Generation X
The Popular Culture That Defined the MTV Generation
Published on 13. November 2025
Book
Hardback
376 pages
978-1-4408-7461-1 (ISBN)
Description
This encyclopedia provides a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of Generation X and its enduring imprint on the cultural landscape of the USA, in realms such as music, television, literature, advertising, and art.
American life has changed significantly in the last 70 years. Explore the pop culture that defined Generation X, defined as those born between 1965 and 1980, with informative entries on iconic performers (Nirvana, Notorious B.I.G.), films (The Big Lebowski, Heathers), and books (Generation X)-not to mention the technology, media platforms, and events that had a lasting impact on American culture and entertainment. Additional features include interviews from artists and musicians of the era that shed light on their influences, challenges, and achievements, as well as an introductory essay that takes a deeper dive into Generation X attitudes toward work and leisure, race and ethnicity, personal relationships, politics, and social media.
American life has changed significantly in the last 70 years. Explore the pop culture that defined Generation X, defined as those born between 1965 and 1980, with informative entries on iconic performers (Nirvana, Notorious B.I.G.), films (The Big Lebowski, Heathers), and books (Generation X)-not to mention the technology, media platforms, and events that had a lasting impact on American culture and entertainment. Additional features include interviews from artists and musicians of the era that shed light on their influences, challenges, and achievements, as well as an introductory essay that takes a deeper dive into Generation X attitudes toward work and leisure, race and ethnicity, personal relationships, politics, and social media.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
34 bw
Dimensions
Height: 257 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
930 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-7461-1 (9781440874611)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Melissa Lenos is Senior Director of Graduate Advising and Engagement for the Humanities at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.
Kevin L. Ferguson is an associate professor in the Department of English at Queens College, USA.
Kevin L. Ferguson is an associate professor in the Department of English at Queens College, USA.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chronology
Introduction
Gen X and Labels
Gen X as Consumers
Gen X and Race
Gen X in Relationships
Gen X and Health
Gen X at Leisure
Gen X and Politics
Gen X and Domestic Terror
Gen X and Social Consciousness
A-Z Entries
AIDS/HIV Epidemic
Analog-to-Digital Transition
Anti-Corporatism
Apartheid
Beck, Odelay, 1996
BET
The Big Lebowski, 1998
BIPOC Film and Television Representation
Black Rock Coalition
Body Count, "Cop Killer," 1992
Boy Bands
Boyz n the Hood, 1991
Britpop
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2001, 2001-2003
Cable TV's Expansion
Mariah Carey
The Challenger Explosion
Children's Television Act/Kid Vid Rules
Clear Craze
Clerks, 1994
Clueless, 1995
Coffeehouse Culture
Compact Discs
Sofia Coppola
Cyberpunk
DIY Culture
Dr. Dre, The Chronic, 1992
Drug Culture
Empire Records, 1995
Nora Ephron
Fake News, Parody, Satire, Mockumentary
Family/Domestic Sitcoms
Festivals: Lollapalooza, Lilith Fair, Coachella, Woodstock '94
Fight Club, 1999
Friends, 1994-2004
Gaming
Garbage Pail Kids
Generation X, Douglas Coupland, 1991
Gen X Nostalgia on Screen
Ghost World, Daniel Clowes, 1997
Girls and Women in Popular Music
Goth
Graphic Novels
Grunge
Heathers, 1989
John Hughes
Independent Film
In Living Color, 1990-1994
The Internet and Social Media
The Iran Hostage Crisis
Spike Jonze
Latchkey Kids
Late Night Television
Spike Lee
The Literary Brat Pack: Bret Easton Ellis, Tama Janowitz, and Jay McInerney
Madonna
Mall Culture
Mixtapes
Alanis Morissette
Kate Moss
MTV/The Music Video
My Own Private Idaho, 1991
Neo-noir
New Sincerity
New Wave
Nirvana, Nevermind, 1991
Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die, 1994
The Nuclear Age in Decline
Office Space, 1999
The O.J. Simpson Trial
Online Activism and Slacktivism
Operation Desert Storm
Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted, 1992
Pearl Jam, Ten, 1991
Liz Phair
The Presidential Campaign of 1992
Princess Diana's Death
Radio
Reality Bites, 1994
Reality TV
The Real World, 1992-2017, 2019-
R.E.M., Automatic for the People, 1992
The Rodney King Beating and the L.A. Riots
Ronald Reagan Assassination Attempt
The Sandman, Neil Gaiman, 1989-1993
Satanic Panic
Scream, 1996
Seinfeld, 1989-1998
The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Singles, 1992
Slacker, 1991
Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle, 1993
Sonic Youth, Dirty, 1992
The Spice Girls
Whit Stillman
Swing and Ska Revivals
Quentin Tarantino
Technothriller Cinema
Teen Melodrama: Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Dawson's Creek
The Terminator, 1984
Titanic, 1997
Top Gun, 1986
Transmedia Storytelling
Twin Peaks, 1990-1991, 2017
Video Rentals
Weird TV
The X-Files, 1993-2002, 2016-2018
The X Games
Young Adult Literature
Y2K
Interviews
Glossary of Key Terms
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Chronology
Introduction
Gen X and Labels
Gen X as Consumers
Gen X and Race
Gen X in Relationships
Gen X and Health
Gen X at Leisure
Gen X and Politics
Gen X and Domestic Terror
Gen X and Social Consciousness
A-Z Entries
AIDS/HIV Epidemic
Analog-to-Digital Transition
Anti-Corporatism
Apartheid
Beck, Odelay, 1996
BET
The Big Lebowski, 1998
BIPOC Film and Television Representation
Black Rock Coalition
Body Count, "Cop Killer," 1992
Boy Bands
Boyz n the Hood, 1991
Britpop
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2001, 2001-2003
Cable TV's Expansion
Mariah Carey
The Challenger Explosion
Children's Television Act/Kid Vid Rules
Clear Craze
Clerks, 1994
Clueless, 1995
Coffeehouse Culture
Compact Discs
Sofia Coppola
Cyberpunk
DIY Culture
Dr. Dre, The Chronic, 1992
Drug Culture
Empire Records, 1995
Nora Ephron
Fake News, Parody, Satire, Mockumentary
Family/Domestic Sitcoms
Festivals: Lollapalooza, Lilith Fair, Coachella, Woodstock '94
Fight Club, 1999
Friends, 1994-2004
Gaming
Garbage Pail Kids
Generation X, Douglas Coupland, 1991
Gen X Nostalgia on Screen
Ghost World, Daniel Clowes, 1997
Girls and Women in Popular Music
Goth
Graphic Novels
Grunge
Heathers, 1989
John Hughes
Independent Film
In Living Color, 1990-1994
The Internet and Social Media
The Iran Hostage Crisis
Spike Jonze
Latchkey Kids
Late Night Television
Spike Lee
The Literary Brat Pack: Bret Easton Ellis, Tama Janowitz, and Jay McInerney
Madonna
Mall Culture
Mixtapes
Alanis Morissette
Kate Moss
MTV/The Music Video
My Own Private Idaho, 1991
Neo-noir
New Sincerity
New Wave
Nirvana, Nevermind, 1991
Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die, 1994
The Nuclear Age in Decline
Office Space, 1999
The O.J. Simpson Trial
Online Activism and Slacktivism
Operation Desert Storm
Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted, 1992
Pearl Jam, Ten, 1991
Liz Phair
The Presidential Campaign of 1992
Princess Diana's Death
Radio
Reality Bites, 1994
Reality TV
The Real World, 1992-2017, 2019-
R.E.M., Automatic for the People, 1992
The Rodney King Beating and the L.A. Riots
Ronald Reagan Assassination Attempt
The Sandman, Neil Gaiman, 1989-1993
Satanic Panic
Scream, 1996
Seinfeld, 1989-1998
The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
Singles, 1992
Slacker, 1991
Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle, 1993
Sonic Youth, Dirty, 1992
The Spice Girls
Whit Stillman
Swing and Ska Revivals
Quentin Tarantino
Technothriller Cinema
Teen Melodrama: Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Dawson's Creek
The Terminator, 1984
Titanic, 1997
Top Gun, 1986
Transmedia Storytelling
Twin Peaks, 1990-1991, 2017
Video Rentals
Weird TV
The X-Files, 1993-2002, 2016-2018
The X Games
Young Adult Literature
Y2K
Interviews
Glossary of Key Terms
Bibliography
Index