Abstract

This dissertation involves two related themes: a theory of how popular music influences generations and culture, and an analysis of how the band Nirvana influenced Generation X and America. These related lines of study were developed through the hermeneutic-metabletic branch of existential phenomenology . ;The theoretical part of this dissertation draws from scholarly sources in the areas of culture, generations, music, personality development, and family systems. The following theoretical conclusions are developed. Culture is a reality shared amongst its members---one built around role identities. Generations reflect overtones of Eriksonian personality, and they relate systemically in culture much the same way that individuals relate in a family. A generation finds itself in identity crisis if its culture marginalizes the expression of its personality style in a relevant role. Popular expressions can help resolve such crises by showing a generation how to redefine cultural roles in a relevant way. Thus, successive generations rework culture with the guidance of popular expressions, and in accordance with their personalities. Music contributes to this kind of cultural change. ;The interpretive part of this dissertation draws from statistics and analytical texts on generations and popular music. It concludes that Generation X has strong overtones of disaffection . During the time of Generation X youth, American culture marginalized the expression of this personality style, thus placing Generation X in collective identity crisis. Nirvana helped resolve this crisis by articulating mistrust and showing how the associated feelings could be focused in the identity of unglamorous cultural rebuilder. Analysis considers the social context within which Generation X developed---especially the personality styles of its parents and grandparents. Analysis also profiles Generation X popular culture---especially the music---to show how Nirvana seems to have crystallized latent generational themes. Concluding chapters argue that a generational and cultural transformation developed around the time of Nirvana's popular arrival, and that Nirvana influenced this transformation