Ferdguson Resources

OVERVIEW

" ‘I like the experience of pain,’ " said a Seattle street kid.

"Kurt Cobain’s anguished wails offered a refuge of authentic despair," notes Ferguson. He adds, "Simply identifying and ackowledging your damage is empowering, because society seems to deprive you the right to feel damaged."

Do teens and other "busters" from the generation so despairing labeled "X" feel an unusual amount of pain, more so than previous generations? Are they full of despair? Do they have a rational reason to be? Do they have a right to be? Do they need a way to express it? How? The fact is that youth today, the so called Generation X or busters, are quite full of despair and have certainly suffered more than their share of pain—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They have been abused, let down, and abandoned by many.

Their pain and despair are expressed in much of their music, particularly that which is labeled as "grunge." The grunge culture is deeply rooted in the feeling of despair. The excess of pain and despair experienced by today’s youth explains the appeal of such artists as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain’s wife, said, ‘Every kid in America who’s been abused in any way loves Kurt Cobain’s music.’

Ferguson says, "Grunge expresses this generation’s almost willful refusal to reach for larger truths. Instead it engages in a kind of mournful nostalgia for a childhood without violation. Grunge sees the lie of consumer culture but still yearns for the manufactured suburban bliss of Leave it to Beaver and Mayberry (two of Cobain’s favorite shows)."

The muddled content of these tunes reflects the uncertainty youth feel concerning who is to blame and consequently who should or could do something about it. Can you blame this generation for being so addicted to these type of tunes? Young people can clearly relate to the music’s messages and pleas; the artists understand, acknowledge, and validate their pain. Ferguson writes this article in hopes that those working with young people will begin to "feel the pain" of this damaged generation.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. If you are part of the buster or X generation, do you see a lot of pain or despair in your own life or in the life of your friends? If so, how do you (or they) express the pain? Is it expressed?
2. Do you see a lot of pain or despair in the busters or generation X-ers that you work with? How is it expressed? How is it addressed?
3. Do youth today have legitimate reasons for their pain and despair? What is their rationale? Who is to blame? Who should fix their pain? Who can fix it? How?
4. Do pain and despair need to be expressed? Does music help? Is this healthy or unhealthy?
5. As a youth worker, do you give busters a way to express and address painful issues in their lives? If not, should you? How?

IMPLICATIONS

1. All persons working with young people of Generation X must be aware of the pain they may be experiencing, where it comes from, and how to help them face it.
2. All persons working with these youth must not neglect or minimize the importance of music in their lives. Music helps them acknowledge and express their pain and mourn through the music.