What is so special about the 1980s/1990s?
by Rebel Scum Jack
Whenever it comes to any interest, hobby, or industry, there always seems to be a point in development where a peak occurs – a time in which the cumulative benefits and quality of something reaches an arguably highest point.
I strongly believe that the 1980s and 1990s represent the peak of humanity in many ways. It was a time in which America began to see a strong appreciation between many different world cultures and what they had to offer. Social tensions were recognizably much lower than previous eras in history, and anyone who managed to either immigrate or be born in the United States were more than happy to join in on the enthusiasm of chanting “USA! USA! USA!”.
Technology had reached a very special place – a boom – during these two decades. It was a nexus point – a critical inflection in consumer technology. We started to leave analogue behind us, and began to embrace a more digital age. Carburetors were on the way out, while modern fuel injection was in. Buttons, knobs, and switches all still felt wonderful to operate, while products and items still had a satisfying weight to them.
With more advanced technology, we reached what is currently considered the undisputed golden age of cinema and shows. The color and clarity of the picture in movies had finally reached a place that realistically compared to real life. We had the luxury of enjoying a rich cinematic experience, whether it was a night of Blockbuster and Pizza Hut, or going out to the movie theater.
Not only was this a very special time for the picture quality within films, but it was also one for the content quality. The pace of films were no longer slow and dreary like what we had experienced in former decades. Writers and movie-makers still had many degrees of artistic freedom and expression. Simultaneously, it was a time where most movies and shows turned out to be more enjoyable than you had originally anticipated, but not only that – they gave you a wholesome healthy mix of uncontrollable laughter, a heartfelt tear, and a thirst for life.
We had just the right mix of different things we could choose to watch, while at the same time enjoying a rich pop culture in which many other people you run into at the mall have most likely seen the movies or shows you’ve watched. Nothing felt like it was popular in isolation. If you lived anywhere that had modern civilization at the time, then you were inevitably exposed to shows like Family Matters, FRIENDS, Married with Children, etc. It was the last time in our history that people generally all understood the same pop-culture references that weren’t limited to 1 year spans of fleeting relevance the way they are today.
With what felt like an antiquated past behind us, and an entire future ahead of us, the 1980s and 1990s were truly a remarkable period during human society, that felt like we were getting the best deal in everything. From cars to music, movies, and video games… heck, just look at the women! No man with warm blood in their veins could resist the likes of Jennifer Connelly, Christina Applegate, or Elizabeth Berkley (just to name a few). If you ever find yourself a Delorean with a flux capacitor, you’d be insane to not want to revisit such a magical era.
As impressive as today’s technology is, I’m not sure it was worth the humanity we left behind when we moved on from the 80s and 90s – that’s what I call peak culture. Be excellent to each other and party on, dudes.
Rebel Scum Jack 