In The Wake Of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice And Speaking As A Gen Xer, I’ve Had Enough Nostalgia

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As a Gen Xer who was around during the birth of MTV and the rise of grunge, I can’t help but feel like we’re stuck in some sort of pop culture time loop. It seems that every other movie or show these days is either a reboot or sequel from our beloved ’80s and ’90s, and frankly, it’s starting to feel like déjà vu all over again.

I’ve had my fill of the current wave of Gen X nostalgia that’s flooding everywhere, from hit shows like Stranger Things, Axel F, and most recently, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on popular streaming platforms and at the box office. Honestly, I’m tired of it all. To be clear, while I identify as a Gen Xer, born in the mid-70s and maturing during the late ’80s and early ’90s, I still appreciate the music and films from that time. However, I can’t seem to connect with the modern reinterpretations or revivals of those memories. In essence, it’s not my cup of tea anymore.

Here We Are Now, Entertain Us

Over the past few years, it seems like there’s been a flood of sequels or reboots from ’80s and ’90s movies that it can be challenging to keep track. Examples include Top Gun: Maverick, Blade Runner 2049, Coming 2 America, Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiousa, Bill & Ted Face The Music, and more. Additionally, shows like the well-known Stranger Things and The Goldbergs have emerged, but they’re not the only ones. Other series such as That ‘90s Show, Young Sheldon, and Yellowjackets capitalize on ’80s and ’90s nostalgia. Moving forward to 2024, we can expect the release of sequels like Gladiator 2 (originally released in 2000) and another installment of The Karate Kid, along with another season of Cobra Kai on television.

Shows that were popular in the ’60s, ’80s, and ’90s have been brought back to life for the Generation X audience in recent times. This trend is reminiscent of the ’80s when shows like Magnum P.I., MacGyver, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, Rosanne, Quantum Leap, and others were rebooted. I vividly recall being captivated by The New Leave It to Beaver back in the ’80s. However, I find myself less enthused about the current revivals such as Frasier or Fuller House.

In the early ’90s, we started distancing ourselves from the popular culture that our parents embraced. In early 1992, Nirvana’s album “Nevermind” overtook Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” at the top of the Billboard Top 40, marking a significant shift in music trends. This change brought forth a new sound that belonged to Generation X. Genres like Grunge and Hip Hop rose to fame, while just a couple of years prior, Roy Orbison’s album “Mystery Girl” was among the top 5. Generation X was asserting its presence, and we were no longer idolizing the hippies and yuppies as our pop culture icons.

I Feel Stupid, And Contagious

Originally, we didn’t plan on glancing back; instead, we derided films such as “Forrest Gump” and TV series like “The Wonder Years.” Interestingly, even “The Wonder Years” was reborn with a level of nostalgia reminiscent of “Inception.” We were all about embracing the new and shunning the past. Now that Gen X finds itself in a position similar to where the Boomers stood 30 years ago, we’re following the very same pattern!

I’m not implying that these movies and TV shows are poor quality. Many of them are excellent, such as the critically acclaimed Stranger Things, which stands tall on Netflix. In cinemas, the remake of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is nearly shattering box office records. However, they fail to engage me in any meaningful way.

Perhaps it’s a matter of me dealing with the reality of aging and accepting that there is more of my past than future, but I prefer not to dwell on the past. While I still enjoy the music from my teenage years, I don’t want current music or entertainment to feel repetitive and reminiscent of old times. I hope that I have many more years ahead where I can continue exploring new experiences.

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2024-09-13 21:37