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January 12, 2005
sex, drugs, harleys & cocoa puffs
seems like in the last year i've been searching more & more for info related to the ideas of the future, current struggles & aftermath of the our pop culture of today. more of a side interest of our images, music, technology, education, jobs, media, etc. interested in learning about a perspective on the things we see now in our everyday life & how or why they have come to be. on an odd note this hunt sometimes/often finds me discovering that the recent generations are in the aftermath of the baby boomers. one way or another i've found some share of responsibility being laid upon those shoulders. i know i know it’s a stretch to make a dig like that. but is it that far of from the truth? a boomer will bitch & complain over the suggestion. i guess this is another topic for another day. but as for the boomers generation, the "gimme gimme what i want" generation, which makes up of one of the largest $demographics$ in the USA. i'm still perplexed & in search of additonal thoughts.
which brings me to another odd thought i have: the recent last 10 year harley resurgence.
i like harley's don't get me wrong. for years as i kid some of my fondest memories are meeting many of my dads friends that were hells angels, my first motor cycle ride was on a harley. several of my gen x friends are avid daily riders. so now that i've stated some poorly ill-claimed loyalty, my question may be an obvious to answer or might not be: as for today's society of boomers(which IS harley's target auidence)..is the harley the new red corvette? the glenching of old and new? most bikes i see are 2 seats, some are 1. is the 1 seater an image of true individuality? much more of a stance than the 2 seater of inviting co-pilot adventure? dennis hopper rode a 2 seater (him & his backpack) in the movie easy rider. fonda & jack rode a 2 seater with a long steel back rack with packs. an icon image of unknown road travel in the 70's hay day. are today’s harley boomer riders now just weekend warriors living in the aftermath of what was once past, then going home to the 2.5 kids, SUV, stocks & to worry about social security? of course i'm referring to the masses here, using a get out of jail free card for sure by the wide casted scope to make these remarks. so if your reading this & your a boomer...step it up a notch & look at the bigger pic here before you hammer me with long ass winded banter of blah blah cus i'm this & i'm that blah
honest questions here, not digs.
anyhow, i'm not really looking for finger pointing reads. more looking for reads on the cultures living in the states as a analysis of today’s lifestyle in media, health, education etc. so many influences of today & looking for litttle factual clues along the way. many things out there to be flipped through & scrolled over. found this great article linked off one of the sites i frequent in my morning net crawlin's. "here"
this one in particular reflects on some very interesting facts that are hard to discount. "here"
to add to the same light i just finished "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto" by chuck klosterman. it’s more of a gen x book (1965-1978 or there about). he's a senior writer for spin mag. smart bastard with a tweaked perspective of life. the book is broken into chapters or more essay style. made me laugh in alot of ways. easy read & i give it a 4 out of 5 based on the fact he's not afraid to talk about the issues existing in our society of pop culture, music & social graces. he also uses a very unique gift to look at a subject in a light many wish they could.
i'm at work & really don't want to write a review. gen x lazy today i guess. but i've read several & they all say very similar things. here is a couple if you care:
"here"
Posted by Single Fin at January 12, 2005 01:08 PM
Comments
The execs at Harley should contract themselves out to market EVERYTHING. They did such a good job selling a second rate bike based on image alone.
As far as "low culture" is concerned it is my opinion that most everyone thinks that their "glory years"(ages 15-35) was the epitomy of civilization and every other time era sucked.
Posted by: Tyrone_shoes at January 13, 2005 05:48 AM
I think we can have a tendency to be too hard on ourselves and our lifestyles. I am not a Harley fan, and have never had an affinity for Bikes of any kind, but what's wrong with being a weekend warrior. It seems that society wants to pigeon hole us into very labeleable(nice word) groups, and when we fall out of the groups people get curious and then nervous. I think the question here is more a question of honesty. Everything does not have to be "black and white", as our interests move to a place where we can't always throw the back pack on and drive off for a few months, why can't we then take off for a week, or a weekend and enjoy the freedom of the road for a shorter period of time. It's not any different from taking a hike or doing yoga, or whatever else it is that renews your spirit.
And as far as how corporations deal with this and advertise to us as we morph and change. They can't do anything to us that we don't let them. And if someoen want to be a weekend warrior without any real experience for whatever lifestyle they are mocking - big deal. We shouldn't take these things too seriously.
Posted by: Matthew at January 13, 2005 07:10 AM