Opens 13 December 2009 until late 2010

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Come and re-visit the 80s!

What were the 80s really like? Were they one just one big party and an awful lot of big hair? Or was there a lot more going on? And what did the decade mean for Australia as the 'land down under' took its place on the international stage? This new exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney takes you back to the music, the fashion, the parties, the politics and the people to find out.

On this website you'll find exhibition information, additional research on some of the objects in the show, audio visual material, 'outtakes' and longer form interviews, and an extended timeline for students and teachers. But that's not all.

Over the next 12 months on this website we'll be delving deeper into the music, film and tv, and video games with contemporary reviews of some of the important and less important releases of the decade. We'll also be featuring quirky Q&A interviews with people of the 80s, as well a the best of your own exhibition video feedback recorded inside the show itself!

Music of the 80s

The exhibition features an album cover wall and lots of musical memories from the decade. We'll be discussing these albums and more so stick around and share your top 80s tunes with us.
Tim West – Frozen Doberman Tim West – Frozen Doberman

Frozen Doberman formed in 1988, smack-bang in the middle of the halcyon days of the Sydney thrash/hardcore punk scene. Originally from the Central Coast of NSW, Frozen Doberman quickly became favourites on the Sydney live metal scene, playing regularly with thrash and punk stalwarts Mortal Sin, Addictive, Cromok, Hard Ons, Armoured Angel, White Trash and Detriment.

Ray Ahn from The Hard-ons Ray Ahn from The Hard-ons

Here’s a treat for fans of The Hard-ons – an interview with Tim West.

Australian Album Art in the 80s Part 2: Photo Noir Australian Album Art in the 80s Part 2: Photo Noir

Black and white photography is possibly the easiest and most effective way to elevate a single image to the status of ‘art’. With stark contrasts, rich tones and the expressive interplay of light and shadow, there’s no better way to define the mood of a photograph than to strip it of its colour.

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Video games of 80s

In the 80s we witnessed an explosion of video games in arcades and in homes. What were your favourites? Join in on the discussion here, as we reminisce about well-known games like Donkey Kong and some of the more obscure games too. You can even play some of these games in the exhibition.
Bringing the games home: the console revolution Bringing the games home: the console revolution

The migration of gaming from the arcade to the lounge-room caused a huge sensation during the early 80s, although it wasn’t until the middle of the decade that the movement stabilised and began to grow into the billion dollar industry we know it as today.

Designing the 80s: arcade machines Designing the 80s: arcade machines

In the first of a series on design in the 80s, guest writer Heath Killen gives us the lowdown on the history of arcade machines.

Nick Montfort from MIT at the Retro Gaming Weekend

Nick Montfort is Associate Professor of Digital Media, Writing and Humanistic Studies from MIT University. He kindly extended his stay here in Australia to attend the Sydney Global Game Jam weekend and speak at the opening night about 80s retro gaming. In the vox pops that follow, Nick and Seb Chan discuss text adventures, [...]

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Film & TV of the 80s

What comes to mind when you remember film & tv from the 80s: Crocodile Dundee, 'shrimps on the bbq' beer ads, Ramsay St? We're out to dig a little deeper whilst also celebrating the popular cliches of the era from Australia and overseas. Watch this space as we add our reviews.
Gremlins (1984) Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins official movie poster showing Gizmo looking cute “Awwww… Isn’t Gizmo cuuuuuuuute! Oh, he’s so gorgeous, I want one, I want one!”… or words to that effect. Gizmo was the poster boy (or girl maybe, that was never entirely clear, but given that they reproduce asexually, it’s hardly relevant) for adorable little furry things that... [Read more of this review]

Corey Haim – A Tribute Corey Haim – A Tribute

RIP Corey Haim 23 December 1971 – 10 March 2010 Corey Haim as a teen actor Why is it that we don’t ever hear about the successful child stars? Or is it that we just forget where they came from as they feed the wallets of Hollywood big wigs? After all, Leonardo Di Caprio is a child star graduate – remember him as the last gasp of breath ‘Growing... [Read more of this review]

Footloose (1984) Footloose (1984)

Directed by Herbert Ross Starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica Parker “Kick off your Sunday shoes!” So there are these teenagers in an isolated rural town in middle America. They go to school and they go to church. They drink on the sly, smoke dope, have part time jobs at the local... [Read more of this review]

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