1980s Film
The 1980s, known as an image driven decade, was a time full of new technology. The new technology of the 80s transformed the way movies were made and seen by viewers. The decade was a time of transformation in both technology and film.
Because of the fundamental changes in standard living during the 1980s, Americans enjoyed many transformations in technology and their way of life. Although it was available in the 1970s, cable television became standard for most American households. ESPN, Nickelodeon, and MTV became especially popular for people looking for entertainment. The videocassette recorder (VCR) allowed Americans to record television shows and watch them according to their own schedule and view feature films in the privacy of their own homes. (“Life in the 1980s”) But perhaps one of the greatest changes in American lifestyles of the 1980s was the personal computer. Introduced in 1977 by Apple, the personal computer allowed quick word processing, management of personal
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Films in the 80s were less experimental and original, but more formulaic. (Dirks) Director Steven Spielberg became especially popular with the film “E.T.”. The movie took American movie audiences by storm during the summer of 1982. (“Spielberg and Lucas”) It went on to become the biggest moneymaker in Hollywood history. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were both very successful during the 1980s. Their films are filled with a sense of timeless fantasy, high adventure, and great special effects. (“Spielberg and Lucas”) Both of them breaking box office records, their movies continued to pander to the tastes and desires of young people, as well as adults. With successes like Return of the Jedi (1983), Ghostbusters (1984), and Back to the Future (1985) many of the blockbusters during the decade were well-constructed films with strong characters and plots not entirely built upon their special
In addition, the quality of movies that were produced from the beginning of the 20th Century until today has drastically evolved with graphics and special effects enhancements. Lastly, I remember the era when people had beepers and would use a pay phone or go back upstairs to return the page received. Looking no further than our own pockets, the majority of people today
Many Americans enjoyed the new films because they provided joy and laughter after the recent war. Most of the films during this time were silent with some background music like a piano accompanying them, but it wasn’t until 1923 when the first movie with an actual soundtrack was produced (“1920s films”). Movie ticket sales went from 50 weekly in 1920 to 90 million weekly in 1929 (“digital history”). New movies were coming out and each was more advanced than the last with new movie stars and ideas influencing the fashion and culture of America. The American people became obsessed with movies and attending the theater became a regular weekend thing to do (Hanson).
In addition, the eighties had many influential people and events which all lead
The 1980s was the beginning of technology and what it will become, iconic music, movies, and television shows that will lead the way for the upcoming years. Computers were making progress at a very fast rate and would now be seen in someone’s home. Phones could now be carried in your pocket and music videos were on MTV. The songs, movies, and TV shows would become very well known even today.
The 1980s, the era of free living, independence, wild and rampant drug use, flower children, love and peace… oh, that’s the 1960s. The 1980s? The era of Reagan conservatism that challenged many of the habits and beliefs developed in the sixties; forget the hippies in fields of flowers, and shift the mindset to corporate goons on Wall Street. Shift the burning of bras in streets, to the return of classic American values.
Increasingly, people all across the country were sharing the same information and enjoying the same pastime. A new American popular culture was emerging which was the Entertainment in the Roaring 20’s. Film was really booming in the 1920’s. In the early 20’s most films had no analogue or sound except for a piano
1980s Music The 1980s was a decade where many things changed drastically. The music industry in the 1980s experienced major changes, mostly due to the political and economic changes, and new trends and inventions. In the 1980s, America changed both economically, and politically.
For example, Jaws was the first film that featured a new type of insane character, the giant shark. “Jaws changed the face of American cinema, influencing the next generation of filmmakers to eye summer release dates, high-concept ideas, easy marketability, teaser trailers, TV spots, media junkets, merchandising, and the almighty dollar” (Stephens). In summary, the movie itself brought about many changes, but the shark dreamed up and created by Spielberg inspired new subjects and characters in other future films. Without Jaws, the film industry would not have chased after these new ideas and concepts like having an enormous shark as the main character. Furthermore, Spielberg was one of the first to bring aliens into a motion picture and with that came inspiration.
Television and cartoons and the greek theater made the movie industry drop in popularity for a short time. The movie industry was also changed by double features, which are the series of a movie shown right after each other, or a series of movies right after each
There were many mediums that influenced the American society like music, television, and movies for entertainment for the people. Because of this, the generation gap between adults and kids grew larger and larger. Parents and adults favored contemporary music while teenagers likes hard rock. In addition, many musicians and bands became known in the 1980s like the Cure, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, A-ha, and Madonna. There were many popular activities and dances that sparked in this decade like Running Man, the Worm, and the Robot.
In the 1920s, movies became the most popular form of American entertainment. No one expected these films, that were once only a couple seconds long, to influence history as much as they did. This addition of technology to the American lifestyle had the rich and the poor lined up to see the newest showings. The movies reflected American culture and personalities. The film industry made an outstanding increase when it changed location, met competition, and when it began adding sound and color.
When people look at the 1980’s, the question often times asked is, “what was even going on”. Known for its characteristically bright neons, crazy hair dos, and high school coming of age films, this decade definitely made a mark on history. Oftentimes stereotyped with these aspects, the reality of the decade was revolt against the social, financial, and political turmoil of the 1960’s and 70’s. Predating this decade, the United States of America had seen many conflicts in all aspects of life and culture. Beginning in the 1960’s, a new age of counterculture was on the rise.
In the movie business the director will usually do whatever it takes to try and attract to the audience, whether it be trying to appeal to a bias or just providing a cheap thrill. The movies Godzilla and Frankenstein are no different; they explore the unknown nature of technology and how it can be detrimental to us humans. By exploring these unknowns, movie makers are able to exploit how society feels about technology and push the boundaries of what 's right and wrong. From the first movies being about cowboys and romance, movies have started to explore the unknown nature of technology.
Social differences can play a huge role in Hollywood with the development of films that are being produced. These differences was also spark the production of a film remake. Ocean 's 11 (1960) and Ocean 's Eleven (2001) is an example that falls into this category. Both films share an underlying social problem that was shown to be a reoccurring issue that can be related to the time it is made and reproduced. Diving into Ocean 's 11 (1960), we are introduced to Danny Ocean.
However, when people differentiate between now, 2018, and 1980s, they think of