05/28/2023
Movies like ET, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Big Trouble in Little China, Explorers, The Goonies, Ghostbusters, Ladyhawke, Stand by Me, The Terminator, Flashdance, Footloose, Highlander, The Lost Boys, Wall Street, Labyrinth, Poltergeist, Risky Business, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Neverending Story are the 80s movies that have had the greatest influence on my character and worldview. All of us, as human beings, are subject to the influence of what we experience in real life, but much more by what we experience in reading books, watching a play, and, of course, through cinematic culture. Looking back at the past and analyzing the movies I watched, I am very happy to see the richness of positive messages that these movies brought to my life.
The 80s were an incredible period for cinema, with films that are still remembered and loved by many today. But what many people don't realize is that these movies also played an important role in shaping the character and values of millions of people around the world.
Watching movies like ET, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and others, was not just a form of entertainment, but an opportunity to learn about friendship, honor, respect, and responsibility. These values were subtly but effectively transmitted through the stories and characters that captivated us on screen.
The artists who worked on these films also had an important role in maintaining their image and reputation in front of the public who admired them. They were aware of the responsibility they had to represent these values not only on screen but also in their personal lives.
In addition, these films also accompanied major real-life events such as the launch of the first space shuttle in 1981, the reduction of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the release of the IBM Personal Computer in 1981, the Live Aid concert in 1985 to fund aid efforts to combat hunger in Ethiopia during the period when Mengistu Haile Mariam ruled the country, and the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 that covered Ukraine and much of Europe with radioactive debris. This period was significant for the history of the 20th century in terms of political and social events, eventually considered as the end of the industrial age and the beginning of the information age.
Looking back at the 80s movies and the events of that time, I feel nostalgic but also hopeful that we can have a similar planting period for a more positive harvest. These movies and events showed us that we can come together, overcome challenges, and create a better world by embodying values like friendship, honor, respect, and responsibility. Let's hope that we can continue to learn from them and apply these lessons to our lives today.
