Baby Boomers Influence On Youth Culture

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During the early post-war period, the term youth culture referred to the baby boomers, who made up an enormous portion of every country's population. During the 1960s, the time period this movie is based on, 'youth culture' referred to the teenagers, who were also baby boomers. For the first time in history, teenagers were working, and that means that they had purchasing power. Purchasing power is the single most important thing in an economy. If you are wealthy, every advertisement will be directed toward you, and every marketer will be your 'best friend'. Considering the fact that so many baby boomers had purchasing power, almost every advertisement was directed toward them. The continued success of many reputable businesses heavily relied …show more content…

Identity is knowing what kind of person you are, and knowing what your values are. Your values are what you believe in and what you are willing to stand up for. When a certain fad or subculture arises, neither your identity nor values matter anymore. You are either participating and are classified as popular or 'cool', or you are the social outcast. Now peer pressure comes into play. If everyone is a part of a particular group, and you are alone, you are pressured into becoming a member of that group because your companions are part of it. Once you succumb to the pressure of joining the group, the pressure continues to build. What will happen when drugs, alcohol, and gang fights come into the question? You will also take part in these events to avoid being an outcast. This is extremely dangerous because you can ruin your life by becoming addicted to a certain drug or die in a gang fight; as a result of participating in a particular trend. Someone with the potential to become a doctor will become a beggar because they did not have the courage to oppose a subculture, and became addicted to heroine (ruining his life). The idea of being 'cool' is what influences you to partake in a subculture/trend, which can destroy your potential, as well as your identity. I could barely recognize Jimmy by the conclusion of the movie because his identity and values entirely changed, and his life nearly ended. When all you focus on are the goals of a subculture, your identity diminishes, and you become a different person. There are more important things in life than 'fitting in', and if you do not realize this, the effects on your life can be drastic. Of course, it is incredible to feel welcome, but feeling welcome in a deadly group is not as important as reaching your full potential. There is no problem with belonging to a group of extraordinary friends, as long as one does not alter his/her beliefs for the

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