How ‘Stranger Things’ Revolutionized TV Nostalgia With Its Retro Aesthetic

In addition to its captivating plot and adored characters, ‘Stranger Things’ has become a cultural phenomenon since its 2016 premiere thanks to its deft use of nostalgia.  With its intricate retro style, the show takes viewers back to the 1980s and establishes a new benchmark for how TV may successfully combine historical narrative with contemporary storytelling.

‘Stranger Things’ transports viewers to an authentically 1980s universe right from the start.  Wood-panelled basements, rotary phones, and old-fashioned arcade games abound in Hawkins, Indiana, a small town.  The Duffer Brothers, the show’s producers, painstakingly replicated the appearance and feel of the time period, down to the smallest details, giving the setting a realistic vibe rather than merely being a nostalgia ploy.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

 There are several allusions to vintage 1980s movies, literature, and music throughout the program.  The visual aesthetic and narrative of ‘Stranger Things’ are influenced by Stephen King’s horror books, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, ‘The Goonies’, and ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’.  The soundtrack, which includes classics by Kate Bush, Toto, and The Clash, enhances the link to the time period even more.

‘Stranger Things’ incorporates nostalgia into its plot, making it feel more like a necessary part of the narrative than merely fan service, in contrast to other television programs that merely make references to the past.  Both younger people learning about the pop culture of the 1980s for the first time and older viewers who experienced it firsthand will find resonance in this approach.

‘Stranger Things’ has changed how television embraces nostalgia by fusing pop cultural references, a compelling supernatural mystery, and a genuine set design. It has demonstrated that the past can still feel thrilling and new.

–Farheen Ali