Natalie Yemenidjian
When Narcissus saw his reflection in the water do you think he saw his MySpace profile?
Generation Y has been labeled narcissistic by psychologists, sociologists and by people who are scared that our consumer-generated, technology-based culture has a broken moral compass.
I disagree.
Although, Mikkhail Goldenberg and I get along very well, we have strong opinions that often conflict. When he first developed the concept to do a story on Generation Y, I cried conspiracy theorist.
“Advertising companies will affect the structure of our genetics? Really Mikkhail?” I recall saying.
Then I read Gil Riego Jr.’s question and answer series with three Pierce College professors. There was a correlation between what environmental science professor Craig Meyer said and what Goldenberg researched. Our genes, the very essence of what makes us unique, may be manipulated by the inundation of advertising and media that our minds are constantly processing.
I’m not going to lie; it tripped me out a bit.
With a theme like “Power of One,” which has been incorporated into every story, it’s hard not to mention President Elect Barack Obama.
Women broke through glass ceilings, a biracial man is changing Washington and Saturday Night Live is getting revived. This is a great time to be in America — as long as you didn’t invest all your money in stocks and still have a job. Jared Iorio writes a letter to the incoming president warning him that he has a lot of ground to cover and a lot of change to fulfill.
Kristopher Prue-Cook professes his love for the automobile. Although I don’t understand his obsession with the invention that changed the world, I think the article is hilarious.
Rocio Romero, Jared Iorio and I focus on one person — the kind of person who is average, yet powerful in his or her own right.
All in all, the production of this magazine taught me a lot. I can fully function after three days of no sleep, I’m immune to caffeine products under 600 mg and I realized that the individual is powerful.
Natalie Yemenidjian (Jessie Lomeli)
