WhatTheyThink

Premium Commentary & Analysis

Peerless pressure

The cultural connection between me and my students widens every year.

Friday, June 22, 2007

The cultural connection between me and my students widens every year. I observed this a while back when I mentioned Milton Berle and they asked who he was. When I was their age there were only a few broadcast TV channels and thus my peers and I watched and talked about the same things. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the only team that mattered and music was that new-fangled rock and roll.

Today, there are hundreds of cable channels, instant access to any music ever recorded, and news of sports that permeates every moment of the day. They have also lost the cultural connection to one another because there are few media common denominators in their lives. “The Simpsons” may be the only show they have in common.

For many years Beloit College has published a list of the mindset of college freshman. Here are a few of the items that characterize students who were born after 1980.


Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.
WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?
Sign In

About Frank Romano

Frank Romano has spent over 60 years in the printing and publishing industries. Many know him best as the editor of the International Paper Pocket Pal or from the hundreds of articles he has written for publications from North America and Europe to the Middle East to Asia and Australia. Romano lectures extensively, having addressed virtually every club, association, group, and professional organization at one time or another. He is one of the industry's foremost keynote speakers. He continues to teach courses at RIT and other universities and works with students on unique research projects.

Recent Articles from Frank Romano

Confessions of a Former Typographer

Confessions of a Former Typographer

Frank interviews Bob Wislocky, whose typesetting business weathered hot metal, phototypesetting, electronic imaging, digital printing, and other production technologies over 90 years. Read More

Romano a Mano

Romano a Mano

Frank and Richard share a sofa and some banter about the printing industry. Read More

Frank Takes the Pledge

Frank Takes the Pledge

Frank talks about The Youth’s Companion, a newspaper published in Boston for over 100 years. In 1892, its editor proposed a Pledge of Allegiance. Read More

The Font I Want

The Font I Want

Frank describes his informal survey to discover the most-used typefaces. Over a decade, he has asked users what font they use most often. See the results. Read More

Jeopardy in Jeopardy

Jeopardy in Jeopardy

Frank reacts to a Jeopardy game show segment that involves Johann Gutenberg. There is much misinformation about the invention of printing and Frank is on a mission to present the facts, even if it means yelling at a TV screen. Read More