Culture as defined in the dictionary is a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: like Greek culture.
OR
Development or improvement of the mind by education or training.
OR
The behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group like the youth culture.
The most talked about youth culture is the 70s where rebellion and liberation was the keyword. Disco, free sex and drugs were the buzz words. This was a western culture. In India, this culture set in the late 80s.
The lack of media was probably the reason why there was a delay of about a decade for us to catch up.
However, the 90s was a little different, where media presence was growing and the information was free flowing – however to the rich and few. The western culture was being aped in the higher strata of society. The middle-class and the lower strata were confused to see this change and were not able to comprehend, let alone act so. They then interpreted it in their way and came about with a mix of their understanding and what they saw. It was more of a confused generation.
The 21st century however changed all that. Information Technology had a wider audience and the generation called themselves the Gen X. And this was the first time the gap was getting smaller between the western and Indian youth cultures. And this was also the first time the generation culture changed twice within a decade. The 2nd half of the new decade was labeled as Gen Y.
Delve a little deeper and you would notice that the music has changed – From Rock to Metal, Trance and a few more new genres.
The form in which Drugs are consumed has changed.
The mantraof free sex has changed to safe sex.
Fundamental change in the thought process, which is the need of the hour, exists but slower than expected.
The blind aping of western culture stays. And by what can be seen in the media, the change is going to be faster by the day and will not wait to be defined by a certain decade ala "That 70's show".
So, you won't have a show in the future that goes "That First Decade of the 21st Century Show" or something like that.
Let’s just hope that Gen X and Gen Y doesn’t transform to Generation “Zzzzzzz”.
It would be very interesting to have a Generation “WHY”.
A Generation that asks questions, specifically a “WHY”, before they do anything. A generation that questions when they see something that is not normal.
A generation that questions to promote innovation, to bring back the ethics, to do something original and something that is relevant to us. Something that is not just Western.
Why did I have to think about this?
Why did I feel the necessity of having to write and share this thought?
Why am I feeling victimized of a herd mentality?
Why? Why? Why?
