A look at decade revivals

Has it really been nearly nine years since our calendars started with 20 instead of 19? It's funny to look back at how silly we all were regarding the massive hype nicknamed "Y2K". It also proved our increasingly heavy reliance on computers, a modern entity which has only become widespread to consumers for just over a quarter century. It really does not feel like it was nine years ago when all that hype and anticipation was washed away, leaving us feeling both relieved and overwhelmingly stupid.

One more year will mark my completion of two full decades alive. Being born in 1984, for me the '80s was quickly passed with blurred childhood memories. I was too young to be aware of the '80s pop culture until the early '90s when all of it seemed so out-dated. During that decade, the '80s were just plain old and didn't receive the status of "retro" until sometime after 2000. This leads to a logical assumption that 20 years is required for something to go from old and revered to retro and hip. The same can be said for motor vehicles. It takes about 20 years for someone to stop staying, "When are you going to get rid of that old car?" to "When are you going to restore that vintage car?" An interesting aspect of this 20 year vintagification is that I can't recall a period of '70s rebirth during the '90s.

With the realization of this decade nearing an end, I began to wonder about the undertaking of pop culture in the following decade. During that time, I predict the 1990s will have reached its deadline for glorious rebirth through retro revival. What significant points of '90s pop culture will become prevalent in the next decade? There are two distinct areas which could reasonably make a comeback. The earlier period of extremely baggy clothes, fronted by Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Criss Cross, and others similar artists. Then the grudge era, fueled by every white male between the age of 15 and 30. Whichever occurs, I can be sure it will make me feel old. I instantly felt old when Full House and Home Improvement were added to the Nick at Nite line up.

2010 will be an interesting adjustment. Will this decade be branded its official nickname, "The Teens" or "The Tens"? I guess we will all find out next year. Regardless, we still have to brave through 2009, remembering the past, and preparing for the future.