Comments on: What’s ‘in’ this year?

By: happycat

happycat — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:35:32 +0000

I noticed the Gen Y stuff too but other than that I haven’t noticed any big trends. There’s more theatre people doing comedy shows I think. Is that a trend?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:26:22 +0000

You’re right, it’s quite hazy, and does shift from individual to individual. I think there’s wiggle room of up to three years on either side of the ‘end’ date. I was born in ‘81 and very much feel like an old Yer. Though I would absolutely consider someone like Lawrence a Yer, too. (What with being very much a hipster nerd, and all – incidentally my third favourite type of person). But that’s just my humble opinion.

By: Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:45:22 +0000

Sorry – that should have been 1961 to 1981. Puts me even closer to the edge!

By: Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:41:25 +0000

That’s a fair point, though the distinction is hazy – Gen X doesn’t have a very specific definition. I’m 30 and definitely an Xer, though I’m on the very edge. Since Generation X is generally defined as the children born in the two decades after the end of the cold war, it’s not terribly exact, though a few sources seem to agree on the years 1962 to 1982.

So, to amend the above: “the last of Generation X and the oldest among Generation Y” would have been more accurate. Still, it’s the Generation X people I’m really talking about; Generation Y comedians generally have different cultural touchstones, and for the most part aren’t doing material about Transformers or New Kids on the Block.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:27:08 +0000

…it seems a bunch of Gen X comedians are coming up to 30…

Just a nitpick: the oldest members of Gen Y, not X, are coming up to 30 now.