at what point does generation x lead into generation y?

i think it boils down to two words: "star wars."

for our torts exam, our professor had us watch "star wars." (don't ask. the reason is not important.) a couple of people in my study group were born in the early 80s, and much to my surprise and horror, they had never watched "star wars." in fact, they didn't even grasp the extent of the cultural phenomenon known as "star wars." it was "just an old movie." and after watching it, their response was "this is dumb" as if it were a disposable made for tv sci fi channel movie.

if you understand the cultural phenomenon known as star wars and lived through the madness of begging your parents for x-wing fighters and darth vader figurines, you're in generation x. if you saw "star wars," "the empire strikes back," or "return of the jedi" in theaters with your dad, you're in generation x. if you thought the people who kept repeating lines from star wars as a kid were complete geeks, but you remember passing by the star wars figurines on the way to the cabbage patch kids aisle, you're still in generation x.

no, learning about "star wars" from your older brother or sister or your parents doesn't count. you had to have lived through the time period and experienced it. seeing the film on VHS a few years after it came out in theaters doesn't count.

if the star wars trilogy phenomenon happened when you were alive, and you remembered it, you're in generation x.

if you don't remember it as it was happening, you're in generation y.

lesson over.