What Is the Meaning of Life?

A special five-part series on generational consciousness and conflict.

Previously released in 2021 only to subscribers at patreon.com/bungacast, a year on we're releasing the whole series to everyone.

• Part 1: (00:00:00)
• Part 2: (00:38:11)
• Part 3: (01:07:54)
• Part 4: (02:50:32)
• Part 5: (03:59:24)

Part 1:

We look at the current, vexed discourse around generations, and analyse competing theories on how to understand generational cleavages.

Guests include:

• Felix Krawatzek, political scientist at the Centre for East European and International Studies in Berlin
• Jennie Bristow, sociologist at Canterbury Christ Church University
• Joshua Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow

Part 2:

We look at the emergence of ‘youth’ as political concept in the age following the French Revolution, and its shifting meanings. How important was generational consciousness in the Young Italy movement and its imitators in the 19th century, and how should we understand the so-called ‘Lost Generation’ of 1914?

Guests include:

• Niall Whelahan, Chancellor’s Fellow in History, Strathclyde University

Part 3:

We examine the Baby Boomers – myth and reality. The revolt of the ’60s has been misunderstood in many dimensions. Was it betrayed or did it always express capitalist ideology? Were the Boomers the ones who really did the 1960s anyway? And what world have the Boomers created as they passed through life – and institutions?

Guests include:

• Jennie Bristow, senior lecturer in sociology at Canterbury Christ Church University
• Helen Andrews, senior editor at The American Conservative
• Josh Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow
• Jeffrey Alexander, professor of sociology at Yale University
• Holger Nehring, chair in contemporary European history at the University of Stirling
• Kristin Ross, professor emeritus of comparative literature at New York University

Part 4:

We examine Generation X – the generation of the End of History. How was this generation overshadowed by the Boomer’s failures? In the Eastern Bloc, the fall of Soviet regimes was a traumatic moment – how did this shape consciousness? And how did the Iranian Revolution – and subsequent war – shape the political perspectives of Iranians?   Guests include:

• Maren Thom, film scholar
• Alexei Yurchak, professor of anthropology at Berkeley 
• Jennie Bristow, senior lecturer in sociology at Canterbury Christ Church University
• Josh Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow
• Arash Azizi, historian of Iran at New York University
• Felix Krawatzek, political scientist at the Centre for East European and International Studies in Berlin

Part 5:

We examine the Millennials and Generation Z. Uniquely, generation war today seems to be a conflict over resources more than over values. Is there any basis for this, and what do Millennials actually want? With generational and class conflict seemingly bound together today, we analyse ‘Generation Left’ and ‘Millennial Socialism’. And we ask what the effect of the pandemic may be on the creation of a Gen Z consciousness.

Guests include:

• Paul Taylor, former director, Pew Research
• Jennie Bristow, senior lecturer in sociology at Canterbury Christ Church University
• Helen Andrews, senior editor at The American Conservative
• Clive Martin, journalist who has written for VICE Magazine
• Josh Glenn, semiotician, author, and publisher of HiLoBrow
• Jennifer Silva, assistant professor in sociologist, Indiana University

 

Original music by: Jonny Mundey

Additional music:

• Peter Kuli / OK Boomer / courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group, Inc.
• Liru / For the Floor / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
  
• Leimoti / Don’t Leave It Here / courtesy of http://www.epidemicsound.com
• Leimoti / The Small Things / courtesy of http://www.epidemicsound.com
• Philip Ayers / Trapped in a Maze / courtesy of http://www.epidemicsound.com
• Walt Adams / Dark Tavern / courtesy of http://www.epidemicsound.com
• Medité / A Change in My Heart / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Ondolut / Blumen / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Elliott Holmes / Bull Chase / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Kick Castle / Kick Down / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• T. Morri / Nuthin’ but Nuts / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Kit Kruger / Freakin’ Freefall / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Cacti / I Will Be Waiting / courtesy of epidemicsound.com
• Filthy the Kid / Vampire / courtesy of epidemicsound.com

Other Clips:

• Black 47 Trailer © 2018 – WildCard Distribution
• Arracht Trailer © 2019 – Break Out Pictures
• The Sun Also Rises © 2019 – 20th Century Fox
• Mr Lloyd George Speaks To The Nation (1931) British Pathé
• American Pastoral Trailer © 2016 – Lionsgate
• Mai 1968 © France 3 Paris Ile-de-France
• Imitation de Daniel Cohn-Bendit © C’est Canteloup
• Baader Meinhof Complex © 2008