The 1980s

As we approach twenty years since the end of the 1980s, we have the opportunity to see the decade in perspective, and are in a position to question the glib assumption that the 1980s were a mere conservative foil to the 1960s. The 1980s: A Critical and Transitional Decade, edited by Kimberly R. Moffitt and Duncan A. Campbell, places its topics within the context of a decade described as both critical and transitional because the 1980s, in many respects, marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. For example, the Reagan presidency, the end of the Cold War, MTV, and the appearance of the personal computer all reflect a legacy of political, cultural, and social transformation of the United States and the world, and took place specifically within the 1980s. The function of this interdisciplinary volume is not to simply highlight the significant phenomena of the period, but rather demonstrate how so many apparently disparate events were, in fact, closely inter-related and also products of their age. The 1980s is a holistic analysis of the decade that focuses on major turning points, developments in literature, art, entertainment, politics, and social experimentation. The 1980s: A Critical and Transitional Decade, edited by Kimberly R. Moffitt and Duncan A. Campbell is a groundbreaking and stand-alone introductory volume that is unapologetically interdisciplinary in nature and encourages students to explore topics of the decade often overlooked or grouped together with other, more memorable decades such as the 1920s or 1960s.

“The authors of this unusually varied collection of essays examining the 1980s include established academics and younger scholars in disciplines ranging from history and literature to film criticism and cultural studies. Ronald Reagan is a central figure, but he does not dominate the collection, which includes topics as diverse as date rape, MTV, GI Joe action figures, and college radio programming. Some essays approach conventional topics in unconventional ways. US policy in Latin America is explored through Oliver Stone's film Salvador, and African Americans are examined through hip-hop, policy on South African apartheid, and black masculinity (represented by Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Eddie Murphy). Film and music are at the core of several essays, and AIDS is investigated through its impact on Broadway theater. Reagan policies receive scrutiny in articles on FBI surveillance, privatization, anti-labor activities and deregulation, and Supreme Court appointments and decisions, and the conservative turn of US politics receives attention in several essays. Although quirky, this collection is satisfying. It challenges readers to look beyond conventional political retrospectives and explore the impact of cultural trends, alternative viewpoints, social problems, and the changing role of the US in the world. Highly recommended. Most levels/libraries.”

The 1980s: A Critical and Transitional Decade provides a reading of the American 1980s in the broadest possible terms, expanding our understanding of the decade across politics, sociology, and culture. Its multi-disciplinary approach offers new ways in which to conceptualize both America's relationship with itself and the nation's position in a rapidly globalizing world. The book is an excellent resource for thinking about how one writes the history of the recent past. -- Graham Thompson, University of Nottingham
CHOICE

Kimberly R. Moffitt is assistant professor of American studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.Duncan A. Campbell is assistant professor of history at National University.

As we approach twenty years since the end of the 1980s, we have the opportunity to see the decade in perspective, and are in a position to question the glib assumption that the 1980s were a mere conservative foil to the 1960s. The 1980s: A Critical and Transitional Decade, edited by Kimberly R. Moffitt and Duncan A. Campbell, places its topics within the context of a decade described as both critical and transitional because the 1980s, in many respects, marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. For example, the Reagan presidency, the end of the Cold War, MTV, and the appearance of the personal computer all reflect a legacy of political, cultural, and social transformation of the United States and the world, and took place specifically within the 1980s. The function of this interdisciplinary volume is not to simply highlight the significant phenomena of the period, but rather demonstrate how so many apparently disparate events were, in fact, closely inter-related and also products of their age. The 1980s is a holistic analysis of the decade that focuses on major turning points, developments in literature, art, entertainment, politics, and social experimentation. The 1980s: A Critical and Transitional Decade, edited by Kimberly R. Moffitt and Duncan A. Campbell is a groundbreaking and stand-alone introductory volume that is unapologetically interdisciplinary in nature and encourages students to explore topics of the decade often overlooked or grouped together with other, more memorable decades such as the 1920s or 1960s.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.