Rebirth of Cool

By Lisa Gardner

We cannot forget who we are, Generation X. We’re Generation Cool. Generation X is defined as people born 1965–1980; it’s the minds of this generation that gave us today’s prevalent pop culture.

Seemingly, we’ve been overshadowed by the technological advancements of the Millennials and by the rascally radicals of Generation Z, but we are Generation X; we cannot fold into the shadows behind the tough Boomers. No, we are the precipice of a Rebirth of Cool.

We’re the generation that introduced the world to hip-hop music. In all of its controversy, from the suggestive lyrics of 2 Live Crew to the raw and unfiltered gangsterism of N.W.A., we’re the generation that challenged the law in music. We’re the generation that brought Grunge with its unapologetic sound out of Seattle, polarizing the world. From Nirvana to Weezer, we’re the generation who displayed our turmoil loudly through the unrepentant sound of systemic frustration. This was early Mental Health music, channeling the generation before us that had Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Carlos Santana; we may not have taken to the streets in protest with a raised fist, but we protested with our music, with Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine.

We’re the generation that introduced the world to music videos and reality television. Reality television introduced a new genre of indulging every facet of industry, from food shows to real estate to renovation shows. Our Generation X unlocked the taboo of “leaving it to our imagination” to taking a magnifying glass to how things “really” work.

We’re the generation who introduced the world to the internet and social media with the early days of Juno, AOL, and chat rooms like AOL Voices—finding ways to connect with individuals all over the country and eventually all over the world at the speed of light. We’re the generation that took arcade games from the arcade to the comforts of home. Social networking could now happen at home with “the homies” around a Nintendo 64. So, what happens when we reach the golden age of 50? Do we sulk over a diminished social security? Salivate over the looming retirement years? No, we reinvent ourselves. We’re now the hip CEO wearing an Adidas tracksuit and sleeve tattoos in board meetings. We’re now honoring LL Cool J at the Kennedy Center. We’re currently listening to André 3000 of Outkast as he plays his wooden Mayan flute on an album of ambient music. We’re the generation rebirthing cool and standardizing it from the streets to the boardroom, from a grunge garage in Seattle to a self-driving, environmentally safe Tesla. We’re among the coolest generations walking the earth, powered by over-consumption of crafted coffee and legalized artisan sativa and indica—we can thank the Millennials for that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of Spokane, Lisa Gardner is an aspiring author who has contributed articles to several local publications, including Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living Magazine, Trending Northwest Magazine, and The Black Lens. Lisa attended Eastern Washington University (EWU) as an undergraduate and the University of Maryland for graduate school. Professionally, Lisa is the Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Spokane City Council and volunteers as the President of the Spokane NAACP.