Is the uptick in nostalgia holding us back, or helping us cope?
IT’S official – the ’90s are back. People of all ages are running around chasing Pokémon characters on their phones; Winona Ryder, Cindy Crawford and chokers are cool again; and we’re back to watching Full House and Jurassic Park – albeit slightly revamped versions. Come to think of it, the ’80s are also having a moment. Netflix hit Stranger Things is set in 1983 and recalls movie classics from the era such as ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Goonies. MacGyver is being remade, as is Police Academy. Even the early 2000s seem delightfully vintage these days – Gilmore Girls will be back on screen soon as will Prison Break, and the Spiderman film franchise is set to be rebooted in 2017 for the third time since the first one came out in 2002.
But it’s gone beyond bringing back everything that was popular 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Nostalgia is a bona fide trend. Vinyl record sales are going up. Facebook has a popular app called Timehop, which reminds users of things they posted two, three or five years ago on a particular day, and lets them repost and reminisce about it. And hashtags like #tbt (Throwback Thursday) or #fbf (Flashback Friday) are used daily on social media.
Experts believe that millennials are especially susceptible to feelings of nostalgia, because they grew up with technology and have been bombarded with information in a way that no other generation has been. ‘We call this early on set nostalgia, where there is such an information overload that it has compressed their sense of time,’ says Jamie Gutfreund, chief marketing manager at brand agency Deep Focus. ‘Initially #tbt started off as a throwback to your childhood, but now it’s a throwback to last week.’
A Peter Pan mindset
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Fairlady.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Fairlady.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.
LIFT your GAME
Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.
BIG SKY Country
Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.
How to write a memoir
Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.
