The 1980’s cannot be tied up into a nice, neat bow without giving serious thought to the things that made it such a memorable decade for many people. The fact is, the 80’s have never really left, this decade of MTV, “Reaganomics” and the “Yuppie” have made a lasting impression that is still visible today. It is now time to take a look back at the very influential and unforgettable 1980’s.

*President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)

President Reagan was many things to many people and generally considered a very good president. He was a Hollywood actor from 1937-1965. He was California senator beginning in 1966 and ending with his election as president in 1980. President Reagan is known for his welfare reform, commodities program and many other positive political endeavors. He was a great speaker and had a quiet but firm manner. The term “Reaganomics” was coined due to both the positive and negative effects his economic plan had on the U.S. economy. He advocated for reduction of taxes for both individuals and corporations and wanted industrial deregulation. Unfortunately, by the end of his presidency, the nation was deeper in debt than it had been in its entire history.

*Music

It has been said that the music of the 1980’s defined an era. There is no disputing that when MTV came out in August of 1981, it changed the face of music forever. Musicians could be even more creative by making videos to go along with their songs. The tone of the music in the 80’s was different than that of the decades before, from angry and rebellious to haunting ballads, the music is considered timeless by those who listened back then. MTV launched new careers and boosted existing stars into the stratosphere. Music and fashion became linked as viewers tried to echo the styles of stars like Madonna. 

*Movies

The 1980’s saw the production of many classic movies like “E.T.”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Terminator”. The last two have spawned sequels and a loyal fan following. Other noteworthy movies include from the horror genre: “Nightmare on Elm Street” (which also has several sequels), “Friday the 13th” and its numerous sequels. Action heroes like Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger skyrocketed to fame during the 80’s. There was also a surge in teen movies with “Breakfast Club”, “Sixteen Candles” and “Pretty in Pink” (just to name a few). There really are too many movies to mention that came out in the 80’s and are still enjoyed today.

*Yuppie

The birth of the “Yuppie” was met with mixed reception. A yuppie was a young urban professional, who was college educated and held a good paying job. They were career-driven, and constantly strove for bigger and better…everything from homes to cars and clothing. This was a stark difference from the “Hippie” counter culture movement of the 60’s and 70’s. The yuppie was all about material things and excelling in their career.

*Television

Many of the shows that came out in the 80’s are still popular in syndication today. Shows like Roseanne (1988-1997), broke down many beliefs about women and the ideal family that were portrayed on television in previous years. Roseanne Barr was loud, crude, sarcastic and America loved her and her dysfunctional family for almost a decade. Perhaps one of the reasons this show captured the hearts and minds of people is that it did NOT portray a picture of a perfect family. They yelled at each other, slammed doors and insulted each other every week. This family spoke to families everywhere because it was the closest thing to real life on television at that time. There were many other popular and ground- breaking television shows that appealed to people at that time.

*Berlin wall

1989 will live in infamy due to the wall coming down. This historic event was marked by televised concerts, parties and celebrity interviews. From 1961-1989, this wall separated East and West Germany and also symbolized the division between Communism and Democracy during the Cold War. This is another way in which politics was very profound in the 1980’s. The wall went up during the night in August, 1961 and stretched for an ominous 100 miles. The point to the wall was to keep East Berliners from crossing the border into West Berlin. This wall was truly a sad time in Germany as it kept friends, families and lovers from seeing and speaking to each other for 28 years. It was torn down in November, 1989 and the wall destruction was celebrated all over the world.

The decade of the 80’s was a time of growth and change. The people that remember it, do it with fondness. There was definitely a cultural change mixed with political views and some really great entertainment!