#16: The Gen X Issue
“As the expression goes, we spend our youth attaining wealth, and our wealth attaining youth.” - Douglas Coupland, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture
I work on the fringes of advertising where some overeducated consulting type decided I fit into a demographic known as the ‘Xennial’. Analogue youth with a digital adulthood, I straddle the divide between Gen X; the nihilistic latchkey kids born 1965 - 1980, and the millennials; helicopter-parented snowflakes obsessed with avocado on toast (on Instagram).
My tastes have always tended to the former and when you’re feeling down (following a severe bout of Covid and fatigue perhaps?), nothing hit’s the spot quite like Gen X apathy and disaffection so go forth and wallow!
Mooreish Words
In preparation for an upcoming writing project I have been re-reading some Gen X literary classics including ‘Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture’ by Douglas Coupland, ‘Less Than Zero’ by Bret Easton Ellis’ and ‘Fight Club’ by Chuck Palahniuk. In fact I’ve been enjoying myself so much I couldn’t resist a trip to Kinokuniya to stock up on more even though I have stacks of unread books home. According to an article on Big Think, this is a demonstration of my intellectual humility so I shall carry on shopping to show just how incredibly humble I can be! Read: ‘The Value of Owning More Books Than You Can Read’.
“All those books you haven’t read are indeed a sign of your ignorance. But if you know how ignorant you are, you’re way ahead of the vast majority of other people.”
Mooreish Sounds
‘90s Britpop pioneers Suede are coming to Singapore for the F1 concert series AND to promote their brand new album ‘Autofiction’. Suede are on something of a late career run since their comeback album ‘Bloodsports’ in 2013 and this is no different. Loud and brash and filled with middle-aged angst this, according to singer Brett Anderson, is their “punk album” - judge for yourself.
Also, former NME writer Ted Kessler has a fantastic Substack for discovering new music called ‘The New Cue’ and scored an interview with Brett about the new album just this week…
Mooreish Visions
Gen X director du jour Kevin Smith has gone back to the well with Clerks III, the second sequel to his 1994 Sundance hit ‘Clerks’, famously made for $25k on credit cards in the convenience store where he worked.
The original was a witty, sarcastic, slice of life feature made by the youth, for the youth, about the youth and many think Smith has never bettered it. But the sheer nostalgia of heading back to the Quick Stop to see where Dante and Randall are now is too much for me to resist, particularly after the feelgood factor of ‘Clerks II’. I can’t wait for this to make it to the The Projector.
If that makes you feel nostalgic then you can continue to ride the vibe by watching ‘In Search of Tomorrow - The Definitive 80s Sci-Fi Documentary’. An independent production funded on Kickstarter, this epic 5hr+ documentary features 75 of the biggest names in 80s sci-fi and will bring back all the feels for you here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/isotflashsale.
And if you want to meet your heroes, join their community for watch parties, giveaways and celebrity Q&As (is this model for future indie films? 🤔)
Mooreish Happenings
Singapore’s venues are slowly filling up with events again so here’s what I’ve got my eye on in the near future:
‘Sugar Pills for A Bitter World’ opens today at the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film featuring the work of five Gen Z artists showcasing the lo-fi, absurdist humour that gets them through our “post-truth, late-stage capitalist, populist, Anthropocene”. And it’s FREE! https://www.objectifs.com.sg/sugar-pills-for-a-bitter-world/
If you’ve won big on the 4D or a rich relative has recently passed away you might be able to afford to see Suede at the F1 on Saturday 1st October but be warned - you may have to sit through Westlife & Black Eyed Peas too! https://singaporegp.sg/en/entertainment/2022-entertainment-line-up
Singaporean indie kids Sobs are playing tracks from their soon-to-be-released album ‘Air Guitar’ on 21st October at the Esplanade as part of the Mosaic Music Series. I’ve got my tickets, get yours here: https://www.esplanade.com/whats-on/festivals-and-series/series/2022/mosaic-music-series/sobs-air-guitar
Finally, former Black Flag front man, actor and raconteur Henry Rollins is back in Singapore for the first time this century with a new one man show, ‘Good To See You’, at the gorgeous Victoria Theatre: https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/22_henryrollins
Fun fact - it was the Rollins Band gig in 1992 that led to authorities in Singapore banning slam-dancing at concerts so I’ll see you there but not in the moshpit!
Cheers, Nx
P.S. You didn’t think I’d get all the way through this post without mentioning Bowie at all did you? I saw the new, official biopic ‘Moonage Daydream’ at The Projector last week and it is mind-alteringly brilliant. If it doesn’t win every award going for editing and sound (check out all new remixes of Bowie classics by longtime producer Toni Visconti here), then there is a conspiracy afoot! It is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Don’t believe me? Believe Mark Kermode then!