Angst is the First Step Towards Becoming the Establishment

Without a doubt angst is a defining feature of the coming of age process. In fact angst is fundamental to the journey, angst is chock-full of character building, important for a young person during their transition to adulthood. Angst is the manifestation of a young mind that is burning with new thoughts and ideas, and wanting to be understood by the world around them. This is where conflict arises, the frustration with all the complexities of the world are real motivators for angst. “Why am I here?”, “What’s my purpose?”, “How has the world disadvantaged me?”, “How can I change the world to suit my needs?” These are all questions that motivate angst.

Eventually, the most satisfying aspect of youth angst is when it has made a difference, when its point of view is accepted as mainstream and the angst has gained some sort of approval or respect from the establishment.

A clear and played out example can be seen during the post-war years, when there was a new kind of youth. One unlike any other generation in history, who were given every advantage possible in that era. These of course where the baby-boomers, children born from 1945ish onwards, born into a reenergized America, born from parents who were ready to transform a continent into the idealized dream they held while suffering so much during a depression and world-war. A dream of suburbs and big cars, inter-state highways and affordable home appliances, this was a time for optimism. Everything was handed to the middle-class youth of the 1950’s, born into a world of hard earned stability and prosperity.

The first generation with disposable income, teenage baby-boomers developed their own sub-cultures outside of their parent’s control. Money meant freedom, and freedom meant rock and roll, after its inception in blues culture, a new genre of music grew in popularity with 1950’s teenagers, who were in tune with suggestive lyrics and wild dancing. When this youth culture began to assert its angst for sexual freedom, the establishment began to push back, but ultimately largely embraced the culture in to the mainstream.

Youth dance to Rock & Roll (1956)

Looking back to the biggest Rock and Roll icon of the 50’s, Elvis Presley, we can plot out the rise of angst and its acceptance. Early on the musician rode the wave of youth angst with shaking hips and bedroom eyes, all to the horror of hard working conservative parents wanting nothing less than to rid themselves of it. How did Elvis win the admiration of the masses of parents? With a little help from Uncle Sam. Unknown to Elvis at the time, his acceptance to serve in the U.S. army when called upon in the draft would make him popular with the establishment in ways he couldn't have imagined. The news of his draft was met with outrage by his youthful fans, but for the wider mainstream, they were impressed by Elvis' choice to serve regular duty when he had the chance to serve an easier  "special service" as entertainment for the troops. This led to a new era of him being accepted by an older, more conservative establishment.

Youth angst has a symbiotic relationship with the establishment; there is no rebel without an authority to go against. The whole tug of war between new and old is part of the creative destruction that is necessary for renewal and progress. But it takes two to play this game, and they can’t be on the same team...