문학과 지성사

Unveiling the paradigm of generation, the most pressing issue in today’s Korean Society.

An exciting new observation on how generation has become the hottest topic of contemporary society, Generation Game examines the trending discourse on generation through Jeon Sang-Jin’s critical perspective and creative analysis, as well as ample real life examples. The author labels the prevalent tropes of generations the “generation game,” designed and built by “generation players” to attract participation from the people who belong to or identify with a certain generation, namely the “generation pieces.” Jeon is especially interested in the former, the generation players, and the political benefits they earn from running the game. According to Jeon, the players translate all different kinds of social problems into the code of generation, reductively and maliciously interpreting all current issues as the outcome of generational conflicts to distract us from other possible, and more likely, reasons. Therefore, the author suggests that we need to recognize and remain vigilant to the discursive frame of generation abused and overused in our society. “Are we also distracted by the flashing light of the generation discourse and preoccupying ourselves with pointless debates?” The author wonders with caution, as he proposes “questioning and mulling over” as the alternative to jumping into the easy quarrels over generations. The book Generation Game helps us achieve this by elucidating the mechanism and strategies of the generation game and how different generations are communicated to us.