Stranger Things' Misrepresentations of 1980s American Culture
"Stranger Things" has taken the world by storm, but for many viewers, the show has sparked a wave of nostalgia. However, while the series draws from the iconic decade of the 1980s, viewers quickly realized that the portrayal of that era is exaggerated and often inaccurate. The series' portrayal of 1980s America suffers from a fundamental misunderstanding of the decade's lingo, fashion, and music. Let's delve into the aspects that the show gets wrong and explore the real 1980s.
Paying Homage: The Illusory 80s?
"Stranger Things" seems to blend elements from multiple decades, particularly the 1970s and 1980s, which can be confusing and misleading. The clothing and hairstyles depicted in the series do not accurately reflect the 1980s. One of the most notable inaccuracies is the portrayal of haircuts. Bowl cuts, typically associated with the 1950s and 1960s, are completely absent. In reality, hair was long and often parted down the middle, resembling the manicured styles of the shoulder-pad era. Additionally, the clothing trends in the show are often a hodgepodge of styles from various periods, but predominantly from the 1970s.
A Clueless Jukebox: Music and Lingo
The music in "Stranger Things" further emphasizes the disconnect with the actual 1980s. The show fails to capture the essence of the decade's popular music, instead opting for a mix of 1970s and 1980s songs that bear little resemblance to what was actually popular. Iconic bands like Van Halen were at the height of their popularity during the late 1980s, but the show fails to reflect this. Instead, it often features music from earlier in the decade, which was not the primary influence on the 1980s culture. Furthermore, the dialogue in the show is riddled with anachronisms and incorrect slang, detracting from the authenticity of the 1980s setting.
Is Baywatch the Defining Show of the 1980s?
The show also gets it wrong when it comes to pop culture references. One of the more infamous examples is the toy used in a particular scene. The toy, Ultra Magnus, is a figure from the Transformers franchise and did not come into existence until 1986. Even if we consider the toy in question, its appearance and features are anachronistic. Being set specifically in 1985, the toy should not have been moves motorized or feature any such abilities. Other toys, such as Omega Supreme, were more accurately reflective of the time period and would have been more fitting for the scene.
The show's portrayal of the decade is a mix of nostalgia and imagination, but it often falls short of depicting the 1980s accurately. While the show makers may have been trying to capture the essence of the era, their portrayal ends up being a mishmash of various decades. This disconnect is further emphasized by the inaccuracies in the show's music, fashion, and pop culture references. Ultimately, the 1980s are known for their vibrant culture, including iconic films like 'Baywatch,' and the show fails to capture this vividly.
In the end, "Stranger Things" is an enjoyable blend of genres, but for those who are hoping for an accurate portrayal of the 1980s, they will likely be disappointed. This analysis serves to highlight the importance of historical accuracy in pop culture representation and the potential pitfalls of taking creative liberties.