Duragizer said:
I don't know where my affinity for the '80s comes from. I lived less than three years in that decade, and my earliest memory dates to 1990, yet the aesthetics of that time still allure me.
I think it's several things. For one, it was the last major era before computers and the Internet started infiltrating everything, and that makes it intriguing for being so recent, yet so alien. Whereas pretty much anything related to to computers and Internet from the 90s just feels awkward and dated.
For another, much of culture, from melodic and danceable Europop to teen comedies and action flicks, was cheery, colorful and
fun. Grunge, gangster rap, violent and gritty films from the likes of Fincher and Tarantino, was all still a few years away. As for Reagan, love him or loathe him and his policies, many feel that he set a generally upbeat and positive tone for the country. Political leaders of all stripes who worked with him found him mostly kind and caring in personal interactions. Many think that this attitude did indeed trickle down to the culture.
Finally, culture was more unified back then. VCRs and widespread home ownership of movies, let alone digital music, extensive cable programming, and anything streaming, didn't yet allow people to live in niches entirely separate from one another. It wasn't the monoculture of the late 50s, with only three broadcast TV networks and barely any minority representation in media, but mainstream art and artists had broader appeal than they do today.
In conclusion,
The 80s 4-ever!!!