Nowadays you don’t have to own a DeLorean to travel back in time. The 1980’s are transporting us to the past with every revitalized reboot and trending retro fad.
Throw on your denim jacket and crank up the volume on your favorite MJ album. The 1980’s are making a comeback in a big way: teen flicks and sci-fi movies, new wave synthpop, bold neon colors and horrible fashion decisions—including the notorious permed hairstyle. But this decade gave rise to more than just extravagant hair, and it’s making a reappearance in modern media.
With the different 80’s characteristics appearing in modern movies, TV shows, music and even fashion, Hollywood producers have captured the attention of nostalgic adults as well as younger generations. Recent releases that have gained attention for their commemoration of 80’s culture include the sci-fi adventure film “Ready Player One” and the Netflix hit series “Stranger Things.”
Set in a dystopian society in 2045, the movie “Ready Player One” has become for the number of throwback references, or Easter Eggs, known only to the pop culture savvy. The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg himself—an icon of 80’s classics such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Goonies”—one could expect that he would incorporate a few retro elements into this new take on science fiction. “Ready Player One” is filled to the brim with 80’s nostalgia, one of the most notable being the DeLorean from “Back to the Future” (1985). Others are more subtle, such as the Rubik’s Cube and the video game “Street Fighter.” Everything from its neon title graphics to its synth-filled soundtrack—featuring songs from 80’s icons Van Halen and Duran Duran—is sure to make viewers look back fondly on this cherished decade.
In the world of streaming television, the 80’s have been revived with the series “Stranger Things.” Unlike “Ready Player One,” this show immerses the audience directly into the past and succeeds in capturing the essence of the time period itself. The series implements a range of iconic 80’s media tropes, such as a horror sci-fi plot, a coming of age narrative and teenage antics. These onscreen stories set in a past devoid of technology truly encapsulate the quaintness of life only 30 years ago. Of course, “Stranger Things” also incorporates subtle references to classic 80’s productions, and pays homage to films like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), “Gremlins” (1984) and “Ghostbusters” (1984).
With all of the 1980’s elements appearing in today’s media, you might ask the simple question—Why is this decade being revived? Simply put, today’s producers are nostalgic for their childhoods—that’s a big part— as are millions of viewers. Viewers who lived through this decade feed on these tidbits, savoring the sweet memories of the past.
For the younger generation, aspects of 80’s culture in TV and movies connect to them on an emotional level. The revival of the 80’s in modern media has provided filmmakers a way to tell their stories to a generation who lived them and to a generation who can only wish they did.