1981-92 Cultural Challenge For American Youth? Flashcards
What was a major characteristic of the Reagan administration?
Marked more by the divisions it created than by its achievements
This statement suggests a critical view of the Reagan administration’s legacy.
What significant technological development occurred in 1981?
The release of the IBM 5150 personal computer
This was a breakthrough that made computers accessible to ordinary people.
What was the memory capacity of the IBM 5150 personal computer?
16KB of memory on removable floppy disks
This was considered basic compared to modern standards.
Which company was first to enter the personal computer market with the IBM 5150?
IBM
IBM’s entry marked the beginning of the personal computer revolution.
What was the initial cost of the basic IBM 5150 system?
$1600
This included a VDU (monitor) and was aimed at home users.
What gaming console was released in 1977?
Atari 2600
This console was one of the first home video game systems.
Which game, released in 1980, became hugely popular?
Space Invaders
It was one of the first games to gain widespread popularity.
What was the first CD player launched in 1982?
Philips CD 100
This marked the beginning of the CD era in the music industry.
What was the first album released on CD?
52nd Street by Billy Joel
This album was significant in the transition to CD formats.
What major change occurred in the music industry with the introduction of CDs?
Sound quality far exceeded that of vinyl or cassette tapes
This contributed to the decline of the audio cassette market.
Fill in the blank: The first CD album to sell one million copies was _______.
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
This marked a significant milestone in CD sales.
True or False: The personal computer market was dominated by IBM by 1992.
False
By 1992, many other companies, including Apple, had entered the market.
What was a major feature of the personal computers by the early 1990s?
Ability to write, store text, and play early computer games
This functionality expanded the use of computers in everyday life.
What technological advancement significantly changed home entertainment?
The introduction of the compact disc (CD)
CDs replaced audio cassette tapes and vinyl records.
What was the cost of the first CD players when launched?
$1000
This high initial cost limited early adoption.
Fill in the blank: By 1992, home entertainment had acquired a new dimension beyond _______.
radio and television
This reflects the impact of new technologies like personal computers and game consoles.
What revolutionized where and when people could listen to music?
The development of the Walkman portable audio cassette player revolutionized music listening habits.
Launched by Sony in Japan in 1979, it became an instant hit.
How many Walkmans were sold by 1989?
By 1989, 50 million Walkmans had been sold.
The term ‘Walkman’ appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1986.
What home entertainment technology allowed people to watch films at home?
The development of the video cassette and video cassette player enabled home viewing of films, sporting events, and music concerts.
The VHS system began to dominate the market in the 1980s.
What was the cost of a Betamax video cassette recorder in 1975?
A Betamax video cassette recorder (VCR) cost $2,000 in 1975.
What was the cost of a VHS VCR and blank tape by 1987?
By 1987, a VHS VCR cost $250, and a blank VHS videotape sold for $5.
What industry grew due to the development of video cassettes?
The development of video cassettes led to the growth of a lucrative pirate industry in videos.
What technology replaced 8mm film home movie cameras?
The camcorder, which appeared in 1983, quickly replaced 8mm film home movie cameras.
What cultural phenomenon did the camcorder spawn?
The camcorder spawned a massive boom in amateur home movie-making.
Television series like ‘You’ve Been Framed’ have exploited this trend.
What is cable television?
Television is broadcast via an underground cable. Cable television services are only available to houses that lie close to the cable.
What is satellite television?
Television signals are relayed via satellites and are picked up through a satellite dish on the viewer’s house. The signal can be received almost anywhere.
What is terrestrial television?
The earliest form of television broadcast. A large television aerial transmits and relays television signals, which are received through a television aerial on a house or on an individual television.
What significant event occurred in 1983 related to television?
The Day After appears on US television.
What significant event occurred in 1983 related to music?
Michael Jackson releases ‘Thriller’ video, which cost $500,000 to make.
What significant event occurred in 1984?
MTV Music Awards begin.
What significant change occurred in 1987 regarding VHS VCR?
Cost of VHS VCR drops to $250.
What significant television show premiered in 1988?
Murphy Brown, starring Candice Bergen, appears on US television for the first time.
When did cable television first become a feature of American life?
Cable television had been a feature of American life since 1972, when Sterling Manhattan Cable launched the first pay-TV network, Home Box Office (HBO).
What was the impact of cable television in the 1980s?
By the 1980s, cable television became a major part of the American television industry, providing viewers with a choice of dozens of channels.
Who established a nationwide network called WTBS?
R. E. ‘Ted’ Turner established WTBS, providing up-to-the-minute sports news and classic movies.
What major network did Ted Turner set up in 1980?
In 1980, he set up Cable Network News (CNN), which became a major rival to terrestrial networks.
What was the trend in television market share during the 1980s?
Terrestrial networks’ share of the television market fell while viewing figures for cable television rose from nine percent to 26 percent.
What legislative act supported the expansion of cable television?
The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 provided a favourable regulatory framework for the expansion of cable television.
How much did the cable television industry spend on laying cables from 1984 to 1992?
From 1984 to 1992, the cable television industry spent $15 billion on laying cables across the USA.
How many households subscribed to cable television by 1990?
By 1990, nearly 53 million households had subscribed to cable television.
What were some of the most important cable television networks in the late 1980s?
The most important networks were CNN, C-SPAN, ESPN, and MTV.
When did MTV begin broadcasting?
MTV began broadcasting 24/7 music video entertainment on 1 August 1981.
What was the first music video shown on MTV?
The first music video shown was ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by the Buggles.
What impact did MTV have on the music industry?
MTV played a major part in making stars of artists like Madonna and groups like Duran Duran, making music videos essential for promotion.
What year did MTV launch?
MTV launched on August 1, 1981.
What was the first music video played on MTV?
The first music video played on MTV was ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles.
Who directed Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ music video?
Hollywood director John Landis directed Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ music video.
What was the budget for the ‘Thriller’ music video?
The budget for the ‘Thriller’ music video was $500,000.
How much were the rights to show ‘Thriller’ sold to MTV?
The rights to show ‘Thriller’ on MTV were sold for $200,000.
What was Michael Jackson’s first album with the Jackson 5?
The first album was ‘Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5’, released in December 1969.
When did Michael Jackson launch his solo career?
Michael Jackson launched his solo career at the age of 13.
Which record label did Michael Jackson sign with in 1975?
Michael Jackson signed with Epic Records in 1975.
What year did Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ become an international bestseller?
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ became an international bestseller in 1982.
What awards did Michael Jackson receive for ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Thriller’?
Jackson received Grammy awards for writing ‘Billie Jean’, Best Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Rock Vocal Performance for ‘Thriller’.
What charity single did Michael Jackson write and sing in 1985?
In 1985, he wrote and sang on ‘We Are the World’.
What estate did Michael Jackson buy in the late 1980s?
Michael Jackson bought Neverland, his vast estate near Los Angeles.
What allegations were made against Michael Jackson in the early 1990s?
In the early 1990s, Jackson was alleged to have committed child abuse.
Who were Michael Jackson’s two wives?
Michael Jackson was married to Lisa Marie Presley and Deborah Rowe.
When did Michael Jackson die?
Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 in 2009.
What year were the MTV Music Video Awards launched?
The MTV Music Video Awards were launched in 1984.
What was the first reality series aired by MTV?
The first reality series aired by MTV was ‘The Real World’, launched in 1992.
What animated series did MTV air that targeted young adults?
MTV aired the animated series ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ aimed at young adults.
What marked the beginning of the Second Cold War?
The Second Cold War began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
When did the Second Cold War end?
The Second Cold War ended in 1985 when Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union.
What was the biggest health scare of the 1980s?
The biggest health scare of the 1980s was the AIDS crisis, first identified in 1981.
What was the impact of AIDS on the USA by January 1989?
By January 1989, approximately 46,341 people had died from AIDS in the USA.
How did the Reagan administration initially respond to the AIDS crisis?
During his first term (1981-85), Reagan did not prioritize AIDS prevention or order a study on the disease.
What event prompted Reagan to pay more attention to AIDS?
Reagan began paying attention to AIDS after the death of his friend Rock Hudson in late 1985.
What did Surgeon General C. Everett Koop predict about AIDS deaths by 1991?
Koop predicted that approximately 79,000 Americans would have died from AIDS by 1991.
What social issues complicated the government’s response to AIDS?
Many AIDS sufferers were drug users and gay men, leading to opposition from conservative groups.
What significant speech did Reagan give regarding AIDS in 1987?
In May 1987, Reagan referred to AIDS as ‘public enemy number 1’ but did not mention Ryan White’s case.
What was the significance of the made-for-television movie ‘The Day After’?
‘The Day After’ dealt with the topic of nuclear holocaust and influenced public perception during the Second Cold War.
What was Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative?
The Strategic Defense Initiative aimed to develop a defensive shield of space-borne missiles to prevent nuclear war.
What controversial social issues were depicted in 1980s films and television?
Films and shows addressed issues like race relations, disability, and the AIDS crisis, sparking public debate.
What is immune deficiency?
A condition that makes individuals vulnerable to AIDS infection.
When was AIDS identified in the USA?
By January 1989, there were 82,764 cases of AIDS.
What was the response of the Reagan administration to AIDS?
The administration began paying attention to the AIDS crisis and devoted resources to it.
Who was Dr. Everett Koop?
He was the U.S. Surgeon General who advocated for widespread sex education and support for drug users and gay individuals.
What was the significance of the Supreme Court’s decision in Hardwick?
It limited the ability of individuals to challenge laws against homosexual acts.
What was the impact of The Cosby Show?
It mirrored family life from the 1950s and 1960s and was one of the most popular series on television.
What was the controversy surrounding Murphy Brown?
Dan Quayle criticized the show for undermining family values by portraying an ambitious single mother as a role model.
What social issues did Hollywood address in the 1980s?
Films like Silkwood and Rain Man highlighted issues such as radiation sickness and autism.
What was the focus of the film My Left Foot?
It told the story of Christy Brown, a severely disabled man who became a successful novelist.
How did films address race relations in the 1980s?
Films like Cry Freedom and Mississippi Burning dealt with apartheid and civil rights activism.
What was the significance of the film Boyz n the Hood?
It was set in South Central Los Angeles and addressed issues of gang violence and race relations.
What did the film New Jack City portray?
It dealt with drug-taking and drug gangs in New York City.
What was the theme of the film Kiss of the Spider Woman?
It portrayed a gay man incarcerated in a Latin-American jail during the AIDS crisis.
