It's no secret, I was born in the wrong generation. A few friends of mine turned me on to Pink Floyd in high school and from there forward I became a '70s diehard fan. The rich culture of the '70s always fascinated me, and the influence of the wildly uprooting '60s filtered into the '70s but with less social activism and more cultural appreciation. Here are the top 6 reasons to love the '70s:
1. Outrageous Fashions
'70s fashion is unparalleled to any other generation in my opinion. I say screw the '50s, lets go back to the time when bell bottoms and fun colors.
"Those frills give you chills."
2. Disco--Need I Say More?
My mom was a fond child of the disco era and I used to be embarrassed when she would break out the disco moves... but now I am doing them myself. So, who wants to go boogie with me?
3. The musical genius of just about every artist
Bee Gees, Elton John, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, America, John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac... music has truly never seen better. You can catch me rollin' through campus blasting some Bee Gees, that's for damn sure.
4. The Liberating Revolutions
Although the '60s truly founded many of the movements that shaped our society today, the '70s continued the trend. People found new and liberating ways to express themselves mentally, physically, artistically, sexually, and most importantly, they expressed themselves freely. The '70s was a truly inspiring cultural revolution which we need to thank for our lives today.
5. While we're at it... more freedoms for women
The '60s ultimately created a safe space for women to, you know, exist, but the '70s followed through with bigger and "badder" impact. Women broke down the gender barriers and said "F U" to the collective ideals of women as housewives. Second wave feminism allowed women sexual freedoms and corporate jobs instead of a monotonous existence inside of four walls.
*Side note: This is where the idea of feminism as "bra-burning, man hating liberals" came into play after a woman named Carol Hanisch and a few others organized a protest outside of Miss America where they tossed "feminine" associated items into a "Freedom Trash Can." And if you still believe feminism is about hating men---fact check yourself. FTW, Carol.*
6. Films just rocked
Speaking of rocked...the '70s brought us Rocky. And Saturday Night Fever, The Godfather, Star Wars, Jaws, the Exorcist. Now you're starting to understand why the seventies was awesome, right?
I could blather on and on about the seventies and how the culture has impacted our world today--but I'll leave the rest for you to discover on your own. So put on some Bee Gees and grab your laptop and explore the rich and diverse world we affectionately remember as the '70s.
