Sofia Coppola and Generation X (So Far) by Robert C. Sickels

While the work of Sofia Coppola has often been dismissed as being stereotypically feminine and placing more focus on spectacle over substance, Sofia Coppola and Generation X (So Far): Anxious and Effervescent draws attention to common characteristics present in Coppola's films to present an authorial signature and aesthetic that are both familiar yet evocative of Generation X's perception in the public consciousness. In analyzing Coppola's films from The Virgin Suicides (1999) to Priscilla (2023), this book argues that her filmography acts as a reflection of her generation's evolving mindset and self-image from its prominence during the late 1980s to its current sentiment of discomfort with its fading influence.

Robert C. Sickels is professor of film & media studies at Whitman College and the Alma Meisnest Chair of Humanities.

This clear and lively book makes a historical and cultural case for viewing Sofia Coppola as a leading Generation X filmmaker. In looking at her aesthetics and style, Sickles offers insight into the roles that feel and tone play in shaping an artistic view of the world. Instead of focusing on narrative meaning and closure, Coppola is depicted as a director dedicated to a more open and ambiguous grasp of human experience.