Alienation in "Generation X"

Paper Summary:

"Generation X", by Douglas Coupland, is a fictional account of three strangers brought together by circumstance to the fringes of the desert town of Palm Springs, CA. The paper explains that Andy, Dag and Claire are intelligent, educated twenty-somethings of middle-class backgrounds who have retreated from mainstream society to live creatively in its margins. However, their desire to find happiness in life without losing themselves in the dreary corporate workplace, without becoming obsessed with the value of economic and social success in our culture, leaves them alienated from the major ideals of most of those who comprise the world around them. This paper analyzes the concept of alienation as it pertains to the characters in "Generation X", both psychologically and sociologically. The paper argues that Andy, Dag and Claire are alienated, rather than mentally ill, members of society.

From the Paper:

"The mass media's bland, recycled version of the past combined with the characters' ambivalence about the future (emphasized by the recurring theme of nuclear warfare in the characters' inner and outer dialogue) leaves them suspended in a state of not knowing which direction to look in. Their dialogue is characterized by "O'Propriation: the inclusion of advertising, packaging, and entertainment jargon from earlier eras in everyday speech for ironic and/or comic effect" (GX 107). This is an example of their ability to subvert the media in an eccentric manner. They have a disturbing form of humor indicative of their fears about and frustration with the world, yet it is apparent within the framework of their humor that they are striving not to be depressed about their situation, and that they identify with each other and find solace in each other's company."

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