Generationspanning

Generationspanning is a term used to describe examining or presenting information across multiple generations within a single framing. It emphasizes a panoramic, cross-generational perspective and is not yet standardized across disciplines. The name blends generation and panorama to reflect its broad, cross-generational scope.

In storytelling and media, it may juxtapose scenes, voices, or narratives from different generations to highlight continuities and change. In research and data visualization, it refers to aligning or comparing data across generational cohorts, often via timelines or multi-cohort views.

Common methods include layered timelines, side-by-side biographies, genealogical trees annotated with demographic data, and dashboards that map outcomes by generation.

Applications span documentary filmmaking, journalism, family history projects, and interdisciplinary studies in sociology, demography, and anthropology.

Challenges include data availability and privacy, contextual differences across generations, representativeness, and the risk of overgeneralizing intergenerational effects.

The term has emerged in contemporary discourse without a single formal definition, and its precise meaning varies by field.