Generation X

Members of Gen X, the 65 million people sandwiched between the much larger groups of baby boomers and millennials, are often thought to be cynics, slackers and loners, a characterization brought to life in the disillusionment movie “Reality Bites.” In the first of six episodes, Generation X explores the roots of this generation by looking at the forces that shaped it, from the stalemate of the Vietnam War, the increasing divorce rate, the growing latchkey kid phenomenon, the resignation of Nixon and the rise of grunge.

When Julian Assange created WikiLeaks, it was no coincidence that he was a member of Generation X. After decades of watching government corruption scandals unfold, such as Iran Contra and the Pentagon Papers, Gen-Xers developed a distrust of those in power, further evidenced by paranoia films like “Dr. Strangelove” and “War Games.” The decades-long forces that led to the WikiLeaks release are examined through original interviews and memorable footage.

Featuring interviews with prominent Generation X thinkers and innovators, this episode examines how advances in technology have profoundly shaped every aspect of Gen X-ers’ lives. From the initial optimism of Star Trek to the disaster of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and from the advent of the pocket calculator to the creation of the World Wide Web, Generation X has had to bridge the transition from the analog past and the digital future.

Raised in an era of economic and social disruption, Gen X become the ultimate disrupters.

Born and raised when divorce rates began to rise, gen X-ers have redefined the institution of family in an era of constant social upheaval.

A look at how the political consciousness of generation X evolved over several decades, especially in terms of race and women’s rights.