History Main / TheGenerationGap

* In ''The {{Quatermass}} Conclusion'' it turns out that TheGenerationGap is caused by the malign influence of aliens.

A trope commonly from the period in which it was named, the 1960s. The Generation Gap is the idea that the psychological differences between the WorldWarII generation and the Baby Boomers were so significant that they were incapable of understanding each other, and so were in conflict, often devolving into KidsVersusAdults. This mostly occured because, at the time, the US's political climate was changing, with many boomers vehemently protesting things like racism and the Vietnam War, all the while using [[ThePowerOfRock rock and roll]] as a weapon against these issues. Many WorldWarII era adults disapproved of this (as did many MoralGuardians), so the generational gap became a widespread phenomenon.

A second and arguably milder generational gap occured between the politically motivated Baby Boomers and more laid-back/openly-hedonistic Generation X'ers. Today, with many Generation X'ers and some Generation Y'ers becoming parents, this is gradually becoming a DiscreditedTrope.

Seems to be very common in 1960s and 1970s science fiction; see {{Films of the 1960s}} and {{Films of the 1970s}}. However, it also continued well into 80's/90's family sitcoms (even though [[DeadHorseTrope the trope was beginning to die around that time]]).

'''Note:''' A "generation gap" is a significant difference in ''values'' and ''ideas'' between two generations. A simple parent/child conflict (such as a parent disapproving of the music his/her child listens to) is not an example of this.

* ''TheMonkees'' TV show was undeniably symbolic of this trope. At the time, it was radical to even think about placing youth rebellion (with no parental figures) as protagonists on a prime time sitcom. However, the show attempted to create an understanding between the gap, and prove that America's youth wasn't all what it seemed, despite outside appearances. Their groovy theme tune (written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart) says it all:

* A rather pathetic ''non-example'' [[note]]The cartoon is about Porky Pig disapproving of his daughter seeing a certain popular rock band in concert. This is, at best, perfectly responsible parenting and, at worst, over-protective parenting. [[CriticalResearchFailure Neither of which has anything to do with this trope.]][[/note]] of this is the 2004 Larry Doyle directed Looney Tunes short "My Generation G-G-Gap," which not only came out when the concept of the "Generational Gap" was, for all intents and purposes, a [[DeadHorseTrope dying trope]], but portrayed teenagers as [[TwoDecadesBehind still listening to glam-influenced heavy metal]].
* CatStevens FatherAndSon
* FamilyTies is TheGenerationGap after the generation that caused the first Gap... The hippy parents now have a conservative, money-obsessed son.

* The theme of TheWho's MyGeneration.

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* A rather pathetic ''non-example'' [[note]]The cartoon is about Porky Pig disapproving of his daughter seeing a certain popular rock band in concert. This is, at best, perfectly responsible parenting and, at worst, over-protective parenting. Neither of which has anything to do with this trope.[[/note]] of this is the 2004 Larry Doyle directed Looney Tunes short "My Generation G-G-Gap," which not only came out when the concept of the "Generational Gap" was, for all intents and purposes, a [[DeadHorseTrope dying trope]], but portrayed teenagers as [[TwoDecadesBehind still listening to glam-influenced heavy metal]].

* A rather pathetic ''non-example'' [[note]]A parent disapproving of his/her daughter seeing a certain popular rock band is not an example of this trope. It's just perfectly responsible parenting at best and over-protective parenting at worst.[[/note]] of this is the 2004 Larry Doyle directed Looney Tunes short "My Generation G-G-Gap," which not only came out when the concept of the "Generational Gap" was, for all intents and purposes, a [[DeadHorseTrope dying trope]], but portrayed teenagers as [[TwoDecadesBehind still listening to glam-influenced heavy metal]].

* A rather pathetic example of this is the 2004 Larry Doyle directed Looney Tunes short "My Generation G-G-Gap," which not only came out when the concept of the "Generational Gap" was, for all intents and purposes, a [[DeadHorseTrope dying trope]], but portrayed teenagers as [[TwoDecadesBehind still listening to glam-influenced heavy metal]].

* The increasingly dated nature of this trope was one of the main complaints critics had with the 2012 film ''ParentalGuidance''.

* ''LogansRun'' has the youths living in a derelict part of the complex, attacking the adults.

-->"Heavens, yes! What modern girl could live like those inane females?"\\

"Yes, they were--not! Besides, our mothers were all very well in their way, but they know very little about their daughters' problems."

A second and arguably milder generational gap occured between the politically motivated Baby Boomers and more laid-back/openly-hedonistic Generation X'ers. Today, with many Generation X'ers and some Generation Y'ers being parents, this is gradually becoming a DiscreditedTrope.

A trope commonly from the period in which it was named, the 1960s. The Generation Gap is the idea that the psychological differences between the WorldWarII generation and the Baby Boomers were so significant that they were incapable of understanding each other, and so were in conflict, often devolving into KidsVersusAdults. This mostly occured because, at the time, the US was losing a lot of its British cultural baggage (thanks in no small part to the birth of Rock N' Roll). Specifically, the country was no longer looking to the royalty or high society for its influence and was instead looking to the rebels and non-conformists. Many WorldWarII era adults disapproved of this (as did many MoralGuardians), so the generational gap became a widespread phenomenon.

Today, however, the generational gap is much less prevelant. And, fortunately, the media finally seems to have caught up with this.

* FreaksAndGeeks exemplifies TheGenerationalGap in its late stages. The Weir parents are clearly pre-Boomers, while the Weir kids are early Generation-X'ers. Needless to say, when it comes to issues like sex and drug use, the Weir parents are little (if any) help.

A trope commonly from the period in which it was named, the 1960s. The Generation Gap is the idea that the psychological differences between the WorldWarII generation and the Baby Boomers were so significant that they were incapable of understanding each other, and so were in conflict, often devolving into KidsVersusAdults. This mostly occured because, at the time, the US was losing a lot of its British cultural baggage (things in no small part to the birth of Rock N' Roll). Specifically, the country was no longer looking to the royalty and high society for its influence and was instead looking up to the rebels and non-conformists. Many WorldWarII era adults disapproved of this (as did many MoralGuardians), so the generational gap became a widespread phenomenon.

A trope commonly from the period in which it was named, the 1960s. The Generation Gap is the idea that the psychological differences between the WorldWarII generation and the Baby Boomers was so significant that they were incapable of understanding each other, and so were in conflict, often devolving into KidsVersusAdults.

Seems to be very common in 1960s and 1970s science fiction; see {{Films of the 1960s}} and {{Films of the 1970s}}.

* ''AClockworkOrange''

* in TheQuatermassConclusion it turns out that TheGenerationGap is caused by the malign influence of aliens.

* ''[=~Logan's Run~=]'' has the youths living in a derelict part of the complex, attacking the adults.
* ''Charly'', the movie version of ''FlowersForAlgernon'', has a sequence where Charly rejects society and goes living a freelovin' lifestyle.

* ''TheMonkees'' TV show was undeniably symbolic of this trope. At the time, it was radical to even think about placing youth rebellion (with no parental figures) as protagonists on a prime time sitcom. However, the show attempted to create an understanding between the gap, and prove that America’s youth wasn’t all what it seemed, despite outside appearances. Their groovy theme tune (written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart) says it all:
-->"Here we come, walkin’ down the street. We get the funniest looks from everyone we meet…" \\

“We’re just tryin’ to be friendly, come and watch us sing and play. We’re the young generation, and we’ve got somethin’ to say.”

* ''TheFullMatilda'', which partially takes place in TheSixties, shows this between Matilda and her nephew David. Matilda is an old-fashioned black woman of the World War II generation, and David is a hip baby boomer involved in the CivilRightsMovement.