ASSIGNMENT 2 You will be working on a weekly generational analysis that culminates in a final, edited compilation due in Week 6. Your weekly installments will explore the zeitgeist (German for “spirit of the times”) of each era by traveling through the generations and examining a single facet of popular culture. Select one area of popular culture to investigate through each generation from the following list: • Architecture or Art • Advertising or Graphic Design • Culinary Arts • Dance • Fashion • Film or Video • Games or Sports • Jokes or Urban Legends • Literature • Music or Music Videos Consider the generation’s characteristics as you explore how the area you have chosen evolved during that generation. Relate the generation to the area, and you will find the spirit of the times.  Compose your analysis with care. Analyze how the area you chose forms a portrait of the multiple generations alive during this time. Think about historical and cultural events, technological advancements, the economy, and the political climate. Describe how those changes might affect one personally.  Your project may take the form of a traditional paper. A traditional paper offers an introduction, develops a thesis with evidence, and provides a conclusion. Your paper must include functional links, clips, and/or images. An alternative to the traditional paper is a creative work approved by your instructor and supported with a written analysis. Your written analysis will support your creative project by relating your creative work to the zeitgeist we study each week. Some examples are: a menu for each generation, a cinema showcase of film clips or self-made films reflecting each generation, a concert (your own music created in the spirit of each generation), a fashion show for each generation, a video game reflecting the generations, an oral history (interviews with family members, friends, and/or strangers about their generations).  Visual presentation is important. Be certain to present your work aesthetically. If you are composing a traditional paper, then images, clips, and/or links will add professionalism. Our session together examines six generations focusing primarily on their “coming of age” eras during which they significantly began asserting themselves as consumers/creators of popular culture. Please refer to the table below to discern the birth date ranges and coming-of-age date ranges for each generation: Generation Name Coming-of-Age Era Date Range Birth Date Range Lost Generation 1901–1929 1883–1900 GI (Greatest) Generation 1929–1946 1901–1929 Silent Generation 1946–1963 1929–1946 Baby Boomer Generation 1963–1983 1946–1963 Generation X 1983–1999 1963–1983 Millennial Generation 1999–Ongoing 1983–2004 .

1. ASSIGNMENT 2
You will be working on a weekly generational analysis that
culminates in a final, edited compilation due in
Week 6.
Your weekly installments will explore the zeitgeist (German
for “spirit of the times”) of each era by traveling through the
generations and examining a single facet of popular culture.
Select one area of popular culture to investigate through each
generation from the following list:
•
Architecture or Art
•
Advertising or Graphic Design
•
Culinary Arts
•
Dance
•
Fashion
•
Film or Video
•
Games or Sports
•
Jokes or Urban Legends

2. •
Literature
•
Music or Music Videos
Consider the generation’s characteristics as you explore how the
area you have chosen evolved during that generation. Relate the
generation to the area, and you will find the spirit of the times.
Compose your analysis with care. Analyze how the area you
chose forms a portrait of the multiple generations alive during
this time. Think about historical and cultural events,
technological advancements, the economy, and the political
climate. Describe how those changes might affect one
personally.
Your project may take the form of a traditional paper. A
traditional paper offers an introduction, develops a thesis with
evidence, and provides a conclusion. Your paper must include
functional links, clips, and/or images.
An alternative to the traditional paper is a creative work
approved by your instructor and supported with a written
analysis. Your written analysis will support your creative
project by relating your creative work to the zeitgeist we study
each week. Some examples are: a menu for each generation, a
cinema showcase of film clips or self-made films reflecting
each generation, a concert (your own music created in the spirit
of each generation), a fashion show for each generation, a video
game reflecting the generations, an oral history (interviews with
family members, friends, and/or strangers about their
generations).
Visual presentation is important. Be certain to present your
work aesthetically. If you are composing a traditional paper,
then images, clips, and/or links will add professionalism.
Our session together examines six generations
focusing primarily on their

3. “coming of age” eras
during which they significantly began asserting themselves as
consumers/creators of popular culture. Please refer to the table
below to discern the birth date ranges and coming-of-age date
ranges for each generation:
Generation Name
Coming-of-Age Era
Date Range
Birth Date Range
Lost Generation
1901–1929
1883–1900
GI (Greatest) Generation
1929–1946
1901–1929
Silent Generation
1946–1963
1929–1946
Baby Boomer Generation
1963–1983
1946–1963
Generation X
1983–1999
1963–1983
Millennial Generation
1999–Ongoing
1983–2004