Emmy Awards during the 1980’s, including two Em-
mys for Outstanding Drama Series, in 1981 and
- In 1982, Anthony Geary won the Daytime
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Series for his portrayal of Luke Spencer.
Impact General Hospitalintroduced the action/ad-
venture plot and the supercouple to daytime drama.
The enormous popularity of both devices catapulted
the once-struggling soap opera to the top of the
Neilsen ratings. Equally important, the series be-
came a leader in the industry, as competing shows
attempted to model their story lines after those of
General Hospital.
Further Reading
Simon, Ron, et al.Worlds Without End: The Art and
Histor y of the Soap Opera. London: Harry N.
Abrams, 1997.
Spence, Louise.Watching Daytime Soap Operas: The
Power of Pleasure. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan
University Press, 2005.
Warner, Gary.General Hospital: The Complete Scrap-
book. Toronto, Ont.: Stoddart, 1995.
Bernadette Zbicki Heiney
See also Dallas;Dynasty; Soap operas; Television.
Generation X
Definition The generation immediately following
the baby-boom generation
Generation X came of age during the 1980’s, the decade
during which it first acquired a unique (though contested)
cultural identity and the first decade to be shaped in part by
the generation’s goals and values.
Born between the early 1960’s and the mid-1970’s
(the precise years are a matter of controversy), most
members of Generation X experienced childhood
or young adulthood during the 1980’s. The popular
culture and political events of the 1980’s had pro-
found effects on this particular segment of the popu-
lation, and the decade was also defined in part by
a cultural conflict between Generation X and the
baby-boom generation that preceded it.
Generation X was affected by many social develop-
ments. Increased divorce rates led to single parents
raising children alone, so many Generation X children
split their time between the separate households of fa-
ther and mother. Even in traditional households, both
parents were often employed. Divorce or parental em-
ployment frequently resulted in “latch-key kids,” chil-
dren who spent afternoons at home after school with
no adult supervision.
The popularity of musical artists and groups in-
cluding Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Duran
Duran, New Kids on the Block, and Run-D.M.C. re-
flected the diverse musical tastes of Generation X.
One issue that affected Generation X’s access to mu-
sic was the requirement of parental advisory stickers
on albums containing offensive material. Likewise,
the creation of the PG-13 rating for films that were
considered inappropriate for pre-teens affected Gen-
eration X more than any other segment of the popu-
lation. Nevertheless, movies includingE.T.: The Extra-
TerrestrialandThe Breakfast Clubentertained and
influenced Generation X. Fashions of the 1980’s
also defined Generation X; there were several fashion
trends (neon and spandex), clothing items (para-
chute pants and leg warmers), and accessories (ba-
nana clips) that Generation X embraced. In terms of
societal contributions, Generation X invented a large
number of the decade’s slang and catchphrases.
Technological innovations profoundly shaped
Generation X in the 1980’s. The television remote
control; Atari, Nintendo, and Sega video-game en-
tertainment systems; Apple and IBM-compatible
personal computers; Sony’s Walkman and Discman;
and compact discs, to name only a few, were devel-
oped or made commercially available during the de-
cade. Many toys created or popularized during the
1980’s enjoyed commercial success that was due in
large part to Generation X. Several of these products
(including Rubik’s Cube and Cabbage Patch Kids)
quickly became cultural mainstays.
Television played a significant role in the develop-
ment of Generation X. The advent of cable television
during the 1980’s dramatically increased the number
of programs on the air. Nickelodeon and MTV,
among other cable channels, provided hours of en-
tertainment and became staples of the Generation X
culture. Programs including3-2-1 Contact,Schoolhouse
Rock, and the Cable in the Classroom initiative uti-
lized television to educate Generation X. However,
television also brought dramatic impact to the lives of
Generation X. For example, millions of stunned stu-
dents watched in classrooms and packed auditoriums
as the space shuttleChallengerexploded during take-
off in 1986, a defining event for Generation X.406 Generation X The Eighties in America