Let’s all be honest. The start to the new “20s” has been…suboptimal. With everything that is going on right now, the 1980s seems like the golden age—and not without reason. Modern media influence plays a big role in this, but there were many factors in the 80s itself that make us all wish we could go back.
ENTERTAINMENT
If you haven’t already found yourself watching movies from way back in the 80s yourself, reboots like “Cobra Kai” are influencing current generations to check out films and television shows from that symbolic decade. This is a great thing since 80s cinema has a lot to offer. However, they weren’t originally streamed on Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime, but rather in an open drive-in theatre like the one featured below.
Some of the most iconic films of the 80s include “The Outsiders”, “The Breakfast Club”, “The Karate Kid”, and “E.T.”. If the 80s are making a comeback, then the current film industry and movie fans should be very excited.
Our generation has been raised and nurtured by Generation X and Y. Our parents and teachers grew up in the 80s, and have seen the world change drastically. Many people today are intrigued by 80s cinematography, due to the fact that movies give us an insight into how the world functioned when it took place. The settings, characterization, cars, and fashion are all unique in comparison to any other age, and this change of scenery can be very captivating. In addition, entertainment might be the closest we can get to experiencing ‘simpler times’; with COVID-19, seeing a peaceful reality in the 80s can be all we need.
The success of 80s cinema has not gone unnoticed by the modern entertainment industry. New shows like “Stranger Things” actually take place in the 80s, and places like “Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe” from “Riverdale” give off strong 80s vibes. Many TV shows and movies from the 80s are now getting reboots – as mentioned above, the famous Netflix series “Cobra Kai” is based on the Karate Kid trilogy of the 80s. In fact, reboots are popping up left, right, and center, and this goes beyond the 80s. “Fuller House” is a reboot of “Full House”. And, a reboot of the famous 90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is in the works. Also, many ‘new’ Disney movies such as “The Lion King”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” are remakes of the original classics. Perhaps it’s due to a shortage of creativity, or maybe the possibility to bring back the past was just too hard to resist.
MUSIC
For many people, music is an integral part of everyday life. Whether it’s to lift you up when you feel down or to boost the ‘feel-good’ mood that you’re already in, music’s main specialty is to express the good or bad vibes and everything in between.
Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Drake, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Juice WRLD, Olivia Rodrigo, and Post Malone. These are just a few of the many names in the music business that everyone knows. But in the 80s, it looked a little more like this: Michael Jackson, Madonna, George Michael, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, and The Police. These icons shaped the music industry and laid the foundation for current artists.
Before iTunes and Spotify, music artists rose to the top in a whole different way. Their voices were heard through mixtapes, cassettes, ‘Walkmans’, boomboxes, CDs, and radios. New genres were established, hit songs were released, and emblematic musicians shaped an unforgettable age of pop culture.
Each age of music has its character and style that enhances the culture that generations will remember for years to come. Music today is unique. However, bits and pieces from the past never fail to find a way through. For instance, music artists such as Dua Lipa and the Weeknd have incorporated 80s-esque vibes into their hit songs to make a unique mix of past and present. By enabling the eternal existence of different ages, the music industry is able to produce masterpieces that never let the past die while bringing life to the future.
ARCADES & GAMING
Gaming is also a very important part of many people’s lives nowadays. However, video games used to be much different than they are now. Even the way video games were played has drastically changed. While you can now play on your Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch with your friends from the comfort of your own couch, that was scarcely an option in the 80s. One of the most iconic factors of the 80s were the arcades.
Some of the most popular games in the 80s include Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Frogger, and Galaga. The graphics in these games are incomparable to current video games, but they never failed to give everyone a great time. In fact, some of these games, such as Pac-Man, are slowly making huge comebacks. Many forms of entertainment including games use the fundamentals established by prior hits. These vintage games may never fade away due to their originality that revolutionized the gaming industry, influencing video games for decades to come.
FOOD & DINERS
Food is a basic necessity of life. While the food itself hasn’t changed much, the ways we get our food definitely has. Especially during our “new normal”, people are getting a lot of food through online platforms such as “SkipTheDishes”. Like other modern things mentioned in this article, that wasn’t an option in the 80s either. Additionally, the restaurants we eat in today have a different style. Another aspect of the 80s were the iconic diners, with their aesthetic lighting and unique seating. With shows like “Riverdale” featuring 80s-style diners, a comeback might be on the way for these retro restaurants.
It is human nature to want something that you cannot have. And with all the splendors of the 80s, it’s hard to blame anyone for yearning to go back. Unfortunately, the only way that can happen is if “Back to the Future” is brought to life. So until time travel is invented, all we can do is dream.