The obsession with keeping up with the “cool thing to do” and staying in touch with the world has constantly impacted the way we live our lives, especially through the influence of popular culture, fashion, even politics. Each generation has a number of trends that defines them and serve as a nostalgic reminder of the countless changes in technology, fashion, music, and life in general.
2016
As this generation grows, the trends of our time begin to announce themselves even more, detailing the life we’re currently living. A recurring theme seems to be the impact of advanced technology and screen time on our generation.
“There’s definitely multiple screens that are used a day before school, at school, and when you get home from school,” sophomore Andrew Mannis said. “Phones, computers, TVs. It’s a very technology based society nowadays.”
Technology is used for everything now. Blue light is emitted from phones, computers, televisions, the list goes on and on, all of which have an important part in how we function.
“The idea of wearable technology, like smart watches, is really cool,” junior Michael Caradine said. “But I do think that as more people use them they’ll start to focus on that technology more and more. They will look down at their watch, but not look up at the world.”
A majority of the fads and jokes in teenage life also appear through social media.
“I don’t like all of the new trends are so attached to the social media,” sophomore Eric Gershilevich said. “If you don’t keep up with it, you get kind of lost and don’t know how to deal with what’s new.”
Another recurring theme of this generation has been the recycling of past fads and ideas, with an obsession on the “retro” and “vintage” factor.
“I feel like the 60’s influenced modern life as in the mood of the time right now. Dances, music, stuff like that, even record players now that everyone is buying them again,” Gershilevich said. “I also think the 80’s really impacted the way some people dress, specifically leggings. Leggings won’t go away now they’re way too popular.”
1996
Boy bands, MTV, grunge, Britney Spears, Friends. These are a few of pop culture’s favorite trends. Although it was around 20 years ago, the 1990’s still influence life today and serve as wonderful nostalgia for those that experienced it.
“Early 90s was total grunge era so it was all open plaid shirts, Nirvana was big and that kind of started the grunge trend,” Business teacher, Sarah Leuken said. “Bright neon colors were trending and Full House was big. Side ponies and scrunchies were big as well and Old Navy was just coming out.”
Nineties music is still prominent today and has influence on what we listen to today. Modern day boy bands like One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, the 2006 Jonas Brothers all have elements of those 90’s classics like Backstreet Boys albeit they lack the cheesy dance moves that represented the boy bands of the past.
“The world was a lot less connected when we didn’t have cats on the internet, Facebook, and youtube,” Choir Director, Ben Silvermintz said. “When the internet first popped up AOL was a huge thing. I remember coming home from school and getting ‘online’, which was a big deal then, so I could talk to friends and other people.”
Unfortunately, the Internet also has had a part in damaging the face-to-face relationships that are so crucial in life.
“I think friendships were a little more organic back then because you actually had to meet them, where as know you go online and you meet this person online and you say you’re friends with them,” Lueken said.
1986
The 1980’s was home to a lot of different styles that were shown through hit sitcoms and new genres of music. Movies from the time had a huge role in defining the generation’s asthetic as well.
“A normal day in 1986 saw Ronald Reagan as President, the t.v. show Cheers was popular, ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ by the Bangles was playing on the radio,” English teacher, Cynthia Krone said. “Madonna was very popular, Pretty in Pink and Top Gun were hit movies, and the Cabbage Patch Kids and Pound Puppies were popular toys for kids. I still have a couple of those.”
With strong influences from pop culture like Pretty in Pink, fashion looked very different from the following generations, but it hasn’t found its resurgence like the 90s.
“Most women wore sweaters and jackets with big shoulder pads.” Krone said, “At the time I thought this was a great look, now I look back on pictures of myself wearing these and laugh.”
And of course, the internet began its rise in prominence, quickly becoming a worldwide trend that has become a staple of our lives today.
“One of the biggest trends/ideas that dominated life during this time was global internet – a huge tech advancement at the time, that looks like it’s here to stay,” Kazanecki said.
