A few months back I was in Washington D.C. on a little vacation. I visited some of the museums and one in particular was the National Museum of American History. There were some exhibits of some more recent American culture. Moments that I wouldn't necessarily think of being museum worthy but none the less on display. Items from 1980's and 90's childhood. Items that at times I kept thinking to myself, "I had that or I remember that." Those toys, wrappers and electronic devices are now at the bottom of a garbage dump. Their value expended and use no longer of any value, at least to me. But now worthy of being in a museum. How did the objects that seemed so incidental become pieces of history? How did they garner a value that I somehow missed, or at least never saw the potential value in?
When the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016) was released the binge viewers clamored to the retro styled pastiche of genre storytelling and found a gem. A story that is set in the early 1980's in middle America. The story includes such narrative devices as: monsters, dissaperances, paranoia, teen troubles, secret government agents, some horror, some science fiction and cliffhangers. I'm not interested in getting into the finer points of the story, or play the role of spoiler. What interests me about the series is why the interest? There's nothing wholly groundbreaking in the storytelling or plot devices that haven't been used before. There is something about the story that unfolds that might be the reason why there is a buzz that surrounds the series. The Things of Stranger Things.
One Thing being the setting. I wondered why the series was set in the 1980's. The story could easily be told in our modern times without much difficulty, or even in more recent times. The 80's carry their own distinct styles and models of understanding. I do not doubt that the creators of the series, the Duffer Brothers were injecting their own influences of the past into the story. The production designer Chris Trujillo, along with the art direction of William G. Davis, and set decoration of Jess Royal are spot on with creating the 1980's world of the characters. Each frame offers the time capsule of the era and enhances the story beyond a story that is set in the 80's but rather is the 80's. The authenticity and simulation of the era rings true. For those who were a part of those days we discover the artifacts of those times as we watch the characters interact with them like we once did. The connection of nostalgia is a bridge to the past. For those outside of those times, who only know of them from media and history books, the series is a period piece. (The 80's as a period piece? Sure! Why not!) The opportunity to get lost in the story of the fantastiqué, as is what horror and science fiction's goals are, makes for more recent generations to find an authentic storytelling experience. Stranger Things connects generational experiences with genre and storytelling.
But there are more Things of the past to discover. A game of Dungeons and Dragons, A Trapper Keeper, movie posters and songs. Those Things work their way into a Heidegger-esque meaning of value. These items are just parts to a greater whole of the artistic statement that the storytellers are showing us. Couple this with a bit of post-modern recontextualizing and these things become more than just props and storytelling devices. Without trying to play spoiler, consider the film posters and references seen in the series. Three posters that are displayed in the background of rooms are; one for Jaws, Evil Dead and John Carpenter's The Thing. All three connect to the characters interest in horror and are of the time period in which the story takes place. But they are also symbols of the greater terror at hand that the characters will face in their own horror/monster. The films are an influence of the story tellers world but also clues as into what to expect from the characters and the horror that will come upon them. The objects of promotion of a by gone time are now valuable pieces of storytelling that connect us to the world of the characters. One could even go as far as to say that the film that plays at the towns movie theater, All The Right Moves, is relatable to the teenagers and their relationships in the series.
Of course there is more to understanding any phenomena of television series popularity. I don't think there is a clear cut answer as why viewers finding Stranger Things to work and other series bombing. Could all be a matter of timing. Just as my museum trip challenged my understanding of the past, and what is valuable. I can't help to think that we are now willing to take a step back and accept the storytelling devices of the past as not old fashioned or boring. Rather something that is as unique and valuable as any fast pace techno thrill a minute series of today. So we binge and wait for the next chapters of Stranger Things to appear from another side of the past.
