Popular culture is a weird thing for someone outside of your generation. The things we latched onto while coping with growing up and processing the perceived and presented world mostly make sense to you and your peers, but can befuddle someone outside your age range. Once we are transplanted into the world, it seems like it becomes a gauge to measure age and coolness. Analyzing the good and bad of the late 1990s to early 2000s, author Jon Sheasby brings us the highlights and lowlights of this era in his book, Teenage Dirtbags: A Brief History of the MTV2 Generation.
The late 1990s were an interesting time. While things were much less complicated and less tense than they are now, the seeds of these factors were planted over twenty years ago. Sheasby’s intro discusses the almost prophetic way Green Day’s American Idiot foreshadowed the direction of politics. This leads into a brief history of MTV and its eventual offspring, MTV2, and how shows like the Carson Daly-hosted Total Request Live (TRL for you cool kids) shaped music during this time.
Sheasby profiles some of the bigger acts of that time: Eminem, Marilyn Manson, and Blink-182. It also covers how each of these artists shaped pop culture in some way, whether it was Marilyn Manson’s attempts to shock the world or the influence of Nu-Metal and the ape-like douchebaggery that came from it. It’s interesting to look back at how things aged, whether good or bad, and consider if it was due to the initial criticisms given. Sheasby’s assessment can be a little glossed over, but it does mention that some documentaries provide more detail on some of these relics.
There are a few interviews with behind-the-scenes people, such as P.R. Brown, who was a music video director and graphic designer for some of the bigger names of the era. The interview with music biographer Joel McIver was interesting, as he talked about what it was like covering the new rock stars of that time. One thing I agree with and am learning is true is that the heavier the music, the nicer the person. These interviews give perspective but don’t add too much to the overall conversation.
The book seemingly takes inspiration from Chuck Klosterman’s books of essays on pop culture, except it’s zeroed in on this second generation of MTV artists trying to make their own mark for better or worse. Choosing this era will resonate with adults of a certain age and most sociology students, but it may not appeal to people outside those groups.
That being said, Sheasby’s writing is super accessible. Teenage Dirtbags: A Brief History of the MTV2 Generation is a quick read; it’s under two hundred pages and is a nice stroll down memory lane. Jon Sheasby’s takes are spot-on, even if they’re a bit scant. If you’re looking for a small window into the past, Jon Sheasby’s book is for you. Teenage Dirtbags: A Brief History of the MTV2 Generation is available at Tucker DS Press.