MovieChat Forums > Ready Player One (2018) Discussion > Why would the kids of 2045 be interested...

Why would the kids of 2045 be interested in the pop culture of the '80s?

posted 7 years ago by AngularTurnip (3337)
49 replies | jump to latest

When was the last time you met a millennial, or someone younger, interested in the pop culture of the '50s? It seems the kids of today would rather jump out of a plane without a parachute than binge-watch "Gunsmoke," biblical epics, and "The Danny Thomas Show." Does the book explain why the kids of 2045 inexplicably find the '80s endearing? Or, is the fact that the author likely grew up in the '80s the reason why the kids of tomorrow find it so fascinating .... even though in reality they would probably rather study cartography than immerse themselves in a sixty-year-old decade?

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Meanwhile I've read the book. The reason is that the inventor of the OASIS, who grew up in the 80's and was very engaged with pop culture from that era was very rich and hid his inheritance as an easter egg in the game. Finding the easter egg becomes an obsession for a lot of players. To be able to solve the required riddles they need to live and breathe 80's pop culture. We're talking obtaining total control of the multi-billion dollar valued OASIS.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] wrecche (631) 4 years ago

Kinda how it was in the movie too, so strange op... Oo

Mind you, I was reading youtube comments on the movie, and so many kids asking "What was the song at...." bloody van halen, how young are kids these days... yikes!

[–] mikeflatley (761) 7 years ago

They xsist 2day. Called hipsterz.

[–] Burk48917 (11363) 7 years ago

I was a 90s kid,and everything was about the 60s and 70s culture. This is normal.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

It's normal if, as you're talking about, it's only a 20 or maybe 30 year difference. In 2045, the '80s would be sixty years before. To make it comparable, in the '90s were you and all your friends and society in general really into the pop culture of the 1930s?

[–] Burk48917 (11363) 7 years ago

Ah yes, that's a fair point. I don't think the roaring 20s ever made a comeback. It's possible in the context of the story, that since the world seems to have fallen on hard times there hasn't been a pop culture revolution in several decades, but that is pure speculation on my part.

[–] Satan2016 (25525) 7 years ago

Actually the Betty Boop revival was in the 90s.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

A Betty Boop revival in the 90s? That's a straight up lie. Who could be responsible for spreading such lies? Oh, I don't know...maybe SATAN?!

[–] Satan2016 (25525) 7 years ago

Fucking moron! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Boop#TV_and_DVD

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

Dude, I wasn't being serious. How could you completely miss my Church Lady reference?

[–] Jehosaphet (1063) 6 years ago

Lol that was great...lol'd at your reference, almost fell out of the chair with Satan's reply LOL
Too funny!

On topic, I'm not sure if the image of Betty Boop reappearing on merchandise can be taken to mean that the thirties roared back into our culture. There were some key rings with the Boopster, come on. The Booperamaaaa.

[–] wrecche (631) 4 years ago

Satan has no sense of humor... unlike god.. I mean, the platypus?

[–] Burk48917 (11363) 6 years ago

That's one character, which was very niche, not an entire generation following a 60 year old culture.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

A lot of people today obsess over 20s, 40s and 50s fashion. When I was a kid in the 90s, I was obsessed with the 40s and 50s, that's a 40-50 year difference.

But the reason these kids are obsessed with 80s culture is because the founder of Oasis grew up in that time period and loved that time period. These kids are obsessed with Halliday and for some, they were simply obsessed with winning the game. So either way, it was imperative to know everything that Halliday knew and loved, that includes the 80s.

[–] Moonglum9 (11275) 6 years ago

Everyone I knew in the 90's was all about flappers wearing bloomers and sitting on flagpoles while we danced to ragtime.

[–] jekporkins (1971) 5 years ago

In the 1990s there actually was a huge swing dance and music revival. The Brian Setzer Orchestra, zoot suits, big horns, fedoras...

[–] TandyMan (11096) 7 years ago

This is a hard pill for some to swallow, but everything in life is just a bunch of made up bullshit. We just sit around and invent stories to entertain each other. Every aspect of society post WWII is meaningless crap.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I have news for you: it wasn't any different before and during WWII.

[–] Recognizer (386) 6 years ago

Aaaand, cue existential crisis lol 😂

[–] AndyKing (300) 6 years ago

I had an existential map once - it had “You are here” written all over it.

[–] wrecche (631) 4 years ago

I was at a zoo once, and saw a map on a wall, which said "You are here." And I was gobsmacked... How the hell did it know where I was?

[–] Jones70 (6534) 7 years ago

A guy I used to talk said he liked newer movies because of "special effects, editing, camera angles, actors and actresses that are able to make other movies still, and then said "that's why I like new music too and don't like older".

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 7 years ago

49% of the population are below average intelligence. Your friend is a 49%'er

[–] PresidentAckbar (1289) 6 years ago

lol, we need a like button.

[–] wrecche (631) 4 years ago

I wish there was... lol

[–] FilmBuff (7235) 7 years ago

Short answer: the winner of a contest will become the wealthiest and most influential person on Earth. To win the contest, a deep knowledge of '80s pop culture is required.

If someone offered a $1 trillion prize to the person who best knew every detail of '50s pop culture I think '50s pop culture would become very, very popular.

[–] ksi (49) 7 years ago

As have been explained in other replies here, it was perfectly explained in the movie the reason for the 80s interest for the movie, it almost sounds like if you didn't watch the movie or read the book, it is just the author's decision just like Tolkien decided to create mythical beasts and realms on a century of wars and tanks and people followed (not comparing the quality of Tolkien to this one, it is just the idea of creating something completely out of contemporary culture).

[–] Cheepshooter (672) 7 years ago

It's because the 80s kicked ass. End of story.

[–] replicant4 (219) 7 years ago

The reason is two-fold. From a story standpoint, the creator of the OASIS was a kid from he 80's.....so it stands to reason that a lot of what influenced him as a kid plays a roll in the fantasy world he created. From a Spielberg/business standpoint.....the strategy is perfect. The 80's references will appeal to all the adults watching the movie, and the VR video game wizardry and youthful characters will appeal to younger viewers. So, you have a few different age groups....all pleased. Something for everyone.

It's like when Disney makes a movie.....where it's obviously targeted for kids. But they know the parents have to be the ones who TAKE the kids, and have to sit through the movie with them, so it might as well have things for the parents to enjoy as well. So....lots of inside jokes and pop-culture references. The references may go right over the kids' heads....but it takes nothing away from their enjoyment of the action and story. And the PARENTS who pick-up on those references....get some fun out of it. A perfect example, the Robin William's/genie character in Aladdin--makes all sorts of pop culture references. Something for the whole family.

Here endeth the lesson.

[–] SlackerInc (1101) 7 years ago

Yes. The creator has to have been born almost exactly when I was, as I was nine when Atari 2600 games were huge. But then Wade reminds me of my 18 year old son, a big gamer who is very idealistic about being anti-corporate.