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The '90s was definitely the best decade. Or was it the '80s? It's really up to who you ask. What is certain is that trends seem to take off and shift every ten years. Almost like a steam train leaving the station. Those on board are bound to look a whole lot different depending on when and where they hopped on.
From the bell-bottom and bright confidence of the '70s, to the minimalist beige confusion of the 2020s, each decade has taken us on a delightful, sometimes regretful, journey of timely trendiness. Fashion, music, tech, and culture are continuously evolving. And sometimes even circling right back to where they started. It makes for a rather interesting and somewhat nostalgic discussion...
Enter r/Decadeology. The perfect subreddit to discuss cultural shifts, trends, cultural eras, and decades. More than 100,000 people have jumped on the bandwagon since the page was launched. Not only do they share cool posts about decades gone by. But they also spark engaging discourse surrounding why and how things have changed.
Bored Panda has put together a list of the best content from the community. Feel free to grab whatever discontinued item you have lying around. And hand onto it tight, as you get transported through the eras from the comfort of your own modern home.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Whole World Used To Smell Like Cigarettes! 🚬
You've probably heard of a biologist, a geologist, or even a psychologist. But not everyone has come across the term decadeologist. If you were to hazard a guess, you might say it's someone who studies, or is an expert in, decades. And you wouldn't be wrong.
Decadeology refers to Internet analysis of the evolution of society, technology, politics, and pop culture throughout the years, explains one expert on Medium. He goes by the name Kevin the Nonmonetized, and says he's been fascinated by decadeology for years.
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#2
What Year Did This Start? I Feel Like This Was Less Of A Problem Just A Decade Ago
#3
In 30-40 Years What Do You Think The 2010s/2020s Equivalent Of This Will Be?
While not a scientific or academic method of analysis, decadeologists take their "work" rather seriously, with a pinch of salt on the side.
"Where decadeology differs from general historical analysis is that a decadeologist usually limits their focus to decades they’ve lived through, basing their analysis on their own personal perceptions," explains the expert. "Another difference is that people sometimes use decadeology to predict the future."
#4
LOL For The People Who Keep Saying The 90s Was So Optimistic (Daria 1997)
#5
Why Men In Their 30s Don't Look Like That Today? Bill Murray Is Only 33 Here, Akroyd Was 29
Janeybent42 6 months ago
It’s like when you look at old yearbooks and you can’t possibly believe those are high school students.
#6
What Do You Think About It? :)
ocean todd 6 months ago
Corniest? Nah. Hilarious? Yes! Some of the most watched music videos in history
One gripe Kevin the Nonmonetized has with the decadeology community is that some older members dismiss younger members’ perspectives. "Some of the older members’ complaints don’t apply to younger people so it doesn’t make sense to tell the youth that their perspective is wrong," the decadeologist argues.
They add that the whole point of decadeology is to be subjective. "That’s the difference between decadeology and history," says Kevin. "It’s interesting to see other people’s personal subjective perspectives because we get to learn how they experience the world over the years."
#7
What Caused The Decline Of Black Sitcoms In The 90s And Early 2000s?
ॐBoyGanesh 6 months ago
Sitcoms stopped getting made. At least the conventional 3-camera, live audience version. They dominated in late 70s through early 90s, but procedural dramas & reality tv programs took over.
#8
The Cringiest Trend Of The 2020s (Sad Beige Babies)
#9
Facts
#10
Spot On Prediction From October 2019
#11
How Do We Feel About This
#12
What Do You Think They're Talking About In 2071?
#13
What Do You Think Is The 2020s Version Of This?
#14
Do You Guys Think It’s True? Are We Witnessing The Fall Of Celebrity Culture?
ॐBoyGanesh 6 months ago
Fully disagree. It isn’t dying. What defines “celebrity” is changing, but the spotlight still shines brightly.
#15
Choose Which Tech Design From This Period Was Best
#16
Why Was This Color Pallet So Popular In The 70's? Why Don't Other Decades Have Distinctive Color Pallets?
TerathNinir 6 months ago
The '70s was one of the worst decades because of earth tones. Pray you never suffer through such a disaster again
Little Bit 6 months ago
It wax better than the godawful grey that's everywhere these days.
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pebs 6 months ago
For the 80s, shades of pink/fuchsia combined with various shades of gray. They were everywhere.
Susie Elle 6 months ago (edited)
Honey have you seen the fluorescent technicolors of the 90's? The purple with the pink and green and blue? It's still burned into my retinas lmao
RamiRudolph 6 months ago
If modern day had a distinct color pallet, it would probably be this: 🏳️⚧️
Mike F 6 months ago (edited)
I don't know where this came from but it definitely was not true in my school years. People were so colorful it was crazy. Guys in bright purple gyp$y splits and girls in bright everything. This may have been a post 1974 phenomenon but, but boring was never a color scheme when I was in school (1968-1974).
Leslie Victor 6 months ago
Oh they all did, think of the saturated green gold pink red of the 1950's or the black white and indigo of the punk movement in the 1970's... Dayglo 80's....oh they all had pop colors...
marianne eliza 6 months ago
Our house in the late 60's-early 70's was all Harvest Gold and Avocado Green. From the appliances to the carpet and everything in between. Except the guest 1/2 bath. Dad put up red, paisley-patterned, flocked, wallpaper. Ick.
Son of Philosoraptor 6 months ago
OMG! Literally the colors of the house i grew up in in the 70's. You were part of a fad mom and we never knew it.
Rinso The Red 6 months ago (edited)
This is missing the critical Avacado and Burnt Umber colors (edit for being an idiot)
Crystalwitch60 6 months ago
God 70,s decor was migraine inducing wasn’t it n the carpets up the bloody baths like wtf where they thinking lol n that’s here in uk , thank god the house I grew up in ne er had any of that , I grew up with my grandparents from 8 mths old n gran was50 then so not this god awful stuff ,
#17
How Would You Classify This Aesthetic From The Early To Mid ‘90s?
#18
2004 Was A Crazy Year For Pop-Culture In The West
#19
What Are Some 2025 Things That Will Be Obsolete In 2045?
#20
Future Equivalent To The Neon Clothing-Mcdonald’s Ashtray Meme
Crystalwitch60 6 months ago
That outfit is lush , I used to wear stuff like this in my teens in the 80.s lol my punk era 😂
#21
Do You Think Men Would Ever Dress Like This Again??
#22
Hot Take: Is Gen Z Primed For A Conservative Takeover?
Grant Johnson 6 months ago
Thus it has always been and always will be. Very few of us retain our idealism into adulthood. Too many hard lessons teach us to look out for number one instead.
#23
This Explains The Problem With The 2020s To Me
Kristy Marion 6 months ago
The early internet was glorious! I remember a friend telling me about the World Wide Web in the early 90s and I thought he was talking s**t 😂
#24
Is It Normal To Feel Like You Grew Up In A Utopia Around Your Early Childhood?
TerathNinir 6 months ago
Yes. Every generation thinks that and every generation is lying to themselves.
#25
It's Amazing How Everything Can Change In 20 Years
TerathNinir 6 months ago
Metal and hip hop are doing just fine. Some of you are still listening to the radio in the 21st century and you deserve whatever c**p you get.
#26
Do You Think We’re Reaching The End Of The Post Irony Internet Era?
ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago
I miss the Experimental era the most. Badger, badger, badger... And cats.
#27
Interesting New Yorker Cover From The Late 60s. A Contrast Between The New "Hippie" Generation And The Washed Up "Flappers" Of Yesteryear
TerathNinir 6 months ago
Plus ce change, plus ce même chose. And the Patriarchy is alway there to crush young women daring to be free.
#28
Gen Z's Version Of Emo, 2020's
#29
We're Getting Closer To The Death Of The Physical Format
Glen Ellyn 6 months ago
I don't think so. More folks are getting fed up with subscription for this, subscription for that...etc.
#30
Anyone Else Feels Like This Or It's Just Me?
#31
Do You Think That We Are Seeing The Return Of The Spoiled Rich Kid Era?
#32
No Decade Had Better New Year Glasses Than The 2000s!
#33
Me At The Zoo Is Now 20 Years Old
#34
What Was This Hairdo Called? (It Was Everywhere In 2008-2011)
#35
2024. Is This The Year ‘Internet Memes’ Began To Depreciate?
TerathNinir 6 months ago
When I was on Twitter, there was a huge meme the didn't survive 24 hours. Few memes have ever lived long.
#36
Alternative Aesthetics As A Teen Throughout The 2010’s
#37
The Covid Era Was Really Corny Looking Back
#38
This Is How Imagine The Mid-2010s Southern California Summer To Look Like
#39
Late 2000s - Early 2010s Indie Sleaze Appreciation
TerathNinir 6 months ago
Indie? Keh Dollar Sign Ha as indie? This is some high level cluelessness.
#40
Which Style/Aesthetic In 2000s Do You Think Were The Best?
#41
So Are These Fools Are Portraying The 90s As The New 50s?
TerathNinir 6 months ago
As per usual, nostalgia addicts forget the bad things. People did NOT get along, or Fück Tha Police would never have been recorded.
#42
This Show Really Highlights Mall Culture Of The 2000s And How Different It Is Compared To Now
Lavern Defazio 6 months ago
The mall I used to go to became a "Dead Mall" by the early 2000s. It was a slow, sad death. It's torn down now. Replacing it with housing and retail.
#43
Why Did Rick And Morty Fall Into Irrelevancy And Vanish From The Zeitgheist After 2017?
#44
"Fashion Hasn't Changed In The 2020's" Meanwhile, Everywhere I Go I See This:
#45
Will The AI Hype Die This Year?
TotallyNOTAFox 6 months ago (edited)
AI is a tool - cheap content creation probably is a fad that will end someday, practical uses will continue to be refinied. A good example for entertainment AI would be "Neuro-Sama" developed by the streamer "Vedal" - The hilarious interactions aside it's also the technical abilites of her that are outstanding.
#46
What Is The Most "2010's/ Obama Era" Show To Ever Exist? I'll Start
#47
In Only 6 Years, 2010 Will Be 20 Years Ago. What Are Your Most Fond Memories Of 2010?
TotallyNOTAFox 6 months ago (edited)
Last year of school for me (technical college for economics), aside from that I can't really point out anything outstanding for that year specifically
#48
Why Was The 2010s So Obsessed With 3D?(Reposted)
#50
Living In The 20th Century Meme
#51
Thoughts On This Recent Tweet?
#52
Do You Think There Would Have Been This Much Backlash If Katy Perry Went To Space In The 2010s?
#54
Peak 2000s Teen Cinema 🤌🏽
#55
Map Of Modern Cultural Eras (By Me, Wip)
Trashy Panda 6 months ago
Sorry but the true nineties (whatever that means) started in 1990 with the release of Nevermind.
#56
Technology In 2014 Does It Look Dated Compared To Now?
#57
Just Got The Worst Flash Back To Anti Sjw Youtube In 2015
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TerathNinir 6 months ago
During the US civil war, nostalgia was classified as a mental illness. THAT is something from the past we need to bring back.
Michal Pifko 6 months ago
The question at the end is very manipulative. All four options are critical of the aesthetic, even the one that pretends to be in favor of it. It essentially tell you what to think of it - it's bland, minimal, derivative, lacks vibrancy...
TerathNinir 6 months ago
During the US civil war, nostalgia was classified as a mental illness. THAT is something from the past we need to bring back.
Michal Pifko 6 months ago
The question at the end is very manipulative. All four options are critical of the aesthetic, even the one that pretends to be in favor of it. It essentially tell you what to think of it - it's bland, minimal, derivative, lacks vibrancy...
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