The 80s are back

Overview

Bleached perms. Feathered earrings and feathered hair. Acid-wash. Ra-ra skirts. Rayban Wayfarers. Swatch watch envy. Eyeliner for all. Crop tops over leotards. Bangles, tons of bangles. They may be 80s cultural cliches (or a list of what's actually in stores right now), but they're cliches for a reason: fun. The Powerhouse Museum is turning back the clock for it's new 80s exhibition, just like how Cameron turned back the mileage on his dad's Ferrari in Ferris Beuller. Kinda.

Breaking up that greedy post-disco decade into themes, the curators have examined what really did define the 1980s, and whether anything more serious than Scott and Charlene's wedding had any major impact, especially in Australia. The categories they look at are: screen, subcultures, partying, the AIDS crisis (the bowling grim reaper still gives me the heebie jeebies), fashion, music, fads & toys, design, neo-80s, video games and the big events. The exhibition is bigger than Cyndi Lauper's fringe.

Of course, the 80s weren't all about material girls in culture clubs, there were bands like ESG and the Pixies making waves back then too, and it's nice to know they've not been forgotten in the music section. Before you dress up like Duckie in Pretty in Pink (you know you always wanted to) and head down to the Powerhouse, be sure to have a look at the exhibtion's own exhaustive website, which changes weekly.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=E-2BLRg9dCU