gaga for Gaga

So i was watching this weeks episode of Glee, (probably the greatest show on television, and certainly a true hallmark of our generation), and it focused on the music and Theatricality of Lady Gaga (another hallmark of our generation). It excites me when I think about our generation. (Did some research: I am part of "Generation Y" or the "Millennial Generation") We are the children of Gen X, the children of the Baby Boomers. As it stands today, Baby Boomers pretty much run the world. They're those born from 45-65, during the time of "epic" prosperity and "peace" after World War Two. Being 2 steps away from that generation, and paying attention in history class, i can tell you, THEY ARE THE REASON THE WORLD SUCKS RIGHT NOW. They're stubborn, slow to change, if at all, and they think all youth is doomed to an impossibly terrible life. They're the generation that beat Hitler, dropped the Bomb, and basically "saved" the world. Enter Gen X, their children, people who were brought up in this no-nonsense, follow the rules, America is immutable environment. I learned in a college psych class that Gen X generally has a negative outlook on the future, and life in general. They are today's middle management. They hate their situation because they can't break though what is tentatively called the "gray ceiling," basically, friendly nepotism within the corporate parapet, which i get. i would be totally pissed if i couldn't advance simply because they old guy wont give up power and/or die. This is the Generation who saw the Watergate Scandal, the Vietnam War, and the fall of the Communist Block. I can understand why they're pissed off. they don't trust the government, they don't want to become their parents, yet they don't understand their children. Btw, the Baby Boomers had tons of kids, where as Gen X didn't so that's why my parents have 7-8 brothers and sisters, and i have 2. Gen X didn't want big families, they grew up with them. (sry, needed to put that in there. toldja i jump around a bit, i still havent gotten to the point yet!). Enter Generation Y. The happy go-lucky everything is possible generation. We say the rise of the internet, global warming, and the public sector space race. I believe Gen Y will the be the first people to return to the moon, if not stand on Mars. I believe Gen Y will be the generation to make a more positive impact on the future than any other. "green tech" is being pioneered by people who grew up playing video games. no other generation is like ours. we got the best of both worlds. we got all the coolest video games of the day, but we dodged the "add-adhd" bullet of our younger counter parts. we don't agree with our parents that the world sucks. and if we do, then we see a much greater possibility to change it! We saw George Bush get elected. Twice. "We" elected Barrack Obama. We know its possible for anyone to be in the White House. We have seen the terrible behavior of our grandparents and the cynicism and inaction of our parents, and we choose to change our world. to be proactive about it. This generation will truly create the "Global Village." A nation isn't an island anymore. its not about a race to space, or who has the biggest baddest fighting force in the world. its time to start realizing that we need to work together if we want to survive.

ok, enough political soap boxing. we can talk generational fuck up's later. Back to my original point: Lady Gaga. She's Madonna on speed. She changes her looks more often than politicians change official positions on hot button issues. She captures ideas and artistic styles from every time period and artist this side of DaVinci. She's not one person long enough for you to get a read on her. She has a semi-specific music style, but keeps upping the anti, with no competitors to speak of. she embodies the theatricality of this generation. we're the generation of video game characters, of Nickelodeon characters, of movie characters. we're obsessed with people who don't really seem real (i mean c'mon, jersey shore's getting a 2nd season). we associate with that aesthetic, because thats what we were raised on. We grew up with the Marios, the Sonics, the Crashes, the Tommy Pickles, the Chuckie Finsters, the Phil and Lils, the bad Batmans, the Simbas, the Woodys the Buzzes, THE SIMPSONS for christ sakes! our formative years were filled with literal characters and caricatures, we watched Bill Clinton almost get impeached, we watched George Bush get elected, we watched Dick Cheney SHOOT SOMEONE IN THE FACE AND GET AWAY WITH IT! if you think that's not theatrical, you've never opened a book, and need to shut up right now. At first i didnt appreciate the totality of what she embodies, but she is basically the logical, intelligent, and lucrative conclusion to our generation. She's theatrical, inventive, re-inventive, and a figurehead for our generation. the generation before had Madonna, the generation after has.......Dora the explorer? I think we win. Power to the Millennials!