In 1981, television changed forever with the launch of MTV. Photo by AP/Shutterstock Madonna poses at the MTV Video Music Awards where she was nominated “Best New Artist” in video, at Radio City Music Hall, in New York, 1984. Photo by George Chinsee/Penske Media/Shutterstock – Michael Kors RTW Holiday 1983 Collection – New York. Photo by Suzanne Vlamis/AP/Shutterstock – Rock singer Cyndi Lauper, Mr.T, and Hulk Hogan – New York. This attitude of self-importance imprinted strongly on the wheelers and dealers of the era, producing over-the-top personalities such as Donald Trump, Mr. Everyone wanted to be a master of the universe, but seemingly no one really cared much about Earth or its other inhabitants. Photo by John Bright/Penske Media/Shutterstock – Models wearing dresses from Halston’s Fall 1981 couture collection.įueled by the easy money that could be made on Wall Street, consumerism ran wild and social Darwinism was, for many, the reigning philosophy. To inquire about licensing opportunities, please email Photo by Dustin Pittman/Penske Media/Shutterstock – Model wearing Calvin Klein fall/winter 1981 collection offstage after the runway show. You can view more of our 40 million Editorial images across news, sports and entertainment on Shutterstock, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for images from the latest events and news. Shoulders were padded, lips shone bright, and nothing was impossible. Everything was bright and bold and larger than life.Īs the world grew more uncertain, people began focusing on themselves. MTV debuted in 1981, blurring the lines between music, art, and fashion and forever changing popular culture. Innovations in technology, such as Apple’s Macintosh home computer, progressed at an unprecedented pace. AIDS, which was clinically identified in 1981, ravaged the gay community. The Cold War quietly wore on, only to end with the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The 1980s were a dramatic time marked by excess, self-expression, and rapid change.