In discussing the influence of pop culture on a generation, Connor Franta expressed his admiration for how it shapes our lives. The impact of pop culture varies between different eras, such as the seventies and eighties, thereby shaping the way each generation grows up. In terms of music, fashion, and films, the 1970’s and 1980’s had distinctive influences. For instance, the music scene witnessed a shift in the use of electric instruments and synthesizers, which became more prevalent in everyday life during the 1970’s (Pelusi).
In the 70’s, the use of electric instruments became more popular in Jazz and Country music. In the 80’s, different instruments were used compared to the seventies. According to Miller, Post-punk bands did not use synthesizers or keyboards, instead combining punk rock sentiments with pop-oriented vocals. The approach to instrumentation often mirrored punk, especially in drumming. This indicates the variety of styles in music during these eras, as different instruments were used for different genres.
Moving on to fashion, it continued to evolve from the 70’s to the 80’s. The 70’s embraced a retro style, with fashion trends including mini skirts, midi skirts, tie-dyed shirts, denim, and bell-bottom jeans, as noted by Diana. John Travolta had a significant influence on others’ fashion choices through his iconic disco dance scene in Saturday Night Fever. However, fashion in the 80’s mostly consisted of distinctive styles.
During the 1970s and 1980s, various clothing options were popular. This included slip dresses, A-line skirts, hot pants, tap pants, polo shirts, Hawaiian shirts, and flannel shirts. Madonna played a significant role in shaping fashion during this time with her unique and vibrant hair along with her fishnet stockings (Johnson). Despite their differences, both eras left a lasting impact on current and future generations. The film genre and style also saw transformations from the 70s to the 80s. In the 70s, disaster films like Earthquake (1974) dominated the scene. These movies contributed to a growing skepticism among the public towards figures of authority such as government leaders and studios (Kellman). Consequently, people nationwide began questioning the legitimacy of government leaders. On the other hand, horror films, teen films, and independent films gained more popularity in the 80s.
The role of 80’s film studios was to create movies with large budgets, aiming to generate even larger profits at the box office (Hurd). During the 80’s, filmmakers and studios were solely focused on making money and creating extravagant sets. The genres of films in the 70’s and 80’s were distinctly different and had no commonalities. However, the seventies played a crucial part in shaping the aesthetic of the eighties by influencing trends, fashion, and events that continued to impact the next generation.
