Why Is 80s Nostalgia So Popular? – What’s funny about the 80s, is that this period seems eternally enduring. As the years go by, 80s culture seems to grow ever more popular (the success of shows like Stranger Things are proof of this.) We don’t feel this way about the 60s, 70s, or the 90s. Whether it’s the clothes, the movies, or the music, most people seem to have a special place in their heart for this decade. But why is 80s nostalgia so popular? In our opinion, here are just a few of the reasons.
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It’s just so good
Even if you hate the 80s, no one can deny that this was an incredible time for pop culture. This is most evident in the movies and music of that period. Much of the media released during this period is considered as the best of all time. Not only that, it endures to this day. For example, it was during the 80s that the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were released. This period also saw movies like Indiana Jones, ET, Back to the Future, Ghost Busters and Top Gun. When it comes to music you had artists like The King of Pop Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, U2, and Bruce Springsteen. Up until today, almost none of these artists or movies have been surpassed. This is probably the biggest reason why people continue to return to the 80s.
Youth
Why is 80s nostalgia so popular? The reason is because you were young. You see, 80s culture is generally popular amongst most people. That being said, this isn’t always true. Some people hate the 80s. The exception to this rule is Generation X. This generation is defined as people who were born from 1965-1980. These are the people who actually experienced the 80s first hand. Most importantly, they’re the generation who came of age during the 80s. This makes them the people most likely to be targeted by pop culture. They were the kids who watched the movies, listened to the pop music, played the video games, bought the toys, and wore the terrible fashion of the 1980s.
Also see: Best Things About The 1980s: 5 Things Which Defined The Decade
Rose coloured glasses
Nostalgia is defined as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. Another way of saying this is that “you’re looking back with rose coloured glasses.” This means almost the same thing, refers to people who have a cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis. The point is this: were the 80s really that great? It’s hard to say unless you actually lived through them. For example, while a lot of the music and movies from that time are incredible, a lot of it was total junk. For example, while you had movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark you also had Howard the Duck and Ishtar. And while you had artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna, you also had Milli Vanilli.
Read More: What Items Were Popular In The 80s
It was a simpler time
Why is 80s nostalgia so popular? Another reason is simply things were better then. Compared to today, the 80s was infinitely more simple (and also a lot happier it would seem.) Remember, this was a time before things like the war on terror, or global warming and the impending collapse of the environment. It was also a time before worldwide financial and housing crisis’s. There was no such thing as social media. Technology was seen as new and exciting, instead of intrusive and Orwellian. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s easy to see why people look back on this period with such fondness.
Keep Reading: What Was Popular To Do In The 80s? 5 Things That Everyone Did Back Then
