Generation Ecch!: The Backlash Starts Here [Paperback]

Jason Cohen (Author), Michael Krugman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 1994

Presents a satirical and riotous response to the media's exploitation of today's twentysomethings, the generation without a label--not counting dubious titles like ""Grunge Kids"" and ""Generation X""--and to the media's exploitation of their search for identity.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A tongue-in-chic critique of the media madness surrounding the "Generation X" categorization, and fairly on-target criticisms of the vapidity and internal inconsistency of much of alternaculture. Although it's meant to be funny, I found it to be a somewhat depressing book--sort of talking to someone after they stayed up all night at a rave, trying desperately to deal with the ugly blue sky of reality.

From Publishers Weekly

In their provocative blend of satire and cultural caviling, the authors assert that the age cohort in question (Ecch-ers are between 15 and 29) is "ascribing significance to meaninglessness." However, the same charge can be levied against their cultural, literary and political deconstruction a go-go. Not that journalists Cohen and Krugman don't make compelling provacateurs; as self-styled "Debunkers of the Realm" their keen insights and biting humor hit close to home in a half-dozen or so particularly good sections. While they are quick to finger the cultural culprits of mediocrity--MTV's Real World , the films of John Hughes, Antioch College's dating guidelines--they romanticize the recent past (while oddly rejecting Hudsucker Proxy , which does just that). If Cohen and Krugman fail as zeitgeist-busters, it is because they claim the X zeitgeist doesn't exist at the same time they skewer it through their often resonant, sometimes facetious observations about the reemergence of marijuana, the vapidity of Rave, the shallowness of culture. Still as pure humor, Cohen and Krugman are often cattily funny and comic strips from Milk and Cheese 's Dorkin always are.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; First Printing edition (August 24, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671886940
• ISBN-13: 978-0671886943
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,673,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funnier than the general review implies., May 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Generation Ecch!: The Backlash Starts Here (Paperback)

I just had to respond to the main review of this book, which implied that this book was depressing, like talking to some hipster after an all night rave (is there any other kind?). Dude, it's our culture that's depressing, this book has the guts to look at the hideous reality of Gen Ecch and laugh in its face. It takes on TV (Melrose and 90210, in particular), literature (you'll never think seriously about Douglas Coupland again) and "alternative" music with a razor sharp wit and enough condescension to make anyone feel a little more smug about themselves.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over a decade later..., September 30, 2008

By 

Joe Francis (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generation Ecch!: The Backlash Starts Here (Paperback)

And this book still delivers...at least to anyone with any kind of sentimental hold or vague idea of what the mid 90's held. Razor sharp wit, hilarious takes on genre movies, balls kickings for all things pop, and excellent comics by the great Evan Dorkin.

I've gone through two copies of this book since the original purchase in '95 (I think..) and still pick it up at least once a year to give it a read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead on and dead funny, January 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Generation Ecch!: The Backlash Starts Here (Paperback)

This book is 4 years old, yet it still hits home with smart bomb accuracy.

Perfect for anyone who is fed up with film snobs, pop culture 'experts' and people who express their individuality by dressing, acting, and thinking like....everyone else expressing their individuality.