If you look around today, many people are interested in vintage or retro things. This might be in appearance from hairstyles or clothing. Or it can be seen in today’s shows, films or music. We have shows like “Stranger Things” or movies such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” that reference the ‘70s and ‘80s, whether that be through their setting or the music played throughout them. Vinyl records and cassette tapes have also made a resurgence. Gaming companies are even releasing new versions of old video game systems as well.
The question is, “Why is vintage so popular with an audience that possibly didn’t see these items in their prime time?” Some suggest that it gives people a break from the technology that fills just about every aspect of our lives. Or maybe, it makes them feel unique. Others say that it gives people the chance to feel like they are in a different life than they really are. It seems that there may be different reasons as to why individual objects may be appreciated years later. Let’s look at some of them up close to see if there is, perhaps, a connection among them.
Clothing
Of course, clothing trends have always seemed to resurface at some point in time, years after they experienced their high point. In this day and age, however, it seems like vintage clothing from different, past decades has become popular – and seems to be sticking around (at least for now). As previously mentioned, vintage clothing seems to give people a sense of individuality. When wearing something that appears to be out of this time, it is less likely that you will see someone else wearing clothing exactly like yours. Celebrities have also been noticed wearing throwback clothing, which can definitely influence fans.
Physical Music Formats
In the past several years, music formats such as vinyl records and cassette tapes have started to reappear brand new in stores. Albums from the past have started to be released once again on these formats along with new albums from today. For vinyl, it may be that people enjoy having a physical object to hold. Some say that the sound on vinyl is actually of better quality compared to digital music. Part of the reason for the popularity of the cassette tape may be Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which featured characters that heavily used the format. Another reason for the rise in these formats may be that it gives listeners the chance to own an album in the format that it was originally released on, which is pretty cool if you think about it.
Polaroid Camera
While many of the “polaroid” cameras that are being made and sold today are not exactly like they were back in the day, people are still interested in these cameras that print your photos directly after you take them. Polaroid is actually the brand of the cameras that were once popular (and are becoming so again). It seems that the name has stuck, however, even when other companies have created their own versions of these instant film cameras. So, what is it about the “polaroid” camera that has attracted people to it once more?
It could be, once again, the fact that people can have physical photos. There used to be a time where everyone had their photos printed, but with the emergence of digital cameras and, later, smartphones, that has seemed to have dissipated. With “polaroid” cameras, you don’t even have to get the film developed. Once you take it, the camera prints the image. You only have to shake the photo and wait for a short time to see what you captured. It could also be the fact that many of today’s cameras have more modern features. There are models that have selfie modes, USB ports and some can even connect to your phone. While you can get a larger camera more similar to the original look, there are other smaller versions that are very portable as well.
Video Games
Early video games have also begun to resurface. Companies such as Nintendo and SEGA have released new versions of their old consoles, such as the NES Classic and SEGA Genesis. Games for older systems have also been remastered for newer ones. Nintendo has put out a collection of three “Super Mario” games for its Switch console that was originally for systems such as the Nintendo 64, GameCube and Wii.
Some of these games seem to present more of a challenge compared to modern ones. For avid players, this could require more of their skills and give them something new to play. Some gamers, especially those who played these consoles back in their prime, may also find nostalgia as they place their cartridges in the slot and hook up their controllers. These older games can be just as enjoyable for newer generations as for older ones.
Overall, it appears that the main reason people like classic or vintage things is because they are different. They allow us to stray from the digital world that we now live in, as people have suggested. It almost makes life seem simpler by being able to own a physical object and having to get up from a chair to use it. Reflecting back on past decades and how life was lived back then, even if we weren’t alive ourselves, brings some sense of nostalgia. This generally makes people feel happy as they remember when life was easier.
Rebekah Davidson
Intern