Clearly, today’s youth and Gen Z are far different from their parents and grandparents. In fact, the youth and Gen Z both identify themselves as being separate from and not affiliated with either the old or the young. The youth of today simply do not care about trends or what is hip or cool. They care more about authenticity, about having real feelings and emotions. More importantly, they want to express themselves through music and fashion.
This shift was sparked by punk rock music and its subsequent influence on the youth. As teenagers began to look for alternative and edgy ways to express themselves and develop their identity, they discovered new music genres and music artists that spoke to them on many different levels. For one thing, punk rock music, which spanned many musical genres and styles, was rebellious, it was loud and brash and it represented a challenge to both the mainstream and the values of their parents. At the same time, it was a celebration of their individualism and free thinking. And it was often very offensive, at times, but it was defiantly unique.
The next big break for these artists was the rise of pop culture, which gave these young people a chance to escape and observe the world that they were seeing for the first time. Pop culture, as opposed to classical music that was directed towards the masses, gave the youth a way to express themselves and explore their identity in very artistic manners. It allowed the artists to showcase their talent and show off their unique talents in a safe and controlled environment. It also gave these musicians the chance to network with other like minded individuals in order to collaborate on music, create and produce records, and gain exposure for themselves and their bands. This helped them grow as artists while at the same time laying the groundwork for the future of pop culture.
