They are a new kind of young people: They dye their hair different
colors, wear necklaces around their necks, beads on their wrists
and rings in their noses and ears. They put temporary tattoos with
the words “hello kitty” on their chests and various small
decorations on their clothes. They also like to wear black or
brightly colored vests and overalls and shoes with broad toes and
very thick soles. They often can be seen riding skateboards,
dancing in discos and enjoying themselves in bars.
They are very young. Most were born in the 1970s or 1980s. Having
mastered computer skills, they are used to communicating on-line or
through e-mail. With the aid of the Internet, they have access to
much more information than the older generation. On their delicate
faces is a very cool expression—they are confident of doing things
in their own way. Finding them incomprehensible, their elders often
cast puzzled glances at them. These young people are called the
“New-new People.”
This term began to be used two years ago. It originated in Japan
and Taiwan. In the United States, they are called “Generation Y,”
which followed “Generation X,” the people who were born in the
1960s.
Talking about his generation, Xu Zhiyuan, a graduate from Peking
University who was born in 1976, said the New-new People are the
most significant transitional generation since the late 20th
century. This is because the people who lived before them were
overwhelmed by collectivism, and the isolation during that period
obscured the changes taking place in the outside world.
Sun Yunxiao, deputy director of the China Youth Research Center,
noted that this generation is the best one in history because it is
growing up on the shoulders of the “giant.” The term “giant” here
refers to the era of information and reform.
With their dyed hair, baggy South Korean clothes, and the names of
Japanese and South Korean singers and film stars on their lips,
Zhang Yu, 16, and her classmates often are considered to be
Japanese or Korean themselves.
“There is nothing in reality that we are not satisfied with, but
I’m afraid reality is not satisfied with us,” said Zhang.
At
present, many youth are addicted to Japanese and South Korean
fashions. Available statistics show that during the past 20 years,
overseas culture, from Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1980s and from
Japan and South Korea in the 1990s, has exerted great influence on
culture in the mainland of China.
While pursuing Japanese and South Korean lifestyles, the New-new
People also take things from other countries, such as McDonald’s
food and foreign films. In their eyes, the world is a colorful
kaleidoscope.
Getting away from blind idolatry, the younger generation has begun
to pay more attention to their own feelings while observing what is
happening around them.
Han Han, 17, a former student, is one of them. He once set off a
hot debate in society. Instead of going to school, he stayed at
home and devoted himself to writing a full-length novel Triple
Door. As soon as it was published it sparked great concern
among society. A heated debate on whether Han Han was a genuinely
talented person erupted in all quarters of society.
Talking about himself, Han Han said, “It is hard for me to be brief
about my disposition. But one thing is sure: I like doing things my
own way rather than following others.”
The New-new People are open to sex. A survey on sex and marriage
was conducted on the Internet among those who were born in the
1980s. About 25.5 percent approved of cyber love, 31 percent
thought it unrealistic, 14.6 percent considered it senseless, and
19.1 percent thought it was a way of alleviating psychological
pressure.
In
answering the question about two people of different genders living
together without a legal marriage, only 29.9 percent reject it. The
younger generation also is lenient about homosexuality.
Some experts say the New-new People phenomenon is simply part of
growth. Most New-new People are in their teenage years, which is a
period for rebellion. The New-new People are not unstable in
regards to their aspirations, thinking and even numbers. But they
are likely to be affected by strange thinking and behavior. They
like to seek out fashionable things and often accept them blindly.
Hence, to correctly guide them rather than making unwarranted
criticisms is the responsibility of the whole society, so that they
may smoothly get over this period in which they are easily swayed
in their thinking.
Recalling the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai’s tolerant attitude
toward American hippies in the 1970s, some experts say people
should look and treat the New-New People with Zhou’s open-minded
view.
Zhou Enlai said, “Not being satisfied with the present situation,
young people all over the world are eager to seek the truth. In
this process, their thinking will fluctuate in various forms and
take a long time to establish a fixed pattern. Universal truths
like natural law will finally be accepted by the people according
to human development. I support the spirit of young people in
seeking truth through practice. During this process, one thing must
be certain, that is, the interests of the majority of the people
should be considered so that the majority of mankind can develop
and progress, and be happy.”
(Beijing Review 06/01/2001)