Second Wave Emo
I think I’m a part of a generation that’s emo.
Remember these?
This was a time when goth culture, punk (particularly the music genre), and being “emo” was considered a norm.
This may be nostalgic to some, but to others, this may bring back feelings of despair and remembrance at which a time it was alone.
Being emo, in actuality, does not automatically identify people that are depressed or even sad all the time, they are just normal people (they smile a lot, they even laugh a lot) having the tendency to be more emotional most of the time.
The word emo is actually a misused word if in context used only to label sadness. But, because of the extension and further glamorization through pop culture, the word emo has been accepted to be closely related to sadness.
I have observed the behavior of emo people back then, and most I see are not far from the people of today.
Today, self-harming, even to the point of suicide, is done and is thought about by many. The same goes back then.
Today, wanting to die, seeking death as the only solution, is considered to be thought by many. The same goes back then.
The attitude towards Emo Culture has not changed that much, but it may have shifted and evolved to a form that we may consider to be more mature. (Externally, we don’t usually have a stereotypical hairstyle, diverse black clothing is normal. In short, we don’t glamorize these feelings anymore. (but this is in general/some music today has recently rode glamorizing this culture))
Intrinsic sadness is now labeled to be normal and is a part of life as people have a clear understanding about themselves and are now more mature.
It may be a case that people had become realistic. Because let’ s face it, life is hard. We all know this. Problems are all around; people of today are just regularly anticipating them and are reacting accordingly. Mostly because of its dragging nature if not solved immediately, and people get tired; they have more important things to attend to.
It may also be a case that people had become systematic. People understand that these are feelings caused by their emotions; it is beyond their control. The only thing that they can account to these feelings is to identify what is happening to themselves.
Instead of associating emo with sadness, people of today rather identify emo into two terms: emotionally unstable and the dreaded word, depressed.
Emo now has a new face and is clearly identified in today’s society.
People that are emotionally unstable are those who are going on a fluctuation of emotions. They have some control and input to harness what they feel/what they want to feel.
While people that are depressed are those in a state of general unhappiness. They have no control whatsoever. And there are some that are even diagnosed being as a major illness.
Back then, emo culture was seen as a laughing stock when seen indifferent (pointing at old Facebook posts/ Friendster profiles).
Today, it is taken seriously as there is a rise of individuals that are suffering from this depression phenomena, seeing indifference as a classification towards the means of properly resolving the issue. (Also, this is in general/memes have taken a part of the today’s culture that laugh about depression. Example: ‘us2 q n mmtay’)
Nevertheless, given what I have discussed, I have also observed that in what ever time/age it may be, there may be the same individualistic reasons for us to be emotional.
Plans
We strive to be perfect; we do not merely accept our status that this is our limitations in life. No one wants to be just a Starbucks barista or a Mcdonalds employee. No one wants to fill small niches in society.
We are ingrained with the idea that we must be ‘ultra-successful’ in life.
Being an icon to a generation, making a name for ourselves; these has been the ultimate goal in life.
It’s not out fault though, we are told to be like this. Even reaching the point that college dropouts are the usual icons of success.
We are here and we have been made to dream too big.
Scaling it down: being the best in class, having good grades, being the best in a certain skill. When we expect something to go our way.
If our plans doesn't work, that incites our darker emotions.
In contrast, having no plans at all can also render this feeling. We are here in this world, but we feel alone. There is no ‘tourist guide’ in life. That’s why we feel lost.
There is always a lack of guidance, a lack of understanding, a lack of knowledge in this world, but it’s a matter of how the individual manages this scarcity. And of course, trusting the process on what we are going through.
Approval
We want attention, we low-key seek for approval. From our parents, our friends, from anyone that would see us in the best that we can offer ourselves.
Our imagination plays out that there is someone out there that really cares about what we have achieved, or what we have made effort to.
Ourselves gets lost and eventually drowns in the noises of this world if no one is there to remind you of your worth.
When no one comes, that incites our darker emotions.
Having to have face these two factors then spawns to persons molded to a being not intended. This leads the generation to…
Rising Individualism
We tell ourselves that we are unique, We are that special snowflake, that diamond in the rough.
This forges our minds that to harness this being unique: we must not conform to society (and this varies in the individual’s choice of magnitude of non-conformity.)
But, we cannot deny the fact that what ever we do in life, we are nothing but, simple.
We are not in reality the special being that we think we are. That Utopian persona that we think ourselves does not exist.
We may have achieved something great in our lifetime, but thats just it.
Time will pass and other individuals will do the same. It is only our hardened egos that tells us that what we do is different and unique.
We are told that we are strong. We are independent. We do not need anybody.
Though in reality, we cannot deny that there are times that we need is just a little love from this world.
Rising Individualism doesn't mean we seldom interact with others. This only means that we are made to usually withdraw from society; Emotionally composing ourselves again and again before we face society once again.
Another perspective on a different wavelength towards the reason of being Emotional is that — We are the dominant generation of expression in these times.
We may be the current generation that controls varying mediums of communications of self-expression.
We set the trends; we see at an instant what other people are feeling, doing; we are in control of what is what.
The word: Current here is a key point because this acknowledges that there even was a First Emo Generation.
The First or even earlier Emo generation today, are now businessmen; are now engineers; they’re now people that are successful in life; they finally had the direction and plans for their lives.
This would be good news if this is the case; this would tell us that it is really a process and what ever sort of sadness our generation is feeling right now, would eventually heal.
I got this idea when my father talked about having depressive episodes when he was in college back then. Last year he just turned 53 and considers himself successful in life despite of his past experiences; he then told me that everyone experiences it (depression) once in a while.
Right now, we are experiencing a spike wherein we are in that same position.
There’s no problem in being Emo. It’s normal. It’s human. Emotions are just tiny little beings in our heads that are toying with us.
I can simply say that “you can do it!” or “think positive!”
I’m sure it may be an easy task to some, but I’m unsure if it would be effective for others.
One thing is for certain though: nothing lasts forever. This goes with our anxieties, problems, and eventually, our emotions.
