I was born in 1993, well after the 1980s had ended. One thing that interests me though about the 1980s is pop culture. Here is a video from YouTube that deals with this very subject: https://youtu.be/AThaR169nCw

Does anyone know of any other pop culture moments from the decade? Before answering please click the link and watch the video. Here's a list of what the video covers:

1980 - The Empire Strikes Back
1981 - The Birth of MTV
1982 - Michael Jackson's Thriller
1983 - The Battle of the Bonds, referring to James Bond (Octopussy vs. Never Say Never Again)
1984 - The Creation of the PG-13 Rating
1985 - Live Aid
1986 - The Publication of Stephen King's It
1987 - The Worldwide Release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (Note: The NES was released in America in 1985.)
1988 - VHS defeats Betamax.
1989 - The Release of Batman.

My ranking:

1. The Worldwide Release of the NES (MTV is basically more obsolete than anything, while NES Classic was recently a best-seller, and today, Google Maps has a Mario pointer, showing how far-flung it is still felt today)
2. The Birth of MTV (For a couple decades, MTV was the premiere source for music and later some other mixed pop culture, before social media made it obsolete in the 2000s. It spawned many spin-offs, including VH-1, Friday Night Videos, TBS Night Tracks, Hit Video USA, CMT, BET, and numerous versions worldwide)
3. Michael Jackson's Thriller (A key ingredient in #2, it remains the biggest-selling album of all-time, and perhaps in our lifetime thanks to the decline in retail music sales)
4. The Release of Batman (This was the biggest movie phenomenon in terms of being a media frenzy that decade, and it paved the way for the comic book films that have dominated box office recipients this century so far. Even the Batman creator approved of it, and it showed that after the failure of a couple Superman sequels earlier in the decade, it could still be proven.)
5. Live Aid (It was a great concert, but it wasn't alone in the megaconcerts of the decade. You also had the USA Festival in 1983, Amensty International: A Concert For Life in 1986, and the Nelson Mandela concert in 1988. )
6. The Empire Strikes Back (A great film in its own right, but not quite the "wow" that was felt by 1977's A New Hope)
7. The Publication of Steven King's It (I've never read this book before and its actually "Stephen", but literature wasn't as widely popular in the '80s compared to earlier decades thanks to TV, movies, and comics wooing younger people, but it was  nice novel in its own right.
8. The Battle Of The Bonds (Honestly, this didn't seem to make much waves that year as despite its late 1982 release, Michael Jackson's Thriller dominated the headlines of '83. )
9. VHS defeats Betamax (Even in the mid-80s, Betamax was basically going the way of the 8-track tape since by then, VHS had surmounted so much of an advantage, that few cared, although blank tape continued to be manufactured for Beta long afterwards).
10. The Creation of the PG-13 rating (Basically, this just filled a void as the softer "R" movies were basically today's "harder PG-13" movies, and were almost as likely for a teen to attend as now. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, released before the creation, would likely be "soft PG-13" if rated today.)

5. Live Aid (It was a great concert, but it wasn't alone in the megaconcerts of the decade. You also had the USA Festival in 1983, Amensty International: A Concert For Life in 1986, and the Nelson Mandela concert in 1988. )



Don't forget Farm Aid which took place two months after Live Aid. Started by Willie Nelson as a direct result of a comment Bob Dylan made at his set at Live Aid that perhaps some for the money from the concert should be use to help struggling farmers in the US.

Also, I'm not sure I'd place the US Festival in the same category with these others. Yes, it was a "megaconcert", but it was a corporate, for profit event while the others were all benefits for a cause.

I picked the first option..... (Star wars II in 1980)

The birth of MTV in 1981.

I selected "1981 - The Birth of MTV" (which actually wasn't until Fall of 1982 where I live).

Peter Gabriel's Shock The Monkey video, and Joe Jackson's Steppin' Out always come to mind, too.

Nice thoughts on what was covered in the video. Now, can anyone suggest other pop culture from that decade? These were not the only ones after all.

4. The Release of Batman (This was the biggest movie phenomenon in terms of being a media frenzy that decade, and it paved the way for the comic book films that have dominated box office recipients this century so far. Even the Batman creator approved of it, and it showed that after the failure of a couple Superman sequels earlier in the decade, it could still be proven.)


Bob Kane was actually a consultant on the film.

Nice thoughts on what was covered in the video. Now, can anyone suggest other pop culture from that decade? These were not the only ones after all.


I'm thinking maybe the clothes people were wearing.

Nice thoughts on what was covered in the video. Now, can anyone suggest other pop culture from that decade? These were not the only ones after all.

I myself can infer some of the other events from the video itself.

1980

The release of Superman II.
The release of The Shining.
The release of Flash Gordon.
The Rubik's Cube come to America.

1981

The release of Raider of the Lost Ark.

1982

The release of E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
The release of Poltergeist.
Just Say No.

1983

The premiere of The A-Team and the rise of Mr. T who also had his own cartoon.
Moonwalking.
Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

1984

The release of Ghostbusters.
The release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
The release of Gremlins.
The release of Red Dawn.
Where's the Beef?

1985

The release of Back to the Future.

1986

The premiere of ALF.

1987

The release of Wall Street.

This was all I could remember.

I'm thinking maybe the clothes people were wearing.


I can safely say that fashion was over the top in the 1980s.

I can safely say that fashion was over the top in the 1980s.


especially when people all around the world were emulating music icons Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince.

7. The Publication of Steven King's It (I've never read this book before and its actually "Stephen", but literature wasn't as widely popular in the '80s compared to earlier decades thanks to TV, movies, and comics wooing younger people, but it was  nice novel in its own right.


Stephen King is the most popular modern author.

Definitely the birth of MTV in 1981!

Getting aids.

I remember seeing Ghost Busters a lot when I was a kid.  Sure I got a NES but probably not right away.  I saw E T a time or two but Ghost Busters was number 1

I voted for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" - truly a worldwide phenomenon.

MTV was really only a North American thing. Movies and VHS etc were only for countries that were rich and advanced.

MJ's Thriller however reached millions across the globe. The video and anticipation for it, were no joke.

Definitely the birth of MTV in 1981!


In just a few weeks will be 37 years.

I can safely say that fashion was over the top in the 1980s.

Not in 1980-1983 before the Madonna phenomenon.

I don't get how the introduction of the PG-13 is an important pop culture moment of the 80's.

Not in 1980-1983 before the Madonna phenomenon.


and don't forget The Michael Jackson phenomenon too.

I don't get how the introduction of the PG-13 is an important pop culture moment of the 80's.


As much as with the introduction of the E-10 rating for gaming in the 00's. 

As much as with the introduction of the E-10 rating for gaming in the 00's.


Not trying to sound like an idiot, but I still don't get how they affected pop culture.

Why in the world is IT on this list?

The emulations of Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson