Balkan Beats 38 - The Shock of Generation by Balkan Hotspot

Balkan Beats

The shock

of generations

#38

FREE PRESS

A BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE BY THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE UNITED SOCIETIES OF BALKANS

Editorial

The 38th Edition The shock of generations

by Isciane Lallement

What a small, small world we live in. Four, maybe nomenon of Shock of generations, where five generations are coexisting here…In harmony ? Boomer becomes an insult, millenials are mocked as well for their interests... Evolution never stops, especially in the last 50 years, where it was faster than ever. Sometimes, if we think Silent generation, Baby boomers (born during the about it, it can even get overwhelming for us. So baby boom, 1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1979, imagine what it is like, for someone who knew anoth- after Coupland’s book), Generation Y (1980-late 90’), er time. Growing up in an entirely different world, and and Generation Z (late 90’ to 2010s), all of us have being the spectator of all the changes that occurred, our own experiences and notions in life, as well as until not being able to adapt anymore. On the other our own misunderstandings and fears. It does create hand, people are constantly being born on earth, tensions, critics. But what if we tried looking at it with and grow up without ever knowing what it was like a simply curious eye, this time? before they came; That is what causes the pheBalkan Beats, a part of Balkan Hotspot

Balkan

Hotspot is the European Solidarity stant changes in the Balkan and Eastern EuroCorps (ESC) of “United Societies of Balkans”, a pean region and under the need for the creation NGO founded in Thessaloniki in 2008 by a team of a better social environment. of active young people. Key areas of the organization’s activities conThe Balkans and Eastern Europe are geograph- cern the defense of human rights, the organizaical regions with many cultural features which tion of youth exchanges and training courses, offer a broad spectrum of actions and youth which will bring young people from Balkans and involvement initiatives. The organization was Europe together, the organization of local educacreated as a response to the pressure of con- tional seminars and multimedia production. United Societies of Balkans is a Non Governmental Organization, founded in Thessaloniki in 2008, by a team of active young people. The organization was created as a response to the pressure of constant changes in the Balkan and Eastern European region and under the need for the creation of a better social environment. Key areas of the organization’s activities concern the defense of human rights, the organization of youth exchanges and training courses, which will bring young people from Balkans and Europe together, the organization of local educational seminars and multimedia production(webradio, videos, documentaries).

Main goals of the organization • To promote the values of non formal le- aring,volunteering, active citizenship and democracy for the creation of a better future for European youth. • To promote human rights, solidarity and respect for diversity. • To build healthy cooperation bridges between countries of the Balkan area and that of Eastern Europe with the rest of Europe. • To locate and multiply the special cultural attributes of our societies. • The break down of prejudices and stereo- types between Balkan countries.

UNITED SOCIETIES OF BALKANS, NGO

9, Alamanas str., Agios Pavlos, Thessaloniki

Property of Balkan Beats The United Societies of Balkans, NGO, does not necessarily share the opinions expressed in Balkan Beats. It is illegal to reproduce any part of this publication without referring to the source.

www.balkanhotspot.org

This magazine is distributed free of charge.

Tel./Fax: +30 2310 215 629 | www.usbngo.gr

Contents

Contents Volunteer Life EVERYDAY

Out Of The Borders EVOLUTION

Two (not) different generations

Melting pot Anagnostara

Local Life

The revolution of communication

Youth Fashion in Greece From The 50’s To The Present

Same city, so many changes

Stop being scared of change

CULTURE

Mix Fix

AROUND THE CITY

PERCEPTIONS

Killing the fathers: A new Hollywood

Generation Greta ESSAY

How to explain to grandaunt what Tinder is

Volunteer Life Everyday

Two (not) different generations How the European Solidarity Corps has been experienced by different generations by Roberto Gentile

“Love is love. Love is a solution. Love is a plus” When you walk along the way to Anagnostara,

teer project at Balkan Hotspot, but faced at a an industrial zone in the suburbs of Thessalon- different stage in their life. iki, between export stores and kittens cradled by the neighborhood inhabitants, you cannot Anastasiia, 18 years old, born in Ukraine and fail to notice the rainbow of colors imprinted raised in Germany, who decided to take a gap on the wall of a building that, every year, hosts year abroad after finishing high school. volunteers from different parts of the world. Her volunteer project started on the 1st of Each of them is brought here for different and September 2021, three and half months ago. different reasons, and the experience itself is On the other side of the interview, Marco, 31 lived in a different way. years old, born in Italy, in a small town in the But what are the common factors that unite these province of Biella. He decided to leave his country after working as a teacher in middle school volunteers? What differences distinguish them? for years, and he has been a volunteer from 21 To investigate this aspect, I chose to interview September 2020 until May 2021. two young people who share the same volunThe first aspect I wanted to investigate is related to the motivations they had to experience the European Solidarity Corps.

Tell me about the day you decided to make

the application and leave your country?

M: I had not been satisfied with my life for a © Balkan Hotspot

few years. I was a teacher, but I had changed my mind. Then there was the covid: During the first lockdown I spent three months at home,

Everyday

Volunteer Life

and I took stock and started to think. I wanted I would also be included in the activities of Balto change and try a different experience, also kan Hotspot. on a professional level. I learned about the project through a friend who knew about these re- What does it mean to be a volunteer? flections of mine, and I began to send various applications, and within a week I was contact- M: It depends on how much you realize the ed by U.S.B. service you do. For instance, my volunteer project was linked to the field of communication, A: I was sure to go to university because it and occasionally we were a little discouraged was my parents’ expectations. A friend of mine because we were not always able to reach wanted to take a gap year and talked about this large numbers. But if you think that even what project. I was really curious about it, and ex- little you do has a value, a meaning, then you cited as well. Finally I applied. Then I had the live your experience with a different intensity. interview, and after a few days I was accepted. And this brings you to know different environAt first I was unsure because I thought I might ments that you are used to, people who have struggle, people might not like me, I was afraid had strong and terrible experiences, such as to not take part in the group. But people, actu- the refugees I met, and this opens your eyes. ally, are the ones who make me feel better. And now that I think about it, it’s even more curious that, in the end, I applied and my friend didn’t.

Why did you choose Balkan Hotspot? M: The project was consistent with

my interests and also with my experiences, having studied literature. And it was in Greece, a country that is not the classic destination for these projects. It was a more original choice.

A: Actually, at first I applied for the HIV project

made by the organization Checkpoint, where I contribute with this testing center where people can get HIV tests for free. And since checkpoint collaborates with U.S.B., we decided that

Volunteer Life Everyday

A: Being a volunteer has a special significance,

and it concerns the actions I do and how these are linked to my personal growth path. For example, it was extremely important for me dealing with people, dealing with myself, creating bonds and saying goodbye. Because here part of the experience it’s just that: learning to say goodbye to people who have been your family for months. And even if it’s painful, it is something you have to deal with.

Usually, one of the common factors that push-

es people to participate in the European Solidarity Corps is the desire to get out of their comfort zone, A situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested according to the definition from the Cambridge dictionary. A meaning with which we can agree. But what is Anastasia’s and Marco’s personal definition

of comfort zone, and how has this influenced their choices?

A: When I was younger I was quiet, introverted

and shy. But in high school I decided to challenge myself, step by step. I give this meaning to the term comfort zone: a bubble around from which I never go out, but rather I help to inflate. And the more experiences I have, the bigger it gets. Coming to Greece has permanently inflated this bubble.

M: A challenge with myself. I felt the need to

change. Live with people from different cultures. In a country that speaks a language that makes even the simplest things difficult. It helps you to give the right weight to things. It helped me to be more determined, confident. And even living it at this age made me come to conclusions that I otherwise would not have reached.

Everyday

Volunteer Life

In this article I tried to investigate the differIn this experience you came into contact with ences between Marco and Anastasia in their volunteers of all ages. Have you noticed any volunteer experience, and there are. Yet, when particular differences between your generaI asked what their expectations were, the two tion and theirs? answers surprised me. Why? Because they A: I never felt there was a big difference. I think were exactly the same.

young generations are super open minded and very progressive, and probably the main difference between our generation and the oldest ones is having more resources through social media. Concerning the experience here, If you are older maybe you feel you cannot waste time, if you are young you are more free and living this experience with different concerns.

A, M: I tried to not have expectations, Some-

times expectations create a problem, you risk being disappointed if they are not met. I tried to not see how the city looks like to not be disappointed. Of course I hoped to live a great experience, and I was afraid because it was everything new for me. But in the end, I can say that it’s worth it.

M: Depending on your age, this project lives Anastasiia, 18 years old, born in ukraine and differently, the younger you are, the more likely it is to seek social and personal development, if you are older you are inclined to be responsible. I noticed the biggest difference by observing those who had already finished university: the approach to experience is different, and so is that to work. But one thing in common is that if you decide to take this step it means that you have a certain disposition that pushes you to take it, then age plays its part.

raised in germany, who decided to take a gap year and became a volunteer three and half months ago.

Marco, 31 years old, born in a small town in

Italy in the province of Biella, who was a volunteer from September 2020 to May 2021.

Even though they don’t know each other, they have never been so close.

What advice would you like to give to each other? A: Don’t feel smart just because you’re older,

or wise. it is not always a matter of experience.

M: Try to live as many experiences as possi-

ble, because they open up horizons. And try to live them as intensely as possible, without creating expectations.

Volunteer Life Everyday

Melting pot Anagnostara

by Anastasiia Hrechka

Could you imagine living in a house together with 20 other people from all over the world? - this is exactly how I live. When I say that to new people whom I meet, I often come across different reactions. While some people are super excited and even jealous, others glance at me desperately. As if they are thinking: “How is it possible to live with so many people in one house?!”.

To be fair I understand both reactions. This kind

of lifestyle sounds like a lot of fun and variety, but can be very exhausting at the same time and it is not for everyone. It is important to be quite flexible and spontaneous to handle the constant change of dynamics and the permanent social contact. It can be overwhelming and hard sometimes. But the things we learn about ourselves and other people are countless. The things we experience, the amount of fun and love is endless. It is hard sometimes, yes - but we never forget about the big and loving family we are surrounded by. If things get tough, we can talk about everything. Being surrounded by so many open-minded, progressive and nonconventional minds gives space for talks and discussions about every topic. Especially controversial topics. One of them is sexuality.

The relationship with my parents is not very sharing. We don’t share personal things. Sometimes when I hear homophobic judgements I start to fight with them. It shouldn’t concern them. I want them to understand. Still, I never felt bad about not expressing my sexuality freely in front of my parents. In my opinion it doesn’t concern them. I think that I would feel worse if they would find out from somewhere else and wouldn’t accept.”

“In this house I never felt judged for my sexuality.” is a common opinion among us.

On the other hand we have Kuna. She is 21 and

from Czech Republic.

To find out more about the perception of sexu- “I am bisexual.”, she says. “I am sure that my ality in the house I talked to two volunteers that live together with me in the volunteering house.

One of them is Elias. He is 31 and from Cyprus. “I am pansexual and polyamorous.”, he says.

“My family doesn’t know anything about this because I don’t “look” queer. If they knew that I am pan, they wouldn’t accept me. I know that. My parents are old-minded and conservative.

dad doesn’t know about it. But I am sure that he would be fine with this. On the contrary is my mom. She knows about my sexuality. I told her that I dated girls. When I was 12 I asked her if she would accept me if I would be a lesbian. She said: “It’s your life, I will accept you however you are and I will encourage you!”. If I would start seriously dating a girl, I would tell her. But I never felt the urge to tell her. We never talk about top-

Everyday

Volunteer Life

ics around sexuality with my mom. She always standable. When you grow up in a place, where tells me: “You are my daughter, you are not my sexuality is a taboo, the way out of this hole is friend. You are not forced to tell me anything.”. extremely hard. She puts balance into our relationship.” We, the younger people on the other hand tend At first sight their parents seem so different. to act way more open-minded talking about Still, in my eyes they have something in com- sexuality and sex. Way more progressive and mon: shyness when it comes to topics like initiative. This is the right moment to talk about sexuality. The non-existent wish to commu- mass media. The mass media used to and still nicate and explain this subject. The common continues to influence and shape our views on awkwardness around this concern. Neverthe- specific topics, sexuality included. By showless, in my eyes this kind of behavior is under- ing ”inappropriate” content in the mass media,

Trip to mount Olympus with a part of our family

Volunteer Life Everyday

At some point she came to me to end our relationship because she met a girl and wanted to experiment. This was the first shock for me. Because I grew up in this conservative environment I had the same mindset. Afterwards I started to talk and to ask questions. From that Two different volunteers from two different coun- point on I started changing my mindset. Slowly, tries with two different experiences. Even though slowly. Step by step.” the environment they grew up in is extremely difKuna shares a similar experience: “Who influferent, today they share a similar mindset. enced me a lot was my friend in elementary Elias tells me: “My sexuality discovery jour- school. Her name is Theresa. She was very ney started with my first teenage love when I open, also with sexuality. She helped me to was 15. We were together for three months. viewers get used to these pictures and don’t find them as disturbing and inappropriate in the future. That way our approach can be shaped: continuously but also unconsciously. The contrasting approach is coherent.

“Sexpectations“

Everyday

Volunteer Life

take the first step to be the person I am now. I ferent places, they met here in our volunteering had my first sexual experi ences with her.” house and are sharing this experience together. The mindset can change. So our values can, Two open-minded and independent individuals too. Even though they grew up in completely dif- brought together in the house of Anagnostara.

Local Life

Culture

Youth Fashion in Greece From The 50’s To The Present by Muhammet Şahin Akkaya

It is common for young people to form their own subculture and style by reacting to the situations of their time and creating an identity that gives them a sense of belonging. Greece has experienced many of these trends over the last century. While some fashions became the icons of those years, some fashions lost their value over the years and were forgotten. Below are the youth trends that dominated the country for decades. ‘50s

The title “rock and roll” was coined from the

lyrics of a Bill Haley song, “rock, rock, rock everybody, roll, roll, roll everybody.” The genre originated in the late 1940s in the United States and arrived in Greece via the American navy in

Photo from 50’s

1955, with concerts in Zappeion (concert venue in Athens). The first rock and roll albums were released in Greece in 1956, bringing a new musical genre. The young Greeks were reluctant to dance at the Zappeion parties, whereas the young American sailors caught the eyes of the greek girls. Rock n’ roll became one of the first trends that young people embraced. The trend was associated with the emergence of certain common features such as clothing style, purchasing albums, certain movies, jukeboxes, and using early adolescent slang in order to develop a separate identity. Blue jeans, collars, and strong sideburns were hallmarks of rock ‘n’ rollers’ fashion. Furthermore, It was the beginning of a new era because young people violated the constraints of modesty and began to express themselves more boldly and openly with rock and roll.

Culture

’60s-’70s

In the late ‘50s, the “flower children” that pre-

ceded the hippies appeared in Greece. They were wealthy and cultured people who went to Matala (seaside village on the island of Crete) to be close to nature. Contrary to the hippies of the mid-1960s, children of flowers were well-behaved. Also, men and women wore dresses rather than being naked. In 1967, due to the junta (The political regime that dominated the 60s and 70s), flower children ceased meeting in Matala. However, by the early 1970s, more liberated hippies took their place. The hippie movement began in America in 1963 following the death of JF Kennedy, a president

Photo from 70’s

Local Life

who inspired the youth of the period. Hippies were dabbling with substances such as LSD and “magic” mushrooms. Hippies who lived in caves in Matala left many colorful artifacts in those caves for future generations. Nowadays, it is still possible to see the crumbs of the hippie movement in the small shops on the island of Crete.

‘80s

As Greece entered a new rhythm, a new

generation was enjoying their youth. These youngsters had no memories of the 1967-1973 case, and despite the rising living standards, they questioned the reality of the freedom that

Local Life Culture

Photo from 80’s

should exist. Police brutality was also a frequent occurrence with minor incidents. However, the death of citizens provoked major protests. In this climate, the punk movement arose. They intended to make their presence felt with odd hair, impromptu outfits and aggressive behavior. Moreover, their venue was Exarchia, where the punk music scene was taking place and the movement coexisted with the anti-authoritarian realm.

of social behavior norms. They used to wear fluo outfits and attended impromptu techno, house and trance parties where they danced wildly. They claimed that raver parties were a modernized version of the ancient Dionysian festivals so that they can excite party-goers; after all, the word rave means “erroneous.” Many ravers used ecstasy (no pun intended) pills to achieve this.

‘90s

The decade the wealth bubble burst was also the decade the emo trend flourished. Emos maintained some elements of the punk style in their appearance and had shaggy frizzy hair, long tassels, lots of eyeliner and their clothes were mostly black or other dark colors. The most common feature of emos is melancholy. Most of them generally have a gloomy mood, a

The 90s was the decade of dreams. The life

standard was high, banks were generous in consumer loans, and the entire country was living under the dream of prosperity. The youth of the 90s were the generation of ravers, they just wanted to escape the pressure of daily life and express themselves without constraints

00’s

Culture

passive depressive attitude, and listen to sad music. They listen to a certain type of music known as emo music. (Emo music is a genre of music that is a product of the hardcore rock style.) Besides they embrace an Emo style with bright colors that did not have an ideological background. The 00’s emos used to visit Syntagma square (in Athens) and sit on the stairs there with their friends.

10’s to the present

Local Life

who want to stand out in the crowd and engage in activities that most people don’t, and the spread of this trend is paradoxical due to what it means. Hipsters prefer indie and alternative music, and their outfits consist of big nearsighted glasses, skinny jeans, retro sneakers, and androgynous haircuts. Hipsters want to be unaffected by the aesthetic standards and not to keep up with them. They are also considered very progressive in their political ideas and have a relatively high level of education.

The decade after 2010 is the hipster era. Hip- Youth

are the elders of future generations. ster means innovator. Innovators are people Young people express themselves through

Photo from 90’s

Local Life Culture

Photo from 00’s

music and art. If we look carefully, we can see from the youth how the future will be shaped. ‘’Change is inevitable. Everything can change in Nowadays, trends are changing day by day. a day and maybe it is today.’’

Photo from 10’s

Evolution

The revolution of communication

Out Of The Borders

by Isciane Lallement

Fifty years. That is not a lot of time regarding our millennia of constant evolution; We went

from bacteria to the science-fiction worthy creatures we are today. With our phone as an extension of our hand and our unlimited access to the internet, the world lies in the palm of our hand. However, things have not always been like that. Our ancestors might remember a time when letters were still a thing, and phone calls were not for everyone. Imagine only knowing your neighbors, meeting people while being aware that you will never see them again, and thinking about another country like the other end of the world. During the war, seeing your loved ones suddenly disappear, not having news for days, for weeks, and having to wonder if they are even alive. You can no longer imagine a world without phones, without the internet, without the ability to communicate with the rest of the world. Pretty surreal, right?

With the mobile telephony

This reality faded away with the appearance

and rise of modern ways to communicate. If phone technology was already invented long ago, the first mobile phones appeared in 1946:

Motorola & Western Electric put out the MTS, a model of phone installed in cars. Not quite what comes to mind when speaking of mobile, but there has to be a first; the actual phone you could take everywhere with you, even outside of your car was the DynaTAC 8000X, out in 1976. Heavy, low autonomy and twice as expensive as today’s best smartphone, it is the first of a long series of huge and heavy phones.

The 90’ will see the birth of a technology you

DynaTAC8000x

might know: the first flip phones, with the MicroTAC 9800X, still by Motorola, in 1989.The flip phones will stay very popular up until the 2000’, and will see the apparition of cameras on the phones. In 2007, the first smartphone

Out Of The Borders Evolution

iphone13

by Apple will be commercialized. The touch screen is a revolution and will give birth to the intelligent phones, true companions of everyday, that we know today.

to bloom everywhere and before we realized it, they became part of our lives, part of ourselves. Everything is so different now. Relationships changed, it is now possible to know someone without ever meeting them. We can With the internet have an impact on the world without even havto move from home. To make it short, the The idea of a tool able to link computers being Internet brings everything at our fingertips. tween them first appeared at the end of the 1950’. At the beginning, the Internet was sup2.0 relationships posed to be a simple communication tool, used principally in the universitary and military No friendship is impossible now. With the COVID fields. After evolving for about 30 years, it got crisis, online meetings gained popularity and leadapted for civil use in 1990, that’s when the gitimity. Being together doesn’t require anything term “internet” finally appeared. Today, over 4 physical anymore. We can even befriend and 500 000 computers are connected. We crossed communicate with AIs (Replika) and get help the line of 1 000 000 000 websites 8 years ago. and guidance from actual robots (Pepper). The internet has become a part of our lives and gives us access to universal knowledge, along Playing together has always been a way to crewith access to any part of the world. Thanks ate bonds between people. That didn’t change, to satellite technology, it is possible to travel but the games themselves did: without replacvirtually around the world. It also ended up ing the good old cards, video games really took creating a new generation of communication: space in young people’s lives, in so many unexsocial media. Who can say they don’t have pected ways! Most of the popular video games any of them, nowadays? Instagram, Facebook, today, such as league of legends, Apex, among Twitter, TikTok, Discord, SnapChat… They seem us etc are designed to be played in cooperation.

Evolution

Replika

World of Warcraft has been known for years for having a very bonded community, holding events to honor a deceased member. In July 2020, Reckful, an important World of warcraft player, died: The community then paid one last tribute by gathering online, giving an extremely touching and beautiful image of genuine virtual humanity.

It is not the first time that something like that

happens. Even though a great part of the population still has distrust towards video games ,since it is still recent, they are really taking a

hommage_Reckful

Pepper

Out Of The Borders

lot of importance in more areas than one could think of.

So much happened in only half a century. Yes-

terday we were amazed to be able to use touchscreens, and now everyone will have access to 5G technology, which will give access to a whole range of new interactions. The progress today is faster and faster, unstoppable. Sometimes, it even gives off the illusion to be faster than us, and it is precisely the reason why modernity is both captivating and so scary.

Out Of The Borders Evolution

Stop being scared of change

by Michelle Wischnepolski

The young hate the old. They are conservative, they are close-minded and they are so

stuck in their own mindsets that they refuse to see the potential of modern ideas and progressive approaches.

When you are born, the whole world is like a huge adventure waiting to be lived, with a spe-

cial surprise just for you behind every corner. Everything that lasts longer than five minutes is boring, everything that is new or different needs to be discovered immediately. When we get older, the people around us start teaching us that everything new, everything different comes with a risk. What if what we had before was better? What if we can never get it back again? Trying something new, breaking old boundaries becomes something that requires a lot of energy and courage, but to a certain age you at least get recognition from others for it.

Then, tables turn: you enter the phase when daring to make changes is seen as something

immature, something irrational. The ideal adult is somebody who has his or her life sorted out: A stable job, a healthy family, maybe a fun hobby but most importantly all of these secure for at least twenty more years. If somebody dares to make big changes after their 35th birthday, then they are “not sure about what they want”, “lost”, “unsuccessful” or “in a difficult phase” , so basically: A teenager. Our society associates driving change and experiencing the unexpected with youth and a certain degree of immaturity. But why is it that our society rejects big changes so much, what makes us fear the new and the different?

Why people fear change

If you look at the facts, then the fear of change

is quite understandable in both a historical and an evolutionary way. Change is connected to uncertainty, and our brain perceives uncertainty the same as it perceives an error: it needs to be resolved. Since we are hardwired to prefer consistency and routine, even our ancestors in the ancient times knew that changing location would come with new threats and challenges you have to deal with.

Which brings me to my next point: The inevi-

table need to adapt to the new situation. When we think of adapting a new lifestyle, new habits, the ways of a new place we think of the ex-

haustion and discomfort that comes with it. Us humans, we strive and seek comfort and convenience since they prevent us from constantly doubting ourselves and our opinions. What we ignore is the fact that for a lot, if not most people, the reflection of their own behavior and opinions would be quite useful. Our society has set it as a standard that starting from a certain age, you should avoid changes. This is a policy that has allowed many people to avoid confrontation with their own selves and allowed them to keep on living in their bubble. So instead of pushing us to seek growth and self-development, we are taught to settle for a stable, nice and good-to-live-with-identity.

Evolution

Out Of The Borders

Generation Clash vs. Generation Harmony

This

pattern of people rejecting change because it would make them doubt their own mindset is noticeable in most phenomenons of our world. Some examples: conservatives dislike the growing embrace of homosexuality because it would make them doubt their religious world views. Some men don’t like the increasing number of females in leading positions because it would cause them to question their own work ethic. Even today there are still people who reject most of technology because it would lead them to the conclusion that maybe, their way of doing things is not the best.

So here it comes: the clash of generations. The young seeking change and the old fearing it, two approaches that are not compatible in any way. What is the solution? Understanding and the will to try. We cannot expect the older people of our society to change from one day to the next, but what should be expected is that they listen and that they don’t judge. On the other hand, the youngsters of our society should be open to learn from the experience of the Elders and show understanding for their fear.

It is easy to say that the problem will be solved if simply all elderly people suddenly turned

Out Of The Borders Evolution

“Once we understand that we can learn and profit from each other and we have a face-to-face conversation instead of inspecting each other from distance, we are one step closer to a generation harmony instead of a generation clash.. progressive, but we can’t just put the blame on one generation. You don’t have to be over sixty in order to be close-minded, ignorance is a weakness that can be found in the younger generation, too. Young people choose to not see and learn from the happenings around them that don’t match with the mindset they already have. There is a very pressing risk of our

generation being split into two groups that see each other as threats. Our generation needs to tackle challenges together by showing solidarity and accepting the fact that different people have different opinions. Peace and harmony don’t require everybody to be the same.

As individuals, we can see the fear of change

as a personal challenge to overcome since we know that the outcome will most likely help us fulfill our potential. But as long as testing our limits and pushing our comfort zone is considered to be something childish or immature by society, a lot of people will keep on scaring away from making changes and progress in their life. The result is a comfortable society that doesn’t reach out to the stars.

Perceptions

Out Of The Borders

Killing the fathers: A new Hollywood

by Giovanni Stanislao

Protests in the streets concerning basic human and civil rights such as freedom of speech,

environmentalism, sexuality. Fights against racial discrimination, injustices, homophobia, sexism. We are in the USA, mid 60’, and the baby boomer generation is raising the voice. They are angry. Angry at the government; angry at the system and the establishment; most of all angry because of the long and bloody Vietnam war, which is shaking the public opinion in the whole world. They want to make a change, they want to build a different society, with different people in charge, new values. How? By killing the fathers.

The cinema industry

Of course this sentiment influenced every as-

Vietnam

pect of people’s lives, from education to art, from politics to cinema.

Out Of The Borders Perceptions

Peter-Fonda

Even Hollywood was characterized by this classic pattern where the power was in the hands of a few (the studios, run by producers), exploiting actors and directors, often without giving them the right credit and leaving them in trouble when they were burnt out. But the cinematic industry was also in a crisis moment, when the advent of television was stealing viewers and the big studios were not able anymore to meet the taste of the new generation. Everything started to change when a smart

growing under his wings are today the most famous names in Hollywood: Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas. Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski. They all started their career at this moment, alongside actors such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Maryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda and Mia Farrow.

They formed a big group of friends, living in California and leading a life full of exaggerations: parties, drugs, sex. They were also helping each other all the time, they were reading each other’s screenplays, making movies together, giving advice. They were a community.

producer, Roger Corman, understood that the way movies were done and sold before wasn’t working anymore. Instead of proposing ideas to the studios, he was first shooting the movies and only after selling them to be distributed in the cinemas. This was granting total creative Easy Rider, directed by Denis Hooper in1969 freedom, and that’s why a group of directors and starring Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson,

Perceptions

Out Of The Borders

they are not the pioneers in the way we usually know. They use drugs during the trip, they are outsiders, not well seen by the people they meet along the way, they are hippies. Of course this is a criticism on the American society, which is represented strongly by the character The two characters of the movie are traveling of a prostitute. through the USA with their motorcycles. They are looking for something across the amazing A lot of authors continued to produce and reCalifornian desert landscapes, with the wind in alize different kinds of movies but often with the hair, the big streets and the speed giving the same themes. After Francis Ford Coppola’s a sense of freedom, the same freedom that consecration with the huge success of The Godfather, he started to influence the industry young viewers were looking for. on which director will get the job: this was the Fonda and Nicholson represent two American case with George Lucas, a young beginner who symbols, Captain America and Buffalo Bill. But wanted to make a little gem about adolescence the director depicted them in a totally different in the 50s and 60s, to remember the good times way: they are running in the opposite direction, before the Vietnam tragedy. The movie is called is considered to be the symbol of the New Hollywood. It embodies all the characteristics of this cinematic movement: low budget, a simple directing style, no special effect, everything is shot on location without using a studio.

Taxi Driver

Out Of The Borders Perceptions

Chadwick

American Graffiti, and George Lucas will later victims, confronting himself till his bloody on direct the most important saga in cinema death in the bathroom. history: Star Wars. Scorsese will also direct Taxi Driver, with RobObviously the war was engraved in the mind ert De Niro. of every director working in Hollywood. That’s why, for example, Martin Scorsese started his Even though he was part of this community, career with a short movie called The Big Shave: there was a younger prodigy that never joined a man in front of a mirror shaving his beard. A his friends and coworkers in their excess: metaphor for the war, with the man embodying Steven Spielberg was also starting his career the common American citizen, one of the many alongside the others, but he was reaching the

Perceptions

public in a different way. He didn’t talk about war, drama or blood.

His breakout was Jaws, shot as a B-movie (low

Out Of The Borders

A bridge to the present

budget films, usually horror or science-fiction): Spielberg is the bridge between this new wave the young people were running to the cinemas and a new era that is still going on today, where to watch this film full of tension and suspense. the studios gained importance again and the public is particularly affectionate to big producWith Spielberg there is a shift, a transition tions and huge movie-events, such as Jurassic from the new Hollywood to a new era. He was Park, Star Wars or the Marvel Universe. able to speak to the young generation in a way that nobody had before. But he started to do it Cinema has always been the perfect mirror by working with the studios again; his movies of a society, not only in the USA. How much of were so successful that producers started to what happens in the world is present in movies, give him the budget to make big blockbusters even if it’s only depicted in a metaphorical way? with special effects and famous actors, while Today we have a huge successful blockbuster keeping his own style alive. Today we all still about a black superhero (Black Panther, 2018) remember Close Encounters of the third kind that 10 years ago no one would have produced, or E.T, big sci-fi movies full of heart. while we are screaming with all our strength that “Black Lives Matter”. We can see the numIf the Hollywood industry was dying before, ber of female directors increasing every year and the New Hollywood movement saved it without reaching high positions in the industry, while the doubt, bringing back the public in the cinemas “Me Too” movement is spreading everywhere. but taking the power away from the producers We have LGBTQ+ representation in most of the and the big studios. movies and TV series because we need it. We it since everyday someone is beaten up in In the 1980 the last movie of this phase came need the street only for kissing their partner. out: Raging Bull, a masterpiece directed by Martin Scorsese, with Robert De Niro in the role of When a kid is devastated by the news that his Jake LaMotta, a boxing champion whose life is hero, an actor who was playing the first African ruined by the violence of his work environment. superhero, died in real life, it means that maybe After this point, and after a few failed movies, something is working. producers started to be nervous again in giving all the power to the directors and started to It means that maybe this generation found a claim back more authority over their products. way to kill their fathers.

Out Of The Borders Perceptions

Generation Greta

The shock of generation

by Clara Rodier

They are people between 12 and 25 and they are committed to a better future. We call

them “Generation Greta”. They grew up with drought, wildfires, floods, and the fear of losing everything because of climate change. They all share the urge to raise awareness about the climate emergency and fight for a better future.

These are the stories of Ralyn, Célia, Vanes-

sa, and Xiuhtezcatl that we are going to tell. They live in the four corners of the world and yet they share the same struggle. They wanted to promote a radical change in society, fighting against the inaction of politicians around the world. Who are these activists? What hopes and fears do they carry? What’s the difference between the previous and the next generation?

Vanessa

Nakate was born in Uganda, she lives in Kampala, the country’s capital and largest city. She is a climate activist who has been fighting against global warming and its consequences in Africa – Uganda for three years. She is determined to make the voice of a continent directly affected by climate change heard, even though it is only responsible for

3 to 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. In July 2020 Vanessa was interviewed by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie about the power of African voices in discussions about climate. She has founded two youth organisations, including the Rise Up movement - an organisation raising the profile of climate activists in Africa and around the world. She has also been the leader in a big campaign to save Congo’s rainforest, which is facing massive deforestation.

Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez,” That power over

Nature, power over Earth, power over women is what is fed to us every single day. Patriarchy, capitalism and white supremacy: those three things are the foundation of the system of oppression that creates the dysfunction we see today.” Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez is an American environmental activist. Through Hip-Hop as a speech about climate change. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez leads an international organization called “Earth Guardians” that brings together a new generation of young leaders.

Celia Xakriaba, Celia is named after its territo-

Gary Calton

ry, “Xakriaba”, a community of 11,000 people in the heart of the state of Minas Gerais, in southeast Brazil. She is an indigenous activist, fem-

Perceptions

inist and environmental fighter who embodies the preservation of the Amazon, she is also the very first Amerindian woman in Brazil with a doctorate. She multiplies the field actions to defend the access to care of the communities in front of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Celia Xakriaba is part of the delegation of the Coordination of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, she traveled through Europe to denounce “the explosion of invasions of indigenous territories” with the arrival of Bolsonaro.

Out Of The Borders

These young people from all over the world

make a difference, they used their voice to speak against environmental injustice. It is a race against time and they say to politicians that it’s enough. Drought, flood, rising sea levels, wildfires, extinction species, all of these are all the consequences of climate change. It’s time for the world to change.

New topics emerge women and climate change, climate change and refugees, climate change and colonialism. Once again everything is interconnected and everything needs to be And so many younger activists make their taken into consideration and fight for environvoices heard all over the world. mental justice.

Vanessa Nakate, Luisa Neubauer, Greta Thunberg, Isabelle Axelsson and Loukina Tille, from left, in Davos on Friday. Nakate was cropped out of early versions of the photo.

Out Of The Borders Essay

How to explain to grandaunt what Tinder is “How did you meet each other?” she (my grand-

aunt) asked me during a video call. “On Tinder.” I wanted to say it, but then I stopped myself. Because, you know what? Grandaunt and Tinder together in one sentence? it doesn’t work. I am proud that she has a zoom on her laptop to communicate with me, but still, let’s be honest. I don’t want to see my grandaunt’s head explode. (And I secretly hope you don’t want to see it as well.)

by Štěpán Vranešic

“How did you meet each other?” the question

still lingers in the air. But in the same moment my grandaunt’s eyes keep saying “Put the flags out! He has a partner finally!”. I don’t want to destroy her joy. And I am sure that explanation of mechanism of Tinder could do it. Especially in case of my grandaunt, because in the age of her girlhood, there were only a few possibilities to meet a potential husband. For example, visiting the local “largest potato” contest. (Do you feel the connection with my photo-bombing/ potato face?) I could lie too. But maybe it isn’t a good idea. Once she realises that I lied, I will never receive her famous potato salad anymore. It is too much of a risk. I have to spill the beans.

But back to the beginning. Mission impossible: create Tinder account. Why? At first, I am too lazy to chat, even with my friends, let alone with random people that I know only from display of my phone. Secondly, I like photo-bombing really much. Like, really, really much. Trust me. Why am I writing about it? Because if someone likes photo-bombing as I do, then he probably doesn‘t have suitable picture for his Tinder profile. In fact, every photo of him looks like an an- “Ahem.. how to say it…” I’m trying to stop stammering. “We found each other on Tinder. It is an gry potato, just like mine. app that you can have on your phone… Have But then my situation changed. I moved from you heard about it?’’ Grandaunt looks daggers Czech Republic to Thessaloniki, where I had at me. Silence between us is too intense, and more opportunities to create some adventure. takes perhaps ten minutes (I guess). And then “Stepan, you are in a new town. Don’t be as lazy the grandaunt replies: “Of course I know it!” I as a ship in the doldrums.” I told myself, „let’s try am absolutely surprised, as grandaunt continnew things!“ So I used my self-control and made ues: “I have it too. Couple of days ago I had a some photos without photo-bombing/potato match with one handsome gentleman. We only face and then... I made the important decision! spoke for one or two days and take a look! He sent me this beautiful picture of his big potato!” Swipe left, swipe right. Left, left, left, right. Match. Chat. Pervert. - OK, next, number two. There are only a few things in this world that I Swipe left, swipe right. Left, left, left, right. really don’t want to see anymore. The Tinder acMatch. Chat. Fun. Meeting. Date. Nice per- count of my grandaunt is one of them. But this son... To be honest, it was not as difficult as I weird experience taught me a lot. For example, thought. But my adventure with online dating not to underestimate old people. They are lost wasn’t over yet, unhappily. Even if I have a part- in new technologies sometimes. But sometimes ner now, I still have my grandaunt too… they catch the substance of it better than we do.

Essay

Out Of The Borders

Mix Fix Around the city

Same city, so many changes

What did Thessaloniki look like a few years ago? by Lena Foligné

33 years separate these photos, it is not so much and yet… What a change! Even if the

architecture is quite similar, we can notice big differences about the civilisation, the traffic or the weather.

Since the early 1990s, Greece has firmly estab-

saloniki was about 737,126 people versus lished itself as a host country for immigrants, 812,964 in 2021. mainly coming from the Balkans, particularly Albania, Eastern Europe and the ex-Soviet It can be expected that Thessaloniki will conUnion. These immigration flows have played an tinue to experience the steady growth observed essential role in the evolution of the country’s throughout its history. population as well as in its development. This may explain the expansion of public transIndeed, Thessaloniki is the capital of Greek ports as buses, creation of bicycle paths and Macedonia in the east of mainland Greece and the increase of cars with improved road signs. is the second most populous city in the country Despite the advantages, there are also negaafter Athens. tive aspects: these innovations certainly have Moreover, since 1997 Thessaloniki is the Euro- an impact on the environment. pean capital of culture and in 2014 became the one for youth. This city has one of the biggest One of the most obvious changes is the weathstudents’ population in Greece and is very at- er, especially the decrease of snowy weather. tractive for new generations. Consequently, it might be interesting to adAccording to the website of the World Popu- dress climate change: normal fluctuation or lation Review, in 1988 the population in Thes- global warming?

Around the city

Mix Fix

AristotelousMixed

SeasideMixed

Mix Fix Around the city

Aristotelous1988

Aristotelous2021

Around the city

Mix Fix

Seaside1988

Seaside2021

U SB TEA M Anastasiia Hrechka | 18 years old

Isciane Lallement | 23 years old

Favorite topics are sexuality, LGBT rights and mental health

Favorite topics are video games, literature and history

Lena Foligné | 22 years old

Clara Rodier | 22 years old

Favorite topics are Psychology, art and travel

Favorite topics are photography, literature and cinema.

Giovanni Stanislao | 31 years old

Michelle Wischnepolski | 18 years old

Favorite topics are cinema, culture and social issues

Favorite topics are feminism, travelling, books and psychology

Roberto Gentile| 26 years old

Stepan Vranesic | 25 years old

Favorite topics are storytelling, culture and art

Favorite topics are society, religion and weirdness

Diogo Vilarinho | 25 years old

Şahin Akkaya | 23 years old

Favorite topics are art, design and photography

Favorite topics are travel, Eurovision and chess

General Directors: Editors: Aristodimos Paraschou Isciane Lallement Christian Cibba Graphic Designer: Alexandros Tagaridis Find us: www.balkanhotspot.org Usb_ngo.gr

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European ERASMUS+ Programme, European Solidarity Corps. This project has been funded with support from the European Commision. This publication [communication] reflects the views of only of the author, and the Commision can not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Balkan Beats 38 - The Shock of Generation

Articles inside

Two (not) different generations