Logan's Run Redefining Old- Why 30 is no longer old?

"The seeds of the Little War were planted in a restless summer during the mid-1960s, with sit-ins and student demonstrations as youth tested its strength. By the early 1970s over 75 percent of the people living on Earth were under 21 years of age. The population continued to climb—and with it the youth percentage.

In the 1980s the figure was 79.7 percent.

In the 1990s, 82.4 percent.

In the year 2000—critical mass."  Logan's Run Book introduction

Logan's Run is a sci-fi movie filmed in 1976  about a ageist future in which everyone is killed at the age of 30 to prevent overpopulation.  The reason for this is to maintain limited equilibrium and in part to maintain a youthful population.  This concept of an agist society is seen in many other movies including more recently In Time starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, and Olivia Wilde.  There have been rumored remake attempts of Logan's Run most recently with Ryan Gossling.

Logan's run a 1970's scifi agist adventure

The film depicts the year 2274 which is a sealed domed city which looks abit like Epcot Center (doesn't everything in the future).  The garish customs and 1970's style acting and cinematography are a bit to take in. Suprisingly, this film won a special Academy Award for special visual effects.  

In the film, a prize is placed on youth and aging is something to be feared.  Nearly 40 years after this film, we still live in a society which favors youth, but youthful appearances.  Better understanding of health, fitness, and the expense of lifetsyle choices have on our appearance have probably contributed to a delay in the aging process.  Perhaps the advancement of plastic surgery and use of fillers, botox, and lasers have assisted as well.  

Age however is more and more being defined as biolgogic and not chronologic.  This means if you can live a healthy lifestyle and compare yourself to someone who tans, smokes, doesn't sleep well and eats fast food you probably will look younger.  In fact, a recent twin study in PRS looked just at smoking and found a difference in the appearance comparing twins who smoked versus those who did not.  

Our definition of old has definitely changed.  A 30 year old is still considered a young adult for practical purposes.  Defining old has become more difficult.  It probably is not 40 and much older.  Many adults are enjoying themselves more at later ages than they did in their 20's.  Many are healthier at later years and look better as well.

A view of LASERS taking over plastic surgery