The 1980s

Is 1980s America best remembered as the era of Ronald Reagan's social conservatism or Public Enemy's "Fight the Power?" By the rise of corporate greed, yuppie excess, and home entertainment, or by protest groups like ACT UP and grassroots efforts to save the ozone layer? In this Freshman Seminar, we'll explore the complexity of the 1980s by focusing on a range of works responding to the period's biggest moments. These will include novels like Toni Morrison's Beloved and Don DeLillo's White Noise; popular films like Blade Runner and Do the Right Thing; MTV music videos and arcade video games; and plays like Tony Kushner's Angels in America.