The Big 80s (& 90s): The Digital Age / Age of Information - Unit 10
Life in the 80s
Cable Television:
New channels offered specialized programming, broadcasting 24 hours a day.
MTV: Music Television increased the popularity and influence of artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince.
CNN: Provided news and opinion.
Nickelodeon: Focused on kids' shows.
“Televangelism”: experienced a rise in prominence.
Rise of Big Tech and Personal Computers:
Silicon Valley became the world’s tech capital.
Video gaming became popular in arcades and home systems.
80s Music Genres
Rap/Hip Hop
New Wave music
Punk music
Synth Pop
Hair Metal
MTV Culture: Much of 80s pop music utilized synthesizer keyboards and drum machines.
1983: David Bowie criticized MTV for not playing music of Black artists.
80s Culture
Materialism:
“Greed is good…”
The “Me Decade” of the 70s evolved into a widespread desire for personal wealth.
“IMAGE is everything”
Yuppies: Young Urban Professionals replaced the socially conscious “hippie” of the 60s & 70s, seeking executive jobs and spending money on upscale products.
Preppie fashion: A cleaned-up version of college frat boy and sorority girl styles.
Fashion Trends:
Big Hair, Big Colors (and pastels), Big Shoulder Pads
Lycra/Spandex, ripped denim, Madonna-inspired “thrift store sheik” look.