pushing the boundaries of youth and age for six decades. They were the first to claim that the 40s are the new 30s. And then the '50s are the new 40s. So obviously, they would argue that the 60s are the new 50s – or 40s, 30s...?
Gen X kids grew up in broken families – in 1975, for the first time, divorces reached the 1 million mark in the U.S. Back then, kids spent most of their time alone at home, becoming the first generation to grow up in front of the T.V.. As a result, they were bombarded by advertising – combined with being left alone; researchers believe it's one reason for Gen X's cynicism. There was also political and economic turmoil, crack, and the AIDS crisis.
Gen X challenged society's status quo by using music as their weapon, from punk rock to grunge, hip hop, and everything in between and after. Of course, the T.V. generation used the same channel – just like Millennials and Gen Z used digital - to fuse everything going on and push it back to the world, forever transforming culture. There wouldn't be an Instagram image-eating society like ours today without MTV and pop music exploding in 1981. Precisely the same year researchers believe to be the birth of Millenials. But in the early 80s, Gen X's reign was still in its infancy.
But the technological evolution and democratization of cosmetics procedures, fitness phenomenon, and overall health improvement made it possible for Gen Xers to be still alive and kicking today. It allowed the iconoclastic Gen Xers to continue to push the envelope of what is considered cool and age-appropriate.
A late Bloomer and Gen X icon, Madonna carried the flag of sexual liberation through generations and made history by becoming the first woman to earn Billboard 200 Top 10 albums each decade since the '80s. Recently, while promoting her Finally Enough Love– 50 Billboard Number Ones - the singer appeared in a YouTube "50 questions video" – out of 50, 10 times her answer was "sex." Despite her attempts to appear younger, making her look more like an alien than anything, Madonna keeps holding tight and wants sex to be ageless. One thing that Gen X inherited from Boomers and passed along to Millenials and Gen Z is sexual freedom. In fact, heirs of Madonna's outspoken and provocative stand on sexuality, today Megan Thee Stallion, Nikki Minaj, and even true Millennial Britney Spears, pretty much recycled the blonde ambition provocateur's 80's and 90's attitude.
But while Madonna still overuses cosmetic procedures and sex to remain relevant, other Gen Xers, like Nicole Kidman, try to promote an eternal fitness beauty goddess status. This month the Oscar-winning 55 years old star featured the cover of Perfect Magazine, showing ripped-toned arms that could envy any teenager. Her athletic look is vaguely reminiscent of another Oscar-winning star who made history in the 80s and triggered the modern obsession with fitness and gym: Jane Fonda. The actress's 1982 workout program is still today the highest-selling home video in history; Fonda, a trendsetter in her own way, was 45 years old then. Probably, to young Gen Xers like Kidman watching Fonda, that's when the idea that you can be younger forever was planted.
Parallel to Kidman's approach to beauty and health, her iconic star ex-husband is cashing on a similar route. Tom Cruise, now 60, relived his Top Gun character, channeling the same athletic macho American hero of almost 30 years ago. The attempt to revamp the failing star actor paid off big time. It took him back to the similar blockbuster stardom he had when Top Gun 1 thrilled not only the Gen X audience but also the infant Millenials. Now it's Gen Z's turn.
And then it all comes full circle. The tiny generation that once milked everything that came from T.V. – from advertising to cable shows and MTV's fusion of music and image – still wants to be relevant and forever young. It shows that they are not ready to leave the stage of today's social media-driven image-obsessed world – which they helped to create and inspire. Press reload.