Exploring the Link Between Mental Health and 80s Pop Culture
It’s difficult to imagine the 80s without thinking about the excessive use of hairspray, color blocking fashion, and pop culture references such as The Breakfast Club, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future. However, beyond the obvious, the 80s had a profound impact on our mental health and well-being.
The decade was defined by significant social, economic, and political upheavals that led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges for many. Additionally, the ever-present fear of nuclear war loomed over people’s heads, causing a sense of existential dread. We can trace it back to the cold war, which dominated global politics at the time. It left people anxious, particularly since the threat of mutually assured destruction was ever-present.
Pop culture in the 80s mirrored some of these themes, as the carpe diem mentality shown in movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Say Anything revealed a pervasive sense of nihilism. Teen icons such as Madonna and Michael Jackson who unraveled the idea of big brother authoritarianism and conformity, offering viewers empowerment. The decade of fashion rebellion such as wearing bright, bold colors, it was all about expressing yourself and being different. However, pop culture tried to be a remedy as well to both the political and social realities of the time.
In music, mainstream pop culture was slowly moving away from the post-punk sound, which was relatively bleak into something more uplifting and fun. The poppy nature of the music was designed to be escapist. Music brought people together, of all cultures, classes, and backgrounds. Bands like Duran Duran permeated the top of the charts globally, bringing with them a sense of joy and happiness. In the same vein, icons like Boy George represented a new type of masculinity which was a source of inspiration to many.
The emergence of MTV in 1981 accelerated the merging of pop culture and mental health awareness. It has been argued that MTV was instrumental in promoting the global culture of viewing mental health as a significant public issue. They made a notable contribution to effecting the social and cultural transformation that took place during the 1980s. For the first time, young millennials living in the United States and beyond began openly discussing their feelings online and in person without much stigma.
The 80s pop culture played a powerful role in shaping perceptions of mental health by putting stories of people affected by it in the forefront. Pop stars and movie characters were increasingly depicted with emotional and mental health challenges, offering a platform to discuss mental illness. In movies like The Breakfast Club, mental illness was front and center. For the first time, a movie showed a realistic portrayal of teenagers and their mental health struggles.
In conclusion, pop culture in the 80s was a reflection of what was happening globally in terms of political, economic and social changes. The music and icons represented the zeitgeist of the time and offered a form of escapism from the daily realities people were enduring. In addition, pop culture served as a catalyst for mental health awareness and played a powerful role in shifting perceptions toward accepting and discussing mental illness in society.
