'Stranger Things' And 80's Pop Culture | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

'Stranger Things' And 80's Pop Culture

How many references must Stranger Things make?

46
'Stranger Things' And 80's Pop Culture
srcdn.com

"Stranger Things" is the kind of show that looks like it was made thirty years ago. You don’t see any cell phones; just a lot of walkie talkies. Nobody plays Pokémon Go; Dungeons and Dragons is all the rage. And when it’s time for school, don’t be surprised to find most of the students using trapper keepers.

To summarize, "Stranger Things" is the perfect Throwback Thursday, bringing back memories of time when imaginations ran wild.

It’s no secret this wildly popular Netflix series ought to give credit to a wide variety of 80’s pop culture for making it one of the most talked-about shows of the year. But what things, in particular, deserve a shout-out?

Let’s start by looking at the poster for "Stranger Things." According to IMDB.com, Kyle Lambert drew the poster in accordance with the style of 80’s poster designer Drew Struzan. Struzan is responsible for designing the posters of such movies as "Star Wars" (1977), "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), and "Back to the Future" (1985).

Even the font for the title is vintage; it bears a striking resemblance to the font used by Stephen King for the first editions of his works "Cujo" and "Christine."

Talking about Stephen King, "Stranger Things" pays homage to the king of horror frequently over the course of season one. This is mainly because the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, wanted to direct the upcoming remake of "IT" but were turned down.

Hence, you can see a state trooper reading Cujo while on the job; there’s even a scene in episode four where Mike, Dustin, Elle, and Lucas are walking along some railroad tracks, much like "Stand by Me."

Coincidentally, Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, will be starring as Richie Tozier in next summer’s "IT" reboot.

John Carpenter is another subtle influence for the show in terms of its theme song. It echoes his electronic scores from such films as "Halloween III: Season of the Witch." The main theme is also heavily influenced by the band Tangerine Dream, and some scenes even feature the band’s music playing in the background.

Furthermore, the poster for John Carpenter’s "The Thing" is visible in several episodes.

The law enforcement of Hawkins, Indiana is a plethora of 80’s nods. For example, the police cars and uniforms look a lot like the ones used in Steven Spielberg’s "Jaws" films. The chief’s beige uniform has a triangle shaped Amity Island patch, just like Roy Schneider’s character from the movie. Also, a beige SUV is driven by both Schneider and the Hawkins police chief. The patrolmen wear blue uniforms and trooper/sheriff style hats that are exact replicas of the Amity Island uniforms in "Jaws."

Plus, the "Jaws" poster in its originality can be seen in the bedroom of one of the main characters.

The state trooper in "Stranger Things" is named O’Bannon, a nod to screenwriter Dan O’Bannon - "Alien" (1979) and "Dark Star" (1974). Police chief Jim Hopper got his name from the character that Arnold Schwarzenegger searches for in the 1987 film "Predator."

Even more interesting, there is an Officer Powell in "Stranger Things;" because he just so happens to be African American, this might be a nod to the "Die Hard" character of the same name.

The demeanor of Officer Powell and Officer Callahan parallels that of the assistants to the paranormal investigator in "Poltergeist."

Coincidentally, fans of the 1980’s "Police Academy" franchise will recognize officer Callahan’s name as being the same name as the officer in the movies. (Alternatively, Callahan is the name of the priest in "Salem’s Lot").

In conclusion, "Stranger Things" would not have existed without Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and pretty much any sci-fi family film from the 80’s. Even "E.T." and Eleven have lots in common — Extraordinary beings trying to navigate the real world.

Season two begins streaming next year, and only one question remains: What will the Duffer Brothers reference next?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

1419
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

16272
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3404
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments