Family and Economy
The stock market tripled in 7 years yet survived the 1987 crash. Prisons overflowed and violent crime rates which, in 1980, had tripled since 1960, continued to climb with the appearance of crack in 1985. Toward the end of the decade, the president called for a kinder, gentler nation and volunteerism and contributions reached an all time high.
Families changed drastically during these years with large numbers of Americans beginning to use personal computers in their homes, offices, and schools. The 80s continued the trends of the 60s and 70s – more divorces, more unmarried cohabitation, and more single parent families. The two-earner family was even more common than in previous decades, more women went to college and earned college and advanced degrees, married, and then had fewer children.
Culture and Science
The eighties were a huge decade for art, art museums, and artists. Artists were mostly moderns including Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Artists were trying new arenas and pushing the boundaries of art and design. And in 1987, the ‘Helga’ paintings were exhibited at the National Gallery of Art, the gallery’s first exhibition of works by a living artist.
Major advances in genetic research led to the 1988 funding of the Human Genome Project. This project will locate the estimated 80,000 genes contained in human DNA.
Nerd’s became a hot commodity in the 1980s. Wealthy and brainy computer wizards like Stephen Wozniak and movies like ‘Revenge of the Nerds’, ‘Lucas’, ‘Stand by Me’, and ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’ helped. TV joined the nerd ranks with ABC’s hit series Head of the Class. ‘Food of the 80s’ made places like Taco Bell and McDonald’s very popular. Collectibles also became very big in the 80s. Smurf and E.T. paraphernalia, Cabbage Patch dolls, camcorders, video game, Teenage Mutant Nija Turtles, and Barbies were big; possible the biggest of them all was the Rubiks cube.
The combination of Nancy Reagan’s elegance and Princess Di’s love of fashion stimulated a return to power dressing. Madonna, Perry Ellis, Donna Karan, and Calvin Klein were inspired fashion for the 80s. Films also continued to influence and inspire clothing. The Flashdance look had young and old in tank tops, tight-fitting pants or torn jeans, trainers and leg-warmers.
Cable was born and MTV had an enormous impact on music and young people. The CD revolutionized the music industry and became a world wide phenomenon. Pop, rock, new wave, punk, country, and especially rap or hip hop became popular in the 80s.
International Influence
Health concerns increased throughout the western world leading to the rejection of smoking, opposition to nuclear power plants.
Environmental concerns intensified. In the United Kingdom, environmentally friendly domestic products surged in popularity. Western European countries adopted “greener” policies to cut back on oil use, recycling became popular, and increase focus on water and energy conservation efforts.
