Ep 9. The 1980's
- 55 min
The Remarkable 20th Century season 1 episode 9, titled "The 1980s," delves into one of the defining decades of the 20th century. From the rise of technology to the fall of communism, it was a time of great change and upheaval.
The episode begins by highlighting the political landscape of the 1980s. Ronald Reagan's presidency in the United States and Margaret Thatcher's reign in the United Kingdom brought about a new era of conservatism. They championed free-market capitalism and pushed for less government interference in the economy.
The show also looks at the challenging global events that shook the 1980s, including the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 and the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant in Russia in 1986. It also shines a light on the terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon, at the Marine barracks in 1983 and the bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
However, the 1980s also brought about advancements and triumphs. The show explores the advent of personal computers, which revolutionized the way we communicate and do business. Apple's Macintosh computer and Microsoft's Windows operating system are highlighted as key players in this technological revolution.
The music and entertainment of the 1980s are also given ample attention in this episode. MTV was launched in 1981, forever changing the way music was experienced, and Michael Jackson's Thriller album became the best-selling album of all time in 1982. The episode explores the rise of new music genres, such as punk, new wave, and hip hop, and the impact they had on culture.
The 1980s saw monumental advancements in science and medicine. The world was introduced to AZT, the first drug to treat AIDS, and the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978. In this episode, we see how scientific discoveries and medical advancements transformed the way we think about health and medicine.
The episode also delves into the downfall of the Soviet Union, which brought the end of the Cold war and the rise of democratic movements in Eastern Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is highlighted as a pivotal moment in the decade and a unifying moment for divided nations.
Overall, "The 1980s" is a fascinating look back at a decade that shaped the modern world. The episode manages to balance the serious global events of the era with the cultural and technological advancements that defined it. We are reminded of just how much the world has changed in the past 40 years, and how much influence the 1980s continue to have on our lives today.