Written by Ammar Junaid Asghar
The idea of the 80s having an aura of ‘simpler times when kids used to ride bicycles without a care in the world’ is an attractive proposition. It is modern enough to relate to and old enough to feel a certain degree of nostalgia towards it. Popular culture embracing the 80s by rehashing old movies as well as making new ones with similar themes is a defining feature today. But it doesn’t come without its predicaments.
Now I love the 80s, I really do. San Junipero is Black Mirror’s best episode by a mile, and part of it is because of the entire 80s music and setting. Similarly, Stranger Things, IT and various other works of television really do shine when highlighting a simple yet effective idea; a fictionalized version of a childhood we all seem to have lived. And of course by referring to 80s classics like ET and Back to the Future, they are popular with the actual 80s kids as well.
The problem arises when these remakes try to fit in a narrative that is a product of the 21st century. When these remakes bring in African American characters in titular roles, LGBT characters and strong female characters, they ignore the reality of the 80s itself. They ignore that the 80s were deeply misogynist, homophobic and racist times. They ignore the police brutality of African Americans. They ignore the divisive policies of Reagan that systematically ghettoized blacks, Latinos and marginalized poor women. When television creates a highly romanticized version of the 80s and we accept it at face value, we must consider that these were not ‘Glory Days’ for a large number of individuals.
Furthermore, this nostalgic wave makes it impossible to create original works of fiction. Sure, there are great new movies coming out every year. But the vast majority of them either borrow heavily from times gone by, or explicitly remake them under the same name. Even the notoriously popular Joker is clearly an ode to Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Now there is nothing wrong with being inspired by works of art. But when it comes at the cost of any contribution from modern day directors, Hollywood becomes more of a cash grabbing entity than ever before. There are exceptions of course, but as long as film executives know that they’ll garner ample audiences of teenagers seeking ‘vintage aesthetic’ and older parents craving nostalgia, they know that by churning out these movies, they’ll make more profit than by actually thinking of a plot and then executing it.
A similar obstacle exists in the music industry. Although not as apparent as Hollywood, the consistent rehashing of 80s tunes, rhythms and even the beats takes its toll. Artists ranging from the Jonas Brothers to mega pop star Taylor Swift’s entire album ‘1989’ incorporate a similar tangent; funky pop songs that are pure escapes from this dark depressing world. There is however, one prominent exception. Spanish Pop whatever your take on it, is firmly established as a reliable way for artists to make bucks. The fact that they can get artists like Justin Bieber or Demi Lovato to sing a few words in Spanish and the crowd goes wild, is testimony to the fact that foreign music is gaining enough traction.
Should Hollywood stop with this 80s love affair and make unique revolutionary movies? Or should it stick to a tried and tested method, and hope for audiences to keep showing up? Either way the 80s are bustling and alive and there’s no stopping it!