MEANING

SYMBOLISM
MESSAGING BOTH IMPLICIT AND SUBLIMINAL
INSPIRATIONS/CONCERNS
WHAT DOES IT TEACH ABOUT THE PERIOD
IS IT CRITICAL OR SUPPORTIVE OR JUST REFLECTIVE OF BROADER NON-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES/IMPLICATIONS

Politics and culture go hand in hand

People feel what they see, and those feelings are expressed through various forms of media
The media culture of the 1980s was different
It wholesomely aspired to bring back the good feeling that America had post-WWII
It was un-ironically unaware of itself
The media had a free spirit.
The 1980s was about freedom. It was about “fuck yeah” wrestling and rock n’roll
It was the 1950s on steroids. It was hyper-masculine, loud and bright, and obnoxiously cheesy
Rock diverged into punk and metal; women’s fashion emphasized broad shoulders (golden
ratio?) and the American people were told that corporations
Culturally, the 1980s was a rebellion against the “establishment” much like the 2016 election
was.
Establishment then: Carter/Ford/Nixon -> big government (increased spending on social
programs such as welfare). But culturally, the establishment was what got the American people
into the economic mess that they were living through. Reagan was that change.
Establishment now: Trump railed against Obama (and by proxy Hillary Clinton), former President
Bill Clinton and even George W. Bush earlier in the election. Trump was “the outsider” who
could fix the mess that the establishment put us in again.

Steve Bannon: politics is downstream from culture

Basically, culture can influence politics
What did we see culturally?
A rise in all-female rock bands
Hyper-masculinity
The need for small businesses
Cosby Show -> if we can influence the culture to the extent that it influences politics, maybe
temporarily people can forgo the fact that things are so bad now?
Reality: potential vs reality

In the 1980s, culture reached fantastical heights

It was not only a reflection of the previous of the economic and political climate left behind by Reagan’s
predecessors, but a fantasy of what could be achieved with the proper organization
Ex: ERA, increased drug laws against African Americans
Wall Street is good

What culture was childish fantasy of what could be

In some cases it was reassuring, in others it was positive

Theme of rebellion:
The populace voted for the non-establishment candidate
Then the populace rebelled against each other
Disco night -> gay rights
Wall St -> against the financial interests of individuals