The "clickable" images above are icons of the most important cultural events representing the decades of the 70's and 80's.
The political and cultural Scene
By the end of March of 1973 more than 600 POW's had returned from prison camps to the US. Operation "Homecoming" as it was called was for many, joyful return to their families and homeland. Their feeling of Happiness lastes very few moments since the whole country got submerged very quickly into a depression.
The Watergate Scandal and the Cold War of the Early 70's made many Americans lose their faith in the American Dream and the future.
In consequence these years passed into history as "the radical years". A profound radicalism that became manifest as an opposition to all the values established during the 50's. The 70's and 80's culture were characterized as a deep desire desire to forget the 50's. All the recognizable assets of the 50's and 60'swere to be buried in the oblivion.
The Arts and Desigh Scene
"Pop Art' was in full swing. Two major names resurfaced in the pop scene: One of them was Roy Lichtenstein, reworking his art into cartoon and comic illustration. His prints and paintings strongly tells the story of these days. In one of the images in the strip above you can observe the use of bubbles, until now reserved to comic books. Both glorify and underscore the kitsch quality of the popular narrative. The colored dots are used to provide texture and shading. Thick black lettering and outlines, speech bubbles, and primary colors, formerly forbidden for the aesthetic of those days came into art usage. Popular became art.
Andy Warhol at it's tour was achieved his fame for his serial work in silkscreen and acrylic mass-produced. The art became banal, compulsory in opposition to original and elitist. The reproductions above are two of his most famous works. Christie recently sold his "Tomato Soup Can" for $1,177,000.
The Invention and Technology Scene
In the world of technological inventions, the launch of the personal computer by Apple in 1976, and Microsoft in 1977, came to introduced profound changes in society, allowing for rapid growth and innovations, Many people feared being replaced by machines. Even so, PC's brought a wealth of advantage to their users.
Radical Beauty
"The most beautiful thing in Tokyo is McDonald's. The most beautiful thing in Stockholm is McDonald's. The most beautiful thing in Florence is McDonald's. Peking and Moscow don't have anything beautiful yet." Andy Warhol