You really had to live through a decade in order to fully understand its cultural impact on society. From the vantage point of the future, however, we can look back and logically discern which events truly were milestones that inspired lasting change. And where culture is concerned—and specifically popular culture—it really comes down to the masterpiece works of film, television, and music that stand head and shoulders above the rest. See what you think about the 21 iconic touchpoints we’ve highlighted here that made the ’70s and ’80s the groundbreaking decades they were.
#1: Star Wars Debuts (1977)
The debut of the film franchise Star Wars catapulted the world into “a galaxy far, far away…” George Lucas’s films changed the entertainment landscape forever with their groundbreaking special effects and classical Hero’s Journey storyline. Lifelong fans were born instantly after the first film’s debut, birthing a subculture that would make Star Wars a way of life.
