Can you explain to me some of the youth culture of the late 1980's?

Question

I am writing a paper on youth culture then and now as to relating the book A&P by John Updike. I was only 3 years old when the 1980's ended so if you could please explain some of the youth cultures at the time

And if you want some of the youth cultures occuring now.

Answer 1

I agree about the Pump Up The Volume movie. Good stuff.

Things were somewhat innocent, in that there was nothing to protest against that was major (like war). But if there was, I believe we would have protested, unlike the kids today who seem indifferent.

We weren't completely controlled by the media, and the media didn't completely controll the government.

Music was experimental and new. MTV played music videos!

Radio stations were an outlet to get local bands songs played. They were not cencered. They were ways of hearing local news and events. Now they are owned by the same mass media companies. Some don't even have DJ's.

TV was not cencered nearly as much, with the exception of cussing. But allowing cussing now only contributes to the dumbing of America.

Beta was better in every respect, but VHS won the battle.

Cable was 72 channels, but still nothing good to watch.

The church wasn't in everyones business.

You still had to hide the fact that you were different, gay, Christian, etc... or I should say it wasn't so widely accepted, or ignored.

Music programs in schools were encouraged, and had funding.

The computer to have was the Commodore 64!

My school was an open campus, meaning we could leave for lunch. Now that school has a fence around it, possibly metal detectors.

The main population of my school, maybe 70% was white. Now it's about 30% white.

There were only a few fat kids, and they got razzed about it, something I hated to see. Now the percentage is way way higher. the food sucked bigtime, I'm sure that hasn't changed. In fact, the shelf life on that stuff is so long, I bet they are still using the same batch!

We knew the difference between Democrat and Republican, but also knew that they were the same. That was my reason for not giving a **** about the vote. What is the reason today?

I'd be willing to bet that the same school books we had are still in use, though they are half the time historicaly inaccurate.

I wont go into fashion.... just watch a Madona video from that time! But I did fold roll my pants! I think the shirt sleaves too! But at least we tried to look different from one another... on second thought, not so much.



Hope that helps, I sure had fun!

I am glad I am not in school today.

Answer 2

Oh my God....Headbangers...loong hair concert shirts, Heavy Metal. We were decadent, drank alot smoked pot, chased girls and the girls let us catch them. The 80's were a fun time to grow up. The music that came from that decade was the best ever!! As far as youth culture, the 80's was a fun time, we had a good economy and no fears. The fashions were outrageous and FUN!! We knew where everyone stood by the clothes that they wore. A preppy was a preppy and a hood was a hood. A skater was skater and a punk was punk(well, usually skaters were punks). We got in fistfights, we didn't bring guns to school (although I lived in a smaller town and had a .22 in my gunrack all the time). We didn't have the sense of gloom that we have now. We lived in our sheltered little worlds and partied hearty!!

Answer 3

I wish you had been a little more specific.
I do know that in the late 80s, I was a teenager and I smoked a lot of weed and I had purple hair and I listened to punk rock music.

Maybe you can start with the punk movement.
Peace

BTW: "Say no to drugs" and WWJD was not the 80s. That was late 90s and early 2000s

Answer 4

Youth culture of the late 1980's consisted of loose fitting, non-form fitting, bright, unattractive clothes. Bubble gum rock and snobs. It was the "in" thing to be a snob. Also, they wore stirip pants which were hidious. Big poofed out fake hair. Fake attitudes. "Say no to drugs" and "WWJD bracelets -What would Jesus do". I think that the youth culture of today is much more cool.

Answer 5

It was a time of confusion! Not 60's confusion mind you, just the kind where you weren't sure what was going on, what you were suppossed to do. The best movie to explain 80's youth and its anger is probaly Pump up the Volume with Christian Slater. Check it out, it may help.

Answer 6

I lived it. Cocaine was a big drug, mullets were the hair style for guys, big hair for girls(and guys), video games were in their infancy and played regularly in archades, Reagan was president, most of the musis included the use of synthesizers, the youth felt this time was it.