Which years of the 1980s do you think have the most relevance and least relevance today?

1980-1989 were pretty relevant.

Which years of the 1980s do you think have the most relevance and least relevance today?


Most Relevant

1989
1987
1984
1985
1978
1980

Least Relevant

1979
1988
1983
1982
1981
1986

Most Relevant

1989
1987
1984
1985
1978
1980

Least Relevant

1979
1988
1983
1982
1981
1986


https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/595/271/569.jpg

Most Relevant

1989
1987
1984
1985
1978
1980

Least Relevant

1979
1988
1983
1982
1981
1986


You missed 1990 and 1873.  You decadeologists are slipping.  Come on, get with it! :P

I don't understand this question....I feel dumb today.  ::)

I don't understand this question....I feel dumb today.  ::)


Neither do I.

One thing I don't understand even more is The Early 90's Guy saying that 1978 was an 80's year.

Neither do I.

One thing I don't understand even more is The Early 90's Guy saying that 1978 was an 80's year.


The part I don't understand is "which years of the 1980s do you think have the most relevance and least relevance TODAY?". Why would they have relevance today? But as far as when they were actually happening in real time, 1980 itself was very important. The assassination of John Lennon and the election of Ronald Reagan, both late in 1980,  indicated the death knell of the 60s and 70s and the beginning of 80s-era conservatism. The cultural 80s began with a bang in 1981 on the nose. That's when 80s conservatism hit. Big time.

Neither do I.

One thing I don't understand even more is The Early 90's Guy saying that 1978 was an 80's year.


True, what's so 80s about 1978, New Wave wasn't that big yet, Hair Metal wasn't big, Synthesizers in music wasn't dominating yet, MTV wasn't around, Synth Pop wasn't big, Post-Disco wasn't big, we weren't fully in the Hollywood Blockbuster Age yet, Fashion was still mostly 70s. Jimmy Carter was still president, 80s conservatism hadn't arrived yet, 80s commercialism wasn't big yet, Cable TV wasn't big yet, Desktops were still rare, Video Gaming wasn't legit popular yet until the following year, VHS wasn't popular yet, Microwaves weren't popular yet and so much more. In terms of music, Disco, Classic Rock, Acoustic Rock, Funk and more still ruled the charts. There were probably some 80s stuff in 1978 but, not very much at all especially compared to even 1980.

True, what's so 80s about 1978, New Wave wasn't that big yet, Hair Metal wasn't big, Synthesizers in music wasn't dominating yet, MTV wasn't around, Synth Pop wasn't big, Post-Disco wasn't big, we weren't fully in the Hollywood Blockbuster Age yet, Fashion was still mostly 70s. Jimmy Carter was still president, 80s conservatism hadn't arrived yet, 80s commercialism wasn't big yet, Cable TV wasn't big yet, Desktops were still rare, Video Gaming wasn't legit popular yet until the following year, VHS wasn't popular yet, Microwaves weren't popular yet and so much more. In terms of music, Disco, Classic Rock, Acoustic Rock, Funk and more still ruled the charts. There were probably some 80s stuff in 1978 but, not very much at all especially compared to even 1980.


The Early 90's Guy legitimately thinks that year was 100% 80's and devoid of any 70's influence. He also thinks that every single thing from 1978 lasted until 1989.

Most Relevant

1989
1987
1984
1985
1978
1980

Least Relevant

1979
1988
1983
1982
1981
1986


And why would nuclear meltdowns that leave a city uninhabited and the deadliest space mission have to keep a year from being least relevant? I'd say 1986 is certainly in the top half, along with 1981, which gave us the peak of a major energy crisis, Iran hostages freed, major assassination attempts, the public discovery of HIV/AIDS, the launch of MTV and '80s culture as we know it. Meanwhile, 1984 and 1985 are better known for their culture than their history, and are a bygone era that keeps getting more distant with things such as the first-million selling CD in a format that basically "died" from the mainstream in 2018, along with tasteless car models that you don't see on the road anymore or as often, including the once popular Chrysler minivans and Ford Escort. 1988 was dead last since not only it was a pretty meh year newswise, with the '88 election probably was the most talked about news event of the year, along with Gorbachev's appearance in America, along with the Olympics as the most newsworthy events, but before 1989's big fall with communism and the invention of the world wide web and Prodigy bringing the Internet culture to the mainstream in some form, even if it wasn't until the mid-90s that it really was here as we knew it. I'd rank it as, from most to least relevant:

1989
1981
1987
1980
1986
1983
1984
1985
1982
1988

Neither do I.

One thing I don't understand even more is The Early 90's Guy saying that 1978 was an 80's year.


I understand what you are saying.

There was not as much ‘80s culture in 1978 as there was in 1989, but it was still the very first year of the ‘80s. Dallas premiered on April 2nd of 1978. Dallas is thought of by most pop culture fans as an ‘80s and ‘90s TV show.

Everything that came out of the 1980s was last seen in the 1990s.


There were probably some 80s stuff in 1978 but, not very much at all especially compared to even 1980.


You could say the same thing about the start of the 1990s:

There were some ‘90s things in 1990 (I.e. - The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210, and Law and Order), but, not very much at all when compared to even 1992 (Mad About You, Melrose Place, Barney and Friends, and Martin).

It’s like that for every time period.

I don't understand this thread.  There were no "irrelevant" years in the 80's.  Every moment of every day of every year shaped the decade.  This thread should be closed. 

There was not as much ‘80s culture in 1978 as there was in 1989, but it was still the very first year of the ‘80s. Dallas premiered on April 2nd of 1978. Dallas is thought of by most pop culture fans as an ‘80s and ‘90s TV show.


There was nothing 80s about 1978 whatsoever. Nothing. It was still full tilt 70s. Jimmy Carter was president, everything felt liberal and open, though the "deep meaning" of the earlier 70s (held over from the 60s) was long gone. In 1978 I felt nothing of the 80s feeling that would sweep over everything in 1981. Did you feel differently back then? Did you feel it as early as 1978? I'd be surprised if you did, because it wasn't there. Perhaps you were sensing something that I wasn't.

I don't understand the "Dallas" argument at all. In 1978 "Dallas" was not seen as a harbinger of the 80s. It was just a nighttime soap opera.  Because it may have lasted well into the 80s has nothing to do with how 1978 felt.

There was nothing 80s about 1978 whatsoever. Nothing. It was still full tilt 70s. Jimmy Carter was president, everything felt liberal and open, though the "deep meaning" of the earlier 70s (held over from the 60s) was long gone. In 1978 I felt nothing of the 80s feeling that would sweep over everything in 1981. Did you feel differently back then? Did you feel it as early as 1978? I'd be surprised if you did, because it wasn't there. Perhaps you were sensing something that I wasn't.

I don't understand the "Dallas" argument at all. In 1978 "Dallas" was not seen as a harbinger of the 80s. It was just a nighttime soap opera.  Because it may have lasted well into the 80s has nothing to do with how 1978 felt.


Just watch him use Garfield as his next argument regarding how 1978 felt.

I also believe that he was born in 1977 (I think he said it a while ago).

There was nothing 80s about 1978 whatsoever. Nothing. It was still full tilt 70s.

I disagree. At the time, it was probably full tilt ‘70s to most people (I turned one in that year so I wouldn’t know), but the part of the ‘70s closest to 1968 (last year of the ‘60s) was gone.

Jimmy Carter was president

Like he was in 1980.  His approval rating was not as high in 1978 or 1980 as it was in 1977 though. That sets 1977 apart from 1978 for me. My birth year was too similar to 1989 for me the call it the first year of the late ‘70s.

In 1978 I felt nothing of the 80s feeling that would sweep over everything in 1981.

What is the ‘80s feeling to you?

Collecting Star Wars action figures, watching TV spots for Jaws sequels, listening to Michael Jackson, wearing rugby pullovers, looking back to the ‘50s, and enjoying new sitcoms about aliens staying with humans (I.e. - Mork and Mindy, ALF, and Out of this World) all remind me of the 1980s.

I don't understand the "Dallas" argument at all. In 1978 "Dallas" was not seen as a harbinger of the 80s. It was just a nighttime soap opera. Because it may have lasted well into the 80s has nothing to do with how 1978 felt.

My apologies. That was not the best example for me to use.

In ‘1978, pop culture fans were still enjoying the movies, TV shows, toys, books, and games from the previous year. I was simply pointing out that there were ‘80s influences (in this case, Dallas) being introduced in 1978.  Dallas was obviously not at the top of the ratings chart in the 1977 to 1978 school year (like it was in the 1980 to 1981 school year), but 1978 is remembered these days for its debut.

I disagree. At the time, it was probably full tilt ‘70s to most people (I turned one in that year so I wouldn’t know), but the part of the ‘70s closest to 1968 (last year of the ‘60s) was gone.



1972 was the final year of the 60s. All I can tell you is I lived it and you were one years old, so your information is theoretical rather than first hand. When someone hears about the horrors of the Vietnam War, who are they gonna trust more, a veteran who was there and comes back and tells you what it was like, or an armchair general who was sitting in his quiet suburb the whole time?


What is the ‘80s feeling to you?

Collecting Star Wars action figures, watching TV spots for Jaws sequels, listening to Michael Jackson, wearing rugby pullovers, looking back to the ‘50s, and enjoying new sitcoms about aliens staying with humans (I.e. - Mork and Mindy, ALF, and Out of this World) all remind me of the 1980s.


Don't you ever go for the heavy stuff? (Not just you personally, this is a general question).  The things you mention were all surface, pop culture stuff that the "hip" people (in the good sense of the word) didn't pay much attention to. Who was sitting around watching TV? I sure wasn't, there was too much life to get out and live. There was a certain spirituality, so to speak, a way of thinking, that was quite evident in the 60s and 70s that was gone in 1981. It was still there in 1978, if somewhat faded. The war was over, which lent it's own unique feel to the late 70s, but the legitimized greed that would come to represent the Reagan years and the 80s was still a foreign concept in 1978.

POINTLESS!

Here's the argument AGAINST this thread!

1987 WAS IRRELEVANT because TOO MANY things happened!
Tell me I'm lying!

POINTLESS!

Here's the argument AGAINST this thread!

1987 WAS IRRELEVANT because TOO MANY things happened!
Tell me I'm lying!


Especially January 13, 1987.

I disagree. At the time, it was probably full tilt ‘70s to most people (I turned one in that year so I wouldn’t know), but the part of the ‘70s closest to 1968 (last year of the ‘60s) was gone.

Like he was in 1980.  His approval rating was not as high in 1978 or 1980 as it was in 1977 though. That sets 1977 apart from 1978 for me. My birth year was too similar to 1989 for me the call it the first year of the late ‘70s.

What is the ‘80s feeling to you?

Collecting Star Wars action figures, watching TV spots for Jaws sequels, listening to Michael Jackson, wearing rugby pullovers, looking back to the ‘50s, and enjoying new sitcoms about aliens staying with humans (I.e. - Mork and Mindy, ALF, and Out of this World) all remind me of the 1980s.

My apologies. That was not the best example for me to use.

In ‘1978, pop culture fans were still enjoying the movies, TV shows, toys, books, and games from the previous year. I was simply pointing out that there were ‘80s influences (in this case, Dallas) being introduced in 1978.  Dallas was obviously not at the top of the ratings chart in the 1977 to 1978 school year (like it was in the 1980 to 1981 school year), but 1978 is remembered these days for its debut.


1978 may have had tiny grains of what was to come in the 80's, but it was minimal at most. Garfield and Dallas may have come out in 1978, but did those represent how that year felt? No.

Especially January 13, 1987.


Exactly.  How did you know??  :o

Exactly.  How did you know??  :o


I know everything.

Garfield and Dallas may have come out in 1978, but did those represent how that year felt? No.


I was not saying they did.

I was a one year old then, but anyone can tell from the magazine covers of 1978 that pop culture fans were still fascinated by the pop culture staples of the 1970s in that year. The 1980s (1978-1989) got off to a real slow start, but they finished strong, IMHO.

When I look at what came out of 1978, it’s clear to me that it was the first year of the ‘80s. The ‘80s were about getting to the 1990s. In 1990, Dallas was still on the air and Garfield Stuck on You stuffed dolls were in stores for the last time.  Dallas and those Garfield Stuck on You dolls are never mentioned when people discuss 1990, but they did make up the yuppie ‘90s (1990-1991) atmosphere.  Dallas and Garfield Stuck on You dolls are not usually brought up in a discussion about 1990 because they became popular in the ‘80s. The early ‘90s was the time period when the new pop culture of the mid ‘80s (late ‘80s culture) was being left behind for the pop culture released in the late ‘80s (early ‘90s culture). Those were the early ‘90s.

Unfortunately, historians today look at what came out of the early ‘90s (mid ‘90s culture) and not the things that actually represent the feeling of that time period (I.e. - Roseanne, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline, Bugle Boy Jeans, and Batman Returns ).

I only brought up the premiere of Dallas and comic strip debut of Garfield because they stand out to some historians in this century. Grease, Charlie’s Angels, the original carded Kenner Star Wars: A New Hope action figures and The Bee Gees were obviously more important to that year. The start of the very early ‘80s (1978-1979) was when we were really living in the 80s.

I was not saying they did.

I was a one year old then, but anyone can tell from the magazine covers of 1978 that pop culture fans were still fascinated by the pop culture staples of the 1970s in that year. The 1980s (1978-1989) got off to a real slow start, but they finished strong, IMHO.

When I look at what came out of 1978, it’s clear to me that it was the first year of the ‘80s. The ‘80s were about getting to the 1990s. In 1990, Dallas was still on the air and Garfield Stuck on You stuffed dolls were in stores for the last time.  Dallas and those Garfield Stuck on You dolls are never mentioned when people discuss 1990, but they did make up the yuppie ‘90s (1990-1991) atmosphere.  Dallas and Garfield Stuck on You dolls are not usually brought up in a discussion about 1990 because they became popular in the ‘80s. The early ‘90s was the time period when the new pop culture of the mid ‘80s (late ‘80s culture) was being left behind for the pop culture released in the late ‘80s (early ‘90s culture). Those were the early ‘90s.

Unfortunately, historians today look at what came out of the early ‘90s (mid ‘90s culture) and not the things that actually represent the feeling of that time period (I.e. - Roseanne, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline, Bugle Boy Jeans, and Batman Returns ).

I only brought up the premiere of Dallas and comic strip debut of Garfield because they stand out to some historians in this century. Grease, Charlie’s Angels, the original carded Kenner Star Wars: A New Hope action figures and The Bee Gees were obviously more important to that year. The start of the very early ‘80s (1978-1979) was when we were really living in the 80s.


Garfield may be more of an 80's thing than a 70's thing, but to be honest, no one will believe you if you say that 1978 felt 80's culturally.

I don't even think Garfield was really even that relevant in 1978 - the peak of its popularity was the 80's and early 90's.

The case of Garfield and Dallas is like the cases regarding shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Spongebob - they started late in the decade, were barely or not at all relevant in the decade, and had the peak of their popularity in the next decade.

The 80's, culturally and politically, were probably 1981-1991 - it started when Reagan took office and ended when Nirvana released Nevermind.

I was a one year old then, but anyone can tell from the magazine covers of 1978 that pop culture fans were still fascinated by the pop culture staples of the 1970s in that year. The 1980s (1978-1989) got off to a real slow start, but they finished strong, IMHO.

The start of the very early ‘80s (1978-1979) was when we were really living in the 80s.



Simply isn't true a'tall. All I can tell you is I was there, I lived it, i remember it vividly, as opposed to one coming up with these machinations third hand from old magazine covers, children's prime time TV show reruns and internet research. Forget these "historians", it isn't history to me, it's life. And I can tell you 1978 was so drastically different than 1981 (the start of the cultural 80s) that they might as well have been two different centuries or two different planets. In 1978 us poor innocents really had no clue what was around the bend for us in 1981 and beyond. In promiscuous (for better or worse) 1978 we did not know that AIDS lurked around the corner (first public case came to light in 1981), that Reagan would become president and legitimize greed, that tacky new wave would be the rage (we had enough to contend with battling disco), or that the 50s would come back as they did in the 80s. Trust me, we didn't know.




The ‘80s were about getting to the 1990s.


What on God's green Earth does that mean?  ???

Simply isn't true a'tall. All I can tell you is I was there, I lived it, i remember it vividly, as opposed to one coming up with these machinations third hand from old magazine covers, children's prime time TV show reruns and internet research. Forget these "historians", it isn't history to me, it's life. And I can tell you 1978 was so drastically different than 1981 (the start of the cultural 80s) that they might as well have been two different centuries or two different planets. In 1978 us poor innocents really had no clue what was around the bend for us in 1981 and beyond. In promiscuous (for better or worse) 1978 we did not know that AIDS lurked around the corner (first public case came to light in 1981), that Reagan would become president and legitimize greed, that tacky new wave would be the rage (we had enough to contend with battling disco), or that the 50s would come back as they did in the 80s. Trust me, we didn't know.



What on God's green Earth does that mean?  ???


He has this mentality that the spirit of 1978 lasted all the way to 1990, the spirit of 1990 lasted all the way to 1999, the spirit of 1999 lasted all the way to 2011, and the spirit of 2011 will last until 2020.

So to sum it up, it's like this:

1978 -> 1990 -> 1999 -> 2011 -> 2020

He has this mentality that the spirit of 1978 lasted all the way to 1990


If ONLY the spirit of 78, as I knew it, lasted to 1990! I wouldn't have had to endure the 80s.  ;D

I would have preferred maybe the spirit of 72, but I would have settled for 78.  ;D

... I can tell you 1978 was so drastically different than 1981 ...


Agreed.  I too lived through these times - two very different worlds, 1978 vs 1981.  If nothing else (and no, not nothing else) in 1978 Disco was HUGE whereas by 1981 it was a bad word, a joke.  Dynamics such as racial equality and gender equality made strides between the beginning of 1978 and end of 1981.  There were measurable improvements in the world of computing in that time frame - strides in health care, too.  I could go on and on - but don't want to write a book...  ;)

...Who was sitting around watching TV? I sure wasn't, there was too much life to get out and live...


I have to concur loudly with this.  As a matter of fact, between mid '77 and early '80, I barely watched any TV at all.  Part of the reason was forced - I was a college student living in a dormitory where in-room TVs were prohibited; there was one big TV in the resident lounge we watched on rare occasions.  Although I may have complained at times at the lack of TV, I had a very full - and very fun - life going on during that timeframe.  TV watching could never compare to the time to relate, time to explore, time to be creative, time to express, time to find and conquer, time to learn (and I don't mean book learning) - that was my life and it was great.  :)

I have to concur loudly with this.  As a matter of fact, between mid '77 and early '80, I barely watched any TV at all.  Part of the reason was forced - I was a college student living in a dormitory where in-room TVs were prohibited; there was one big TV in the resident lounge we watched on rare occasions.  Although I may have complained at times at the lack of TV, I had a very full - and very fun - life going on during that timeframe.  TV watching could never compare to the time to relate, time to explore, time to be creative, time to express, time to find and conquer, time to learn (and I don't mean book learning) - that was my life and it was great.  :)


And THAT, my friends, was the "spirit of 78".  :)  It's something I fear our young historians don't quite get. They somehow think it was all Garfield and Dallas and action figures or God knows what. In fact the spirit of the 70s didn't exist because of these silly shows and fads, but despite them.

The case of Garfield and Dallas is like the cases regarding shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Spongebob - they started late in the decade, were barely or not at all relevant in the decade, and had the peak of their popularity in the next decade.

“The Christmas Special” was not the series premiere. Technically, “Bart the Genius” is  the first episode of The Simpsons.  That is why The Simpsons were so popular in 1990.

“The Christmas Special” did not become “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” until 1994. There was no way The Simpsons could have been in syndication in 1993 with all of the other TV shows that made their debuts in 1989. It was not really a part of the 1989 fall season. The creator changed the arrangement of the episodes to make “The Christmas Special” the season opener in ‘94.

The Simpsons is a ‘90s show. “The Christmas Special” was billed as a stand alone TV special in 1989 for fans of the Tracy Ullman Show. Originally, it did not have the opening sequence of the actual show to it. It still might not. I’ll have to watch a repeat of it on FXX to be sure.

The 80's, culturally and politically, were probably 1981-1991 - it started when Reagan took office and ended when Nirvana released Nevermind.


I’m sorry, but I do not see how films like Pretty Woman and Edward Scissorhands are ‘80s. Rap became mainstream in 1990 also. The ‘80s were over once the clock changed from 11:59pm on December 31st of 1989 to 12:00am on January 1st of 1990.

The Empire Strikes Back was far more of an ‘80s movie than you give it credit for.

Which years of the 1980s do you think have the most relevance and least relevance today?
All of them!

If ONLY the spirit of 78, as I knew it, lasted to 1990!


It did, though!

Superman: The Movie was no less of an ‘80s movie than Alien, The Empire Strikes Back, Rocky 3, The Karate Kid, Revenge of the Nerds, Rambo:First Blood Part 2, Big Trouble in Little China, Predator, Colors, and Born on the Fourth of July.

The ‘80s (1978-1989) were the new 1950s.

The ‘80s (1978-1989) were the new 1950s.



Rap became mainstream in 1990 also.



Rap was to the 1980s to what rock 'n roll was to the 1950s. Both were pretty underground in the first half of their respective decades, with a "Rapper's delight" borne out of disco/funk akin to "Rocket 88" borne out of the blues. Perhaps Walk This Way was the "Rock Around The Clock"-type hit that really brought the genre to the masses. Groups like Then came Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Young MC, Tone Loc, DZ Jazzy and the Fresh Prince, and NWA hitting it before the '80s were over, sort of parallel to Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent to the first wave of rock 'n rollers. The breakdancing fad that peak in 1984 had many witnessing the new hip hop culture like never before. Bright pastel colors were popular along with geometric fashion and styles. Jazz had become the cool "older" genre just like rock was becoming in the '80s, yet still being popular mainstream genres. Both had conservative Republican presidents (Einsenhower and Reagan). Both were popular among the adolescent set, especially in urban areas just like rock was to their parents. Both were critical moments in the Cold War, especially earlier in their decades with the fear of nuclear attacks by the "commies" (50s) and "iron curtain" (80s).

By the time we got to the point where MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice hit it big, we were at a phase similar to the Motown/British Invasion phase of pop. Meanwhile, rap today is akin to the soft rock of the late '80s, and is nowadays seen as the cool "older" genre, with trap, dubstep, and EDM for the Gen Z youth.

In terms of technology, I'd say the PC and VCR were sort of the '80s equivalent of television, where it was a pretty big deal to be the first one on your block to have one and would often visit a friend or neighbor who had it, and even early video game consoles were something similar.

Basically, a Xennial enjoyed the kids trends in the '80s the same way a core Boomer (the pre-Generation Jones portion) did with the '50s kids trends, seeming larger than life while having different fads and tech attached to them. But that means that each successive generation will find these areas less and less relevant to them as they move further and further into the history books and their most popular trends gradually get pigeonholed away. If we asked this question in 1988 at the '50s relevance, we would have similar conclusions, perhaps with 1955 being near the top due to rock 'n roll or 1957 with Sputnik or 1952 with QE2 and Eisenhower's election. 

Finally, you also mentioned that Grease came out in 1978, but of course, that's a poor barometer of '80s culture, even if was rerun on ABC in November 1981. The title song is pure non-synthesized '70s disco. In fact, one of the commercials played was for some P&G soap that had a 1977 copyright date (before YOUR '80s began!). So its not like that EVERYTHING then was made in the '80s (even counting 1978-1979), we were still transitioning in toward it that wouldn't be complete until late 1982 or even '83.  The was also this musical that was popular in the mid-70s before the movie came out, and that nostalgia for the '50s was already strong by then, just not quite as "mainstream" as it was in the '80s when many commercials used '50s songs or had jingles that were inspired by that era.

I read an article in an old movie/TV magazine from 1986 last night that described how movies had various "windows" that would make money. In that case, that Grease showing was in its fourth window: national TV airing. The first window was theatrical, the second was second-runs and drive-in (which were rapidly being replaced with video rentals), the third was the then-new model of pay TV, the fourth network TV, and the fifth syndication onto local independent and free cable channels. I could see there TENG how the "spirit" of something evolves as it progresses through these windows. A 1978 movie like Superman would of course have its second window around 1979, its third 1980, its fourth 1981-82, and its fifth during the mid-late '80s, along with a gradual fall in price secondhand. You see the same thing with merchandise like toys and fashion, where the discounts get larger with market saturation and then have a closeout clearance as it heads out of style, like a lot of Star Wars toys were in the late '80s.

This gradual fall in "relevance" represents the devolution of the "spirits" you describe, with only a select few holding out. This is explains why 1978's relevance was much higher in 1989 than it was by 1999, which by then was packed in myth-ridden nostalgia. That said, I see a lot of 1986-88 trends that were popular well into the '90s, such as TMNT, Double Dare, the NES (it was still quite popular in 1993 when the top-loading console was released), and Full House. The thing is few decades will transition to another so abrubtly if there isn't a war or deep economic shock. Even the infamous JFK assassination didn't bring about a drastic cultural change as many have portrayed, as the Beatles were out for over a year, Vietnam involvement was already arising, and "hippies" wouldn't be mainstream for a few more years. A lot of the culture of a certain year is usually borne out of trends created over the past three or four on average, and that represents a middle, high school, or presidential term which helps group these years into bunches like we've been doing. Just go to the store or watch TV and see how many 2017, 2016, 2015, or even 2014 items/commercials you still see labeled today. Yet nobody will call most of those down the road when we look back at now (except perhaps the 2017 items) as late 2010s things. That explains everything with the lingering 1978 items still around in 1981-82 when the "real cultural '80s" began.

Rap was to the 1980s to what rock 'n roll was to the 1950s. Both were pretty underground in the first half of their respective decades, with a "Rapper's delight" borne out of disco/funk akin to "Rocket 88" borne out of the blues. Perhaps Walk This Way was the "Rock Around The Clock"-type hit that really brought the genre to the masses. Groups like Then came Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Young MC, Tone Loc, DZ Jazzy and the Fresh Prince, and NWA hitting it before the '80s were over, sort of parallel to Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent to the first wave of rock 'n rollers. The breakdancing fad that peak in 1984 had many witnessing the new hip hop culture like never before. Bright pastel colors were popular along with geometric fashion and styles. Jazz had become the cool "older" genre just like rock was becoming in the '80s, yet still being popular mainstream genres. Both had conservative Republican presidents (Einsenhower and Reagan). Both were popular among the adolescent set, especially in urban areas just like rock was to their parents. Both were critical moments in the Cold War, especially earlier in their decades with the fear of nuclear attacks by the "commies" (50s) and "iron curtain" (80s).

By the time we got to the point where MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice hit it big, we were at a phase similar to the Motown/British Invasion phase of pop. Meanwhile, rap today is akin to the soft rock of the late '80s, and is nowadays seen as the cool "older" genre, with trap, dubstep, and EDM for the Gen Z youth.

In terms of technology, I'd say the PC and VCR were sort of the '80s equivalent of television, where it was a pretty big deal to be the first one on your block to have one and would often visit a friend or neighbor who had it, and even early video game consoles were something similar.

Basically, a Xennial enjoyed the kids trends in the '80s the same way a core Boomer (the pre-Generation Jones portion) did with the '50s kids trends, seeming larger than life while having different fads and tech attached to them. But that means that each successive generation will find these areas less and less relevant to them as they move further and further into the history books and their most popular trends gradually get pigeonholed away. If we asked this question in 1988 at the '50s relevance, we would have similar conclusions, perhaps with 1955 being near the top due to rock 'n roll or 1957 with Sputnik or 1952 with QE2 and Eisenhower's election. 

Finally, you also mentioned that Grease came out in 1978, but of course, that's a poor barometer of '80s culture, even if was rerun on ABC in November 1981. The title song is pure non-synthesized '70s disco. In fact, one of the commercials played was for some P&G soap that had a 1977 copyright date (before YOUR '80s began!). So its not like that EVERYTHING then was made in the '80s (even counting 1978-1979), we were still transitioning in toward it that wouldn't be complete until late 1982 or even '83.  The was also this musical that was popular in the mid-70s before the movie came out, and that nostalgia for the '50s was already strong by then, just not quite as "mainstream" as it was in the '80s when many commercials used '50s songs or had jingles that were inspired by that era.

I read an article in an old movie/TV magazine from 1986 last night that described how movies had various "windows" that would make money. In that case, that Grease showing was in its fourth window: national TV airing. The first window was theatrical, the second was second-runs and drive-in (which were rapidly being replaced with video rentals), the third was the then-new model of pay TV, the fourth network TV, and the fifth syndication onto local independent and free cable channels. I could see there TENG how the "spirit" of something evolves as it progresses through these windows. A 1978 movie like Superman would of course have its second window around 1979, its third 1980, its fourth 1981-82, and its fifth during the mid-late '80s, along with a gradual fall in price secondhand. You see the same thing with merchandise like toys and fashion, where the discounts get larger with market saturation and then have a closeout clearance as it heads out of style, like a lot of Star Wars toys were in the late '80s.

This gradual fall in "relevance" represents the devolution of the "spirits" you describe, with only a select few holding out. This is explains why 1978's relevance was much higher in 1989 than it was by 1999, which by then was packed in myth-ridden nostalgia. That said, I see a lot of 1986-88 trends that were popular well into the '90s, such as TMNT, Double Dare, the NES (it was still quite popular in 1993 when the top-loading console was released), and Full House. The thing is few decades will transition to another so abrubtly if there isn't a war or deep economic shock. Even the infamous JFK assassination didn't bring about a drastic cultural change as many have portrayed, as the Beatles were out for over a year, Vietnam involvement was already arising, and "hippies" wouldn't be mainstream for a few more years. A lot of the culture of a certain year is usually borne out of trends created over the past three or four on average, and that represents a middle, high school, or presidential term which helps group these years into bunches like we've been doing. Just go to the store or watch TV and see how many 2017, 2016, 2015, or even 2014 items/commercials you still see labeled today. Yet nobody will call most of those down the road when we look back at now (except perhaps the 2017 items) as late 2010s things.

TMNT (the cartoon and toyline) was more of a late ‘89 into early 1990 fad than a late ‘88 into 1989 fad. It was discovered by some Xennials in the 1988 to 1989 school year, but more people knew about it around Thanksgiving of ‘89. The TMNT toy craze occurred after the movie came out in 1990.

Double Dare was extremely popular in 1988.

The NES was the console to own from 1987 to 1993 (the SNES was too expensive for most of us from 1991 to 1993). 

Full House was a hit show during the 1989 to 1990 school year.

That explains everything with the lingering 1978 items still around in 1981-82 when the "real cultural '80s" began.


I have friends that,also, say the cultural ‘80s began around that time. That could be because their favorite parts of “that decade” were the mid to late ‘80s.

Everyone is different. Certain late Gen Xers pick up on different things from our childhoods. Star Wars mania was to the very early ‘80s (1978-1980) what Pokemania was to the Y2K era (1999-2001). My generation has George Lucas to thank for He-Man, Blackstar and Lion-O.  Millennials are extremely grateful to the Pokemon creators for Digimon, Beyblade, and Yu-Gi-Oh.

TMNT (the cartoon and toyline) was more of a late ‘89 into early 1990 fad than a late ‘88 into 1989 fad. It was discovered by some Xennials in the 1988 to 1989 school year, but more people knew about it around Thanksgiving of ‘89. The TMNT toy craze occurred after the movie came out in 1990.

Double Dare was extremely popular in 1988.

The NES was the console to own from 1987 to 1993 (the SNES was too expensive for most of us from 1991 to 1993). 

Full House was a hit show during the 1989 to 1990 school year.

I have friends that,also, say the cultural ‘80s began around that time. That could be because their favorite parts of “that decade” were the mid to late ‘80s.

Everyone is different. Certain late Gen Xers pick up on different things from our childhoods. Star Wars mania was to the very early ‘80s (1978-1980) what Pokemania was to the Y2K era (1999-2001). My generation has George Lucas to thank for He-Man, Blackstar and Lion-O.  Millennials are extremely grateful to the Pokemon creators for Digimon, Beyblade, and Yu-Gi-Oh.


and don't forget Gameboy was also popular starting in 1989 and lasted into The 1990's.

Behold, the most 80's commercial THAT EVER EXISTED:

FqcKz1_sgOo

TMNT (the cartoon and toyline) was more of a late ‘89 into early 1990 fad than a late ‘88 into 1989 fad. It was discovered by some Xennials in the 1988 to 1989 school year, but more people knew about it around Thanksgiving of ‘89. The TMNT toy craze occurred after the movie came out in 1990.

Double Dare was extremely popular in 1988.

The NES was the console to own from 1987 to 1993 (the SNES was too expensive for most of us from 1991 to 1993). 

Full House was a hit show during the 1989 to 1990 school year.

I have friends that,also, say the cultural ‘80s began around that time. That could be because their favorite parts of “that decade” were the mid to late ‘80s.

Everyone is different. Certain late Gen Xers pick up on different things from our childhoods. Star Wars mania was to the very early ‘80s (1978-1980) what Pokemania was to the Y2K era (1999-2001). My generation has George Lucas to thank for He-Man, Blackstar and Lion-O.  Millennials are extremely grateful to the Pokemon creators for Digimon, Beyblade, and Yu-Gi-Oh.


You're wrong.

If there was a 90's equivalent to 1978, it would be 1997 - there may have been some things integral to (early) 80's culture starting that year, but the year still felt undeniably (and extremely) 70's.

Behold, the most 80's commercial THAT EVER EXISTED:

FqcKz1_sgOo


It says “video unavailable” when I play it. I’ll have to go on YouTube to find it.

It says “video unavailable” when I play it. I’ll have to go on YouTube to find it.
...Toys R Us are currently not available too?

You're wrong.

If there was a 90's equivalent to 1978, it would be 1997 - there may have been some things integral to (early) 80's culture starting that year, but the year still felt undeniably (and extremely) 70's.


Like I said earlier, everyone is different. I see what came out of the ‘60s as ‘70s culture. You seem to see what came out of the ‘70s as ‘70s culture. Most people agree with you on all accounts. That is fine.

This is all just OPINIONS!! So..... it's IMPOSSIBLE to be wrong!

It says “video unavailable” when I play it. I’ll have to go on YouTube to find it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqcKz1_sgOo

Like I said earlier, everyone is different. I see what came out of the ‘60s as ‘70s culture. You seem to see what came out of the ‘70s as ‘70s culture. Most people agree with you on all accounts. That is fine.


I'll admit it; I myself have a lot of weird opinions:

*I think that the definitive year of the 80's was 1986 because new wave, glam metal, synthpop, thrash metal, and early hip-hop were all popular that year. Most people will say that the definitive year of the 80's was 1984.

*I think that 2013 was core 2010's culturally but not core 2010's politically.  This opinion is probably not my most popular opinion either.

*I think that 2016 was the definitive year of this decade because the fashion trends of this decade, as well as the SJW vs. Alt-right political drama, seemed to have peaked that year. Some people agree with this, others don't.

*I think that 2017 was still part of the core 2010's despite Trump becoming POTUS. Many of the events that took place in 2017, most notably the Berkeley incident, the Manchester bombing, the Portland train attack, and the Charlottesville riots were all rooted from the political problems that took place in 2014-2016. Additionally, 2018 seemed to be the first year where Generation Z really had an identity (tide pods, the Parkland shooting and its aftermath, "Gen Z yellow", XXXTentacion). Both of these opinions are very controversial on here.

This is all just OPINIONS!! So..... it's IMPOSSIBLE to be wrong!


There’s a starting point and ending point to everything on this earth, including time periods.

Here’s how I see it:

At the beginning of the ‘80s, ‘80s culture (introduced in the ‘70s) was at its peak and there was not a lot of new culture being introduced. Then, pop culture fans started to get tired of ‘80s culture around 1983. Finally, at the end of the ‘80s, there was more of the new culture, while ‘80s culture came to an end or changed completely.

You’re right, though. That is my opinion.

...Toys R Us are currently available too?


Not for me.  I was just at a Toys R Us the other day

Not for me.  I was just at a Toys R Us the other day
With apologies, I missed out the word 'not', it should have read, ...Toys R Us are currently not available too?

With apologies, I missed out the word 'not', it should have read, ...Toys R Us are currently not available too?


Actually, I misread your post and thought it said not lol
Toys R Us is still alive where I am.  I shop there at least once a week

Actually, I misread your post and thought it said not lol
Toys R Us is still alive where I am.  I shop there at least once a week
Two wrongs can make a right?

Not for me.  I was just at a Toys R Us the other day


What did you find?

Actually, I misread your post and thought it said not lol
Toys R Us is still alive where I am.  I shop there at least once a week


I'm so glady ou're still posting!!

Hi, forum people. I might understand the point of this thread. I think that the most relevant year is the most impactful and most important one. In that case, I vote for 1989. It saw the end of the Berlin Wall and European communism. The world changed then. It signified a huge shift in the world paradigm. Our existence is much different now than it was in 1988 due to the important things that took place in 1989.

The OP puts 1978 in the '80s. I might know why he does this. I think that he's talking about things that are more linked to the '80s than they are to the Me Decade, even though they first appeared in 1978 or 1979. Musical acts might serve as good examples of this. For instance, the Cars and the Police have hits from 1978 and 1979, but they're still seen as '80s bands. I think that the OP is talking about things that start during the last part of one decade but that are more linked to the next one. All kinds of things, in all decades, are like this. I hope this makes sense.

Hi, forum people. I might understand the point of this thread. I think that the most relevant year is the most impactful and most important one. In that case, I vote for 1989. It saw the end of the Berlin Wall and European communism. The world changed then. It signified a huge shift in the world paradigm. Our existence is much different now than it was in 1988 due to the important things that took place in 1989.

The OP puts 1978 in the '80s. I might know why he does this. I think that he's talking about things that are more linked to the '80s than they are to the Me Decade, even though they first appeared in 1978 or 1979. Musical acts might serve as good examples of this. For instance, the Cars and the Police have hits from 1978 and 1979, but they're still seen as '80s bands. I think that the OP is talking about things that start during the last part of one decade but that are more linked to the next one. All kinds of things, in all decades, are like this. I hope this makes sense.


Do you think that 1989-2001 was the "bridge" between the 20th and 21st centuries?

I always thought that it was:

1989 was when Tim Berners-Lee founded the World Wide Web (though not public until 1991). The Revolutions of 1989 commences in Poland. The Berlin Wall falls and marks the collapse of communism. Nicolae Ceausescu gets assassinated on Christmas.

1995 is the turning point between the analog age and the digital age. This was when Windows 95 and Internet Explorer was released. The Oklahoma City Bombing ushers in the fear of domestic and far right terrorism in the West. The Richland school shooting ushers in the fear of schoolyard violence (this will not really become a major concern until the time of the Columbine shooting though).

2001 was when the iPod came out, around the time Internet had more than 500 million users worldwide, and the time when Internet usage hit more than 50% in the US. 9/11 changes America forever and ushers in the War on Terror.

Do you think that 1989-2001 was the "bridge" between the 20th and 21st centuries?

I always thought that it was:

1989 was when Tim Berners-Lee founded the World Wide Web (though not public until 1991). The Revolutions of 1989 commences in Poland. The Berlin Wall falls and marks the collapse of communism. Nicolae Ceausescu gets assassinated on Christmas.

1995 is the turning point between the analog age and the digital age. This was when Windows 95 and Internet Explorer was released. The Oklahoma City Bombing ushers in the fear of domestic and far right terrorism in the West. The Richland school shooting ushers in the fear of schoolyard violence (this will not really become a major concern until the time of the Columbine shooting though).

2001 was when the iPod came out, around the time Internet had more than 500 million users worldwide, and the time when Internet usage hit more than 50% in the US. 9/11 changes America forever and ushers in the War on Terror.


I absolutely agree with that. The '90s saw the rise and fall of the first internet-connected tech boom, from a blown bubble to a popped one. It saw the birth of the present tech monopolies, as well as the start of the new robber barons who have too much control of information. That decade almost was like the Gilded Age in some respects, and it brought forth modern versions of Rockefeller's Standard Oil along with all of the issues that came with it.

The end of European communism and the USSR really and truly took us to a new historical epoch, one that wasn't familiar to most people, as just the very oldest people recalled a time before the advent of communism as a tyrannical political system. This likely was the biggest change since it literally redrew the global map. Sadly, we squandered a chance at a '90s version of the Marshall Plan in Russia as we chose to stay with a Cold War philosophy that we never truly left. We may even witness the ostensibly democratic countries embrace leftist ideas as the former Warsaw Pact nations choose more freedom as time passes so that, in the future, we trade places.

The '90s also saw the incubator (intentional pun) of endless war and Muslim terrorism. Not only did we have the questionable (in a variety of ways) military action by NATO in the Balkans, but we also saw the first war in Iraq as we entered that transitional '80s to '90s time. The decade also saw the first Muslim terroristic attack on the World Trade Center, as well as varied other such events. It set the stage for the horrid situation that we found ourselves in on 9/11.

Here's another thing: we saw the first real germs of the psychotic SJW trend on some university campuses. It was silly and stupid enough back then, but it was contained to the fringe rather than embraced by much of the mainstream. It led to the hypocritical anti-White rhetoric that would have been justifiably rejected as racism in the past. On that particular subject, the '80s look like a Golden Era of racial relationships that eschewed the racist actions of the past without the embrace of the new ones that we see today. 

On that particular subject, the '80s look like a Golden Era of racial relationships that eschewed the racist actions of the past without the embrace of the new ones that we see today.


That's how I feel about the 70s. Many people were genuinely progressive without the repressive groupthink political correctness of today. People also had backbone and soul. They could "take a punch" so to speak, without running home crying to mother (or, more precisely, the college campus authorities). They knew they would face opposing viewpoints and they were welcomed. People were just plain cool and funky! There were no "safe spaces", no "trigger warnings", no "microagressions". People's very convictions were challenged to the core and they were all the better for this exchange of ideas. Many groups now, especially on college campuses, be it women, LGBTQ, etc,  fight loudly for equal rights while at the same time almost demanding to be a protected class. You cannot have both, its a contradiction of terms. Don't be a snowflake. The college campus should not act "in loco parentis" (in place of parents). You don't need parents on a college campus.

I like what writer and social commentator Camille Paglia had to say about this as far back as the early 90s:

""What is most disgusting about current political correctness on campus is that its proponents have managed to convince their students and the media that they are authentic Sixties radicals. The idea is ridiculous.  Political correctness, with its fascist speech codes and puritanical sexual regulations, is a travesty of Sixties progressive values." 
-Paglia
Vamps & Tramps p, 118

That's how I feel about the 70s. Many people were genuinely progressive without the repressive groupthink political correctness of today. People also had backbone and soul. They could "take a punch" so to speak, without running home crying to mother (or, more precisely, the college campus authorities). They knew they would face opposing viewpoints and they were welcomed. People were just plain cool and funky! There were no "safe spaces", no "trigger warnings", no "microagressions". People's very convictions were challenged to the core and they were all the better for this exchange of ideas. Many groups now, especially on college campuses, be it women, LGBTQ, etc,  fight loudly for equal rights while at the same time almost demanding to be a protected class. You cannot have both, its a contradiction of terms. Don't be a snowflake. The college campus should not act "in loco parentis" (in place of parents). You don't need parents on a college campus.

I like what writer and social commentator Camille Paglia had to say about this as far back as the early 90s:

""What is most disgusting about current political correctness on campus is that its proponents have managed to convince their students and the media that they are authentic Sixties radicals. The idea is ridiculous.  Political correctness, with its fascist speech codes and puritanical sexual regulations, is a travesty of Sixties progressive values." 
-Paglia
Vamps & Tramps p, 118


I know what you mean. Just look at "All In The Family" and "The Jeffersons". They would be rejected by paranoid CBS suits now. If they aired, they would cause a third world war from outraged (please ban that word!) PC Twitter twits. All of the outraged cable news shows would cover the outrage as if it was something of dire portent like the return of the Spanish Flu. "There's more fallout from the airing of a show that some say has been linked to White supremacists." I think we all have enough common sense to not confuse fun ethnic humor with blackface and minstrel shows from the Jim Crow era. The SJWs aren't capable of such obvious delineations, and, like the man said, they're the puritans of our time. It's like the old saying (paraphrasing) that they're afraid that someone, somewhere, is having a good time. Yet, we've come a long way, baby. In 1960s Mississippi, groups of hateful, violent masked cowards bullied ordinary Americans into not exercising their civil rights while in the present day, groups of hateful, violent masked cowards bully ordinary Americans into not exercising their civil rights. I prefer the times of Archie and George, when Americans could poke fun at each other, as well as themselves.