A Flash Back in Time

It seems as if the world has gone back in time as trends of the past decades return.

Digital cameras, letterman jackets, music styles, classic movies, and wide leg jeans-are just a few of the trends and pop culture relics we are seeing back in the spotlight.

With its introduction in 1947, the very first Model 95 camera has transformed into what is known today as the Polaroid, a camera that grants a film photograph from the device once taken. Invented by Edwin H. Land, the Polaroid camera thrived through the 1970s and made a return to the younger generation of the 21st century.

With the invention of the digital camera in 1975 by engineer Steve Sasson, the camera electronically would try to capture a picture digitally on screen. Next came the disposable camera, which was a smaller size camera with once processed film. The camera was at peak popularity in the 1990s, capturing the moments many would never forget.

Hannah Sherinian, a graduate of Ball State University, shares her experiences with cameras.

“My earliest experience with disposable cameras was in fourth grade when my mom got my sister and I little polaroid cameras to go for a field trip to the zoo, and I spent the entire time in all of my film taking pictures of the polar bears,” Hannah Sherinian said.

Sherinian would ensure to place many polaroid photos on her wall, to recall her favorite memories throughout time. Seeing the wall everyday, Sherinian said she is reminded of the memories that were made and the feeling that was had in the picture. Although the camera is exciting, it is also what is being captured that makes the photos most memorable.

Dani Sipp, junior at Ball State University, also mentions how cameras have impacted her.

“When I was younger, when my grandpa was alive, he used to buy me all types of different technology,” said Dani Sipp. “He would always get me all types of little toys. I have very fond memories of having those little pink digital cameras that you would upload the flash drive to, a whole PC, and then that’s how you would get the pictures.”

Sipp said having a Disney themed camera was one of her earliest memories of being able to take pictures and capture the world in her own little way.

Hannah Sherinian's wall of Polaroid photos, Thursday Dec. 5th, 2024, in Muncie Indiana

Fashion trends have inspired many on how to dress and throughout time have embraced personal aesthetics that have come from and are designed for various demographic backgrounds.

Clothes such as 1950s Letterman Jackets, 1970s and ‘80s high-waisted jeans, 1990s and 2000s shoes have made a popular return.

“Going thrifting, regarding personal esthetics, different decades, or the decade you’re trying to replicate, I find that’s a lot more authentic,” Sipp said.

Sipp said that things such as taking pictures with older model cars is also re-becoming a trend. Accessories from the decades consistent of bows, body jewelry, purses and more are also being rediscovered and adored.

“Even with McBling styles of the early 2000s with Destiny’s Child are making a comeback, and I participate in that,” said Sipp. “I love low waisted jeans, I love body jewelry, I love that kind of stuff. And what I’ve been doing is, because I don’t have much of those pieces, is to go to thrift stores to kind of get that.”

Many of the fashion trends are further embraced by music artists of today. As different music artists bring older trends into their fashion styles, so do younger generations as many look to them for inspiration.

“I’ve kind of been enjoying the return to country because when I was a kid, in the early 2010s and even before that, I remember country music being big in my household,” said Sipp.

Through hair styles, makeup, outfits, and with music video set designs, music artists are bringing back the fun of the decades. Sabrina Carpenter inspiring the 1950s-1990s, Doja Cat inspiring the 1980s, Zara Larsson inspiring the early 2000s, and many more.

“I’ve seen it with Sabrina Carpenter and the ‘70s and ‘80s. She’s kind of taking that as her entire theme, and I really enjoy that. I think that’s cool that she’s doing a more vintage look,” Sipp said.

“We’ve seen, kind of a comeback of R&B, with Brent Faez, then Steve Lacy, who take inspiration from those time periods, especially the ‘90s and even the ‘70s, with some of his guitar work, I feel like even on a basic musical level, we’re returning to different decades,” Sipp said.

As music artists show the trends of the decades through their work, many of those times are recorded within social media that possibly become viral videos, photos, and audio pieces that are replicated by fans and followers. In the essence of music artists bringing back trends on screen or in person in concert, crowds can be seen using older cameras to take the footage.

“In terms of fashion, I’ve have also really been enjoying on Tiktok and on social media, it’s called, earthy black girl, especially like on Pinterest,” said Dani Sipp. “I forgot what the actual name of it is, but the fashion of musical icons such as like Lauren Hill and Erica Badu, where you have these, Afro inspired looks.”

Furthermore, Sipp mentions how it presents more neutral tone colors, gold accessories that match the skin, beautiful hairdos, natural styles, styles, etc. in which are not only are making their return but influencing people to represent who they are.

Sipp takes these looks into her own style and mentions how she follows other styles from the early 2000s from celebrities and artists consistent with using leopard print, cheetah print, and a lot of browns. If one looks further into many of the music artists' performances, they can see that they also originate or collaborate with various cultural styles from around the world.

“For example, Nicki Minaj, she incorporated Harajuku styles into a lot of her fashion and she was inspired by, Harajuku queens of like the ‘90s and the early 2000s,” Sipp said.

Dani Sipp said that it is a good thing that more young people are looking at these styles.

Khloe Williams, a junior at Ball State University, also enjoys what musical comebacks have to offer.

“Most music I listen to is from the ‘90s or ‘70s rock,” said Khloe Williams. “Which are very different from each other. I love both ‘70s and ‘90s trends so I switch between the two. Whether it is fashion or music. I tend to wear more hippie style or ‘90s style clothing. I love that it's coming back.”

Although she does not think her favorite genre of the ‘90s will be fully brought back, she still believes and it is good to be talked about which keeps it alive.

“I myself used a record player to listen to music and collect old records. I started when I was 17, I think,” Williams said.

Many today use devices such as phones to listen to music, when originally many used records.

In 1857, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville invented the phonautograph, a device that traces and represents sound. With the invention being unable to play back sound, Thomas Edison contributed to a version that could.

In 1877, John Krusei, an Edison-employed machinist built the first tinfoil phonograph being able to record and play back sound. A few years later, in 1888, Emile Berliner contributed to the invention of the gramophone, a device that uses a flat disc for sound.

Advancements throughout the time have led to the contributions to radio, tape recordings, CDs, and more, thus leading into the popularity of 1950s and beyond.

Thaddeus Lee, graduate student at Ball State University, enjoys the essence of vinyls.

“I kind of prefer them, because it’s less digitized than watching it like YouTube or like a CD, you know, it’s a lot more raw coming off of an actual spinning vinyl,” said Thaddeus Lee. “I collect vinyls. I have like 20 now and three more coming in the mail.”

Lee tells us about his very own record player.

“So the record player I have almost looks like a briefcase with a turntable on the top,” said Lee. “It has a switch on the front board that you can switch between playing the vinyl and Bluetooth. So you just flip one, you can put a record, and start the turntable, or you can attach it to your phone just to play your modern music, or whatever you might need.”

Lee explains that because the record player he has looks like a briefcase, when on the move, one can take the vinyl out, close the case, and take it with you wherever you go. In a private scheduled environment, Lee would enjoy music day to day with his vinyls and often sometimes said, with loud volume from high placed speakers.

“I would say I really like the old soul music, like souls and blues, I think those are one of my favorites. Like old like BB King and Marvin Gaye,” Lee said.

Lee mentions how he is glad that it is making a comeback.

The way a camera is structured, the aesthetic of fashion, and aspect of music all present a great memory. If put all three into one, can create sensational things, as all three factors are in movies. Lee not only loves vinyls, but drive-in movie theaters that are also premiering once again.

Established in the early 1930s by Richard Hollingshead, the Drive-in theater consisted of a giant screen in front of a parking lot or area, having guests park their cars within select spaces to watch what was presented on the screen in front of them. From then, the entertainment theaters grew in popularity and peaked in the 1950s.

“There’s one in Indianapolis and they even attach little records, little audio players on the side of your car, kind of like it was before, of course,” said Lee. “You know, drive-in movies were before my time, but I can always retake, like regale, the stories that my parents used to tell of going into the drive-in movies.”

What also makes a good drive-in theater or any movie theater is the excitement of the movie premiering itself. Especially one that has a concept or franchise that has long been awaited for to be brought back to the theater’s big screen.

“Top Gun and Gladiator were big, and now they’re making sequels 20 years in the future from when they originally came out,” said Lee. “I think it’s interesting to bring those sequels 20 years in the future and see how the modern media will shape the stories from the original stories told 20 years ago.”

Now after hearing what was heard and seeing what possibly occurred in the decades, the younger generations are creating their own memories of the items many of the older generations loved, getting the opportunity to experience the fun that was once had many years ago.