From Top Gun to Stranger Things - are we addicted to nostalgia?

Our culture appears to have become dominated by the dreams of the past - whether that’s clinging to the idea of a mythical golden era or just a time when we felt comfortable. 

This is reflected heavily in today’s entertainment industry. When executives want a guaranteed hit most invest in, intellectual property has been proven to have a built-in audience. 

Netflix megahit Stranger Things has gained much of its popularity through recycling the tropes and style of hits of the 80s, while Top Gun: Maverick brings 80s flair to the biggest cinematic hit of the year. 

Today, Professor Lorna Piatti-Farnell, who runs the Popular Culture Research Centre at the Auckland University of Technology, spoke to Damien about why we're so drawn to the past in our culture. 

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Host: Damien Venuto
Producer/Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

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