For a television show that only has two seasons in the books, Stranger Things has been a runaway hit. In almost every episode one can find Easter eggs and references to movies, T.V. shows, books, and even products from the 1980s. The show is an homage to the Decade of Excess evidenced by the synthesizer heavy theme song, the general soundtrack for the show, and even by casting well known 80s actors as supporting cast members. Taking place in a small town in Indiana, it is a show about a community living with a monster in their backyard. The show centers on the friendship of four outcast preteen boys and one special girl that enters their lives. The creators of the show have painted a picture of how children and teenagers used to live and what life was like before participation trophies and helicopter parenting. Using imagery from the show, as well as other relevant symbols, secondary sources, and other media, this paper will examine the influences of other movies, books, and themes from the 1980s on Stranger Things as well as discussing the nostalgia factor it evokes and why for Gen Xers watching the show feels like coming home.
About the presenterNicole Mioduszewski
Undergraduate History major at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania