Born in the 1970s -- Unveiling Dusty Memories

Author: Yang Mei, Huang Rong, Xiao Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features:
Everyday busy work almost makes us forget the meaning of time. Day and night, under the shade of the OFFICE curtain wall, become a fleeting landscape; spring, summer, autumn, and winter, in the alternation of air conditioning, have long lost their original significance. It seems that we have been chasing after a goal. It seems that we have been constantly losing some memories that should have been cherished. I am very grateful to my good friend for sending this gift during this scorching summer. It is a memory belonging to a generation, or perhaps something worth sharing with a generation. It makes us feel that the corner in our hearts, which we thought had been forgotten, is still warm and humid.
People born in the 1970s are a group that has now become, or is becoming, or will become the backbone of this society. Compared to their older siblings from the 1960s, they are more sensitive to new things. Compared to their younger siblings from the 1980s, they carry more distinct marks of Chinese tradition. Their childhood was also turbulent, but that turbulence was more blurred and not deeply etched. Their youth, though not materially wealthy, was not separated by security gates in high-rise buildings, filled instead with the joy of collective games. Although this joy seems incredibly low-tech by today's standards, it still radiates the warmth and sincerity of intermingling hands and feet. Their youth was filled with too many shocks. This shock was not only the baptism of foreign culture when China's doors began to open, but more so from within themselves. Their eyes, ears, and gradually fuller bodies endured a series of pains and joys as the ancient nation rejuvenated. They had to work hard to adapt to and accept too many new things. As their minds grew, the winds of time swept them to the peaks and plunged them into the valleys. And now, the goals that most of us pursue have quietly and stubbornly taken root in our hearts at that time. This goal might come from a movie, a TV drama, a pop song, or even a novel.
People born in the 1970s had not experienced the internet during their growth. Therefore, their world is relatively simple. Although their horizons are not yet broad, they are not muddied or mixed with the good and the bad. As a result, their memories are relatively monochromatic but still warm as they once were. This memory may not be enough to outline the growth of an era, but it is the trajectory of a generation's spiritual growth. This trajectory is especially worth reminiscing and recalling in today's chaotic era.
Foreword by Lin Hai
The term "born in the 1970s" is gradually becoming a concept and a label for a generation. In the online world, discussions about "born in the 1970s," along with the works of various netizens, have drawn more attention to this topic. On the Blog China website (www.bokee.com), the special topic "The Great Debate on '70s People'" has inspired countless "born in the 1970s" individuals to reminisce about the classic memories that once moved them. The authors of this book hope that I can talk about the characteristics of "born in the 1970s" in my eyes. I believe there are no simple words to summarize this entire decade-spanning generation. I can only say that the experiences of 70s people are special, and their fortune is fortunate.
The experiences of 70s people are special. In their childhood, they experienced some material scarcity and felt the social spirit of faith and ideals above all. However, as adults, they caught the booming period of social development and accepted more material and realistic values. Thus, they are different from the 1960s, when people drank and talked about life, and the 1980s, when people discussed fashion and sensuality. They lack the perseverance of the 1960s and the carefree attitude of the 1980s.
The fortune of 70s people is fortunate. As the operator of Blog China, I have many friends born in the 1970s. In my familiar internet industry, 70s people and 60s people together seized the opportunities and stage of the internet. The era created a group of 70s internet elites. They seized the chance of the imbalance between talent supply and social development, bridged the gap between age and experience, and together with the 60s people, grasped the opportunities of the era's development.
I was born in 1969, and my childhood was in the 1970s, and my youth was in the 1980s. I have many memories similar to those of people born in the early to mid-1970s. As a child, I used to run to play marbles and collect picture cards with my friends after school. I also used to secretly save money to borrow the little picture books I liked from book stalls. I used to sit on a small stool in my neighbor's house to watch TV. In my youth, I also loved listening to "Childhood" and "Love Song 1990," I was once obsessed with Xiao Hu Dui and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, and I used to sing "Never Give Up Youth." All of this is deeply buried in my memory. Randomly flipping through this book, I found the shadows of the past, and the long-forgotten memories were once again opened. That innocent and carefree childhood, that passionate youth, that unrestrained youth, made me rediscover the long-lost.