Ever feel our generation is the last literate TV/Movie generation ?

[torgospizza]

My father in law has a habit of harassing the younger brothers in law with "I listen to real music, not what you call music!" schtick. I don't wanna do that.

I don't either, but I show my lack of cool when they ask me if I like any new stuff and I say, "Some, like Queens of the Stone Age." They've been around for almost twenty years.

I think we can get too self-congratulatory when we talk about our tastes versus those of younger generations. I watch and read a fair amount of heady stuff, but I like a lot of crap, as well. It doesn't mean King Kong Escapes isn't crap because it's old. If a kid today can't recognize Woody Strode, Ethel Merman, or George Kennedy, it doesn't mean as much as we think. It's like people our age not recognizing Louise Brooks, William Powell, or Eubie Blake. It makes sense to me a kid born in 1990 wouldn't know who Chad Everett is. I've never seen an episode of Dr. Kildare, so I'm in no position to criticize.

[ZombieJimC]

Its a shame. The kids today cant even tell time unless its digital. And roman numerals, forget it. Before we moved out here to the woods, we lived in a neighborhood, and I would give my daughters friends comic books just to encourage them to read. I have so many comics I could open a store. Shes 18 now and doesn't really have time for Dad anymore, but she knows most of the super-heroes (Marvel and DC), knows about 70s and 80s music and movies, and shes an avid reader because of my influence. She knows all the Brady kids, Arnold, the Peanuts gang, 3 Stooges, Megos, etc. She walks around saying Warriors come out to play! Its all what they are taught. If more parents spent time with their kids they would know about and maybe have an appreciation for older things. I dont know many girls/women that really like the Stooges, but we will still watch them on Sunday mornings every once and awhile. I know who Gabby Hayes is because of spending time with my Dad. My 30 year old nephew lived with me for 5 yrs while he was a recovering addict (hes been clean about 8yrs now), anyway he never saw the original 3 Star Wars movies. I had a lot of teaching to do with him about my generation. If the new generations do not know about who and what came before, it has a lot to do with how they were raised. You just have to do things with the younger people, whether its watching tv, playing with toys, or just talking to them.

[madmarva]

Never mind

[mazinz]

Adding my two cents for younger generations not knowing many iconic stars. I work with a guy in his early 20's who has no idea who Richard Pryor was. A few of us felt like belting him across the face

[LadyZod]

I find myself consistently having the following conversation with a 20-something coworker:

"Did you see that [blah blah] last night?"
"It wasn't as good as the original [blah blah]"
"I know, right? I mean how could they replace the original [blah blah from 1970]?!"
"There was a [blah blah from 1970?] I was talking about the original [blah blah from 1990]"

replace [blah blah] with your favorite character being played by your favorite actor, your favorite tv show, sports team, movie, book, genre, etc.

I feel old all the time.