The greatest generation truly believed in America. They struggled through the Depression, fought World War 2, married and bought homes in the suburbs in a supreme belief in the American way. Their children grew long hair, smoked pot, listened to rock music but ultimately believed in the hippie counterculture dream as exemplified by people like Wavy Gravy. At least until the mid 70s.
Generation X exemplified a rejection of the hippie counterculture and instead apes the lives of the greatest generation, but they do so ironically. Young people wear ties, but they do so ironically. They buy houses in the suburbs, but they live there ironically. Modern streaming cinema shows a life lived ironically.
I recently finished White Noise In this film/tv show Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, veterans of the mumblecore era of film making, live in the suburbs and are married. However, they live their lives ironically. They love ironically. They live through disasters, but they do so ironically.
I think of all the shows I've been watching. Vanishing Act, Casual, the Worst Person in the World, Conversations with Friends. They can all be viewed ironically. People don't love, they love ironically, people don't raise children, they do so ironically. People don't care about their jobs, they work ironically. People buy 1950 style sofas that fit in their living rooms ironically.
I used to wear an ugly pair of plaid short pants. It was okay, though, because I was wearing them ironically. I need to wash the dishes that are collecting in my sink. Unfortunately, I won't be able to just wash them ironically.
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