I am sure there are many people out there who have come up with this theory, but I have never heard of them, so I will take credit for it. Every 20 to 25 years, we see a cultural revolution in which the way we live is drastically changed, either for better or worse. This goes back as far as 1900, and maybe even further.
Around the turn of the 20th century, there were many changes in our society. Electricity was evolving and soon many Americans had flip-on lights instead of lanterns. Cars were made in mass production, forever ending the horse carriage era as many people could now drive places farther and faster.
The second major cultural change came after World War I and the “red scare,” around 1920. Women’s suffrage took a great leap forward. Prohibition came into effect, and speakeasies and gambling became popular as it seemed everyone was having a really good time.
The next cultural change took place after World War II. This is as close to “The American Dream” as we would get. Fathers were able to support their family, mothers stayed at home cooking and caring for the children, not yet rebels in the masses. This was also the baby boom generation, when the only thing these veterans wanted was a nice happy family.
The new way for the family to spend time in the house together was by watching television, the big new thing back then. Freeways were also built, encouraging the station wagon family vacation road trip to the wonders of America.
And, of course, a little thing called rock ‘n’ roll began, which would be a sign of things to come.
The fourth cultural revolution was of course, the ’60s. Another war was going on in Vietnam, and Americans had enough of fighting, so the hippies created a cultural shift towards peace and love. But it was more than that.
The ’60s brought a new, raw style of rock ‘n’ roll that broke many boundaries that the youth used as a sign of rebellion against parents and the establishment. Boundaries were also broken in the way we dressed, talked and thought about the world. And of course, hair grew by the masses.
The last cultural revolution of the 20th century was basically a replication of the ’60s. This took place in the early ’90s as a new form of music, Grunge, took over. Tie-dye’s came back, as did flannel shirts. The new invention of the Internet forever changed the way we live and communicate.
So, by my theory, we should be hitting another cultural revolution between the years 2010 and 2015. Or are we in the making of one right now? The way we live is drastically different from just 10 years ago. We turn in our homework, find directions, and receive e-mail through the Internet. Not only that, but digital technology has changed the way we get our music or videos.
We also live in an era of heightened security due to the Sept. 11 attacks. We are losing our freedom of what we can say and do as the Bush administration steps up the “War on Terror.” Paranoia is at an all-time high.
Could SUVs actually die off? Many sports players and actors are making more than $20 million a year. Gay marriage is now legal in Massachusetts and proposed in other states. It seems that nothing is made in the United States anymore.
But ultimately, I still believe we are living in the end stages of a cultural revolution that started in the early ’90s. Because the Internet was created back then, we have all of these new digital technologies. The Internet is evolving and what we are seeing is living proof.
Because of the prosperous ’90s, Americans bought gas hungry SUVs. Back then, who new gas prices would rise? And with the way salaries skyrocketed in the ’90s, it’s no wonder why we see athletes like Alex Rodriguez being paid $25 million a year today. And the first World Trade Center bombing and Oklahoma bombings were signs of terrorist acts to come.
I’ve always seen the previous decades as a reason why the present one occurs the way it does. Just go through the decades in the 20th century and you will see that I am right. And, if that’s the case, what will the next decade bring us? You decide.
Daniel Macri is a junior film major.
