But this book genuinely gives a voice that was previously silenced by deafening music videos and endless television advertising. Many of my friends and peers (myself included) are sceptical of the vague categories we are often pushed in – the 'MTV generation', the 'E-generation' – often created by the media to simplify complex sociological trends. Everything is overwhelmingly confusing and nobody is to be trusted - especially the Baby-boomer parents who 'failed them'. He uses his prose like photography: Coupland’s writing, like snapshots, illustrates what it feels like to be a troubled 20-something living in the 1990s.

If sarcasm is inherent in their speech, it is offset by a strong dimension of despair when they realise cynicism and irony are their only ways to communicate.Ĭoupland's forte is satire, his gift is to capture the iconic details which embody the way of life for the uncool-cool kids (in ways similar to how Warhol objectifies the soup can). These three character's tales, exchanged at night time, with glasses of alcohol in hand, permit them to flee, but also to succumb to, the great wave of apathy that was the 1990s. Too bored and deluded to enjoy their privileged-but-messed up North American lives, they decide to live as cultural outcasts, spending their time fabricating stories to fight monotony. Generation X is the post-modern Bible for hordes of self-defined slackers and alternative kids who feel they do not 'fit in' and demand more out of life than consumerism and pop-culture junk.Ĭoupland's novel, his first, is just that: a glimpse in to the lives of three 20-something year-olds leading an eerie existence where nothing seems to happen. His art may not be mind-blowing at first glance, but contextualisation is everything: he captures the essence of a generation. Recommended by Jessica Reed: In many ways Douglas Coupland is like Andy Warhol.

'Generation X: tales for an accelerated culture'

Generation x coupland