COVER: RETRO

OLIVIA COURTNEY, staff writer

ELLA CHO, news editor

Retro items reflect the productions of our past; the retrospective. Although these items may be considered out of date to some, others have a disposition to the noncurrent. Whether it is a vintage-inspired outfit or a copy of a vinyl record, items reminiscent of our past continue to be produced far beyond their original expiration. So, why are people attracted to these imitations of the past? Is it due to the nostalgia we get from obsolete items? The emotional experience of nostalgia is defined by the Dictionary as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.” We may feel nostalgic as a response to our fear of change, or because of our dissatisfaction with the present, and retro items might just be what we need to feed our hunger for nostalgia. Still, reproductions of the past can often be misconstrued with authentic items from the time. One aspect of retro that most confuses people is the definition itself. Retro is an incredibly broad term used to describe a variety of items, and as a result, it is commonly mixed up with other words that refer to the past: antique and vintage. Starting with the oldest, the word antique describes objects of ancient times that are at least a hundred years old. It usually applies to art, furniture or any sort of decorative item that was valued in the past for its appearance and design. Vintage encompasses items that are from an era from at least twenty years ago. Though vintage is currently known as meaning “of age,” it actually stems from the French word vendange, meaning grape harvest. As a result, the original definition of vintage is related to wine, specifically the time at which wine is at its highest quality. Over the years, though, it has developed a second meaning commonly used to describe fashion or clothes from other time periods. Unlike antique and vintage, retro doesn’t refer to a specific time period. Derived from the French word retrograde, retro’s literal definition is backward, alluding to how it revives styles of the past. Retro items imitate objects made in earlier time periods with cheaper materials, so most have been created recently. While vintage is commonly used with fashion, retro is commonly used with furniture and interior designs. The main purpose of retro is not just to reuse old styles, but to regenerate them by mixing in modern elements, bringing a funky yet classy image to life. Retro decors are brightly colored and made of synthetic materials such as plastic, vinyl and laminate, arranged in an abstract style that gives off an upbeat yet relaxed vibe.

The resurgence of older trends materializes itself in the fashion, music and art we produce and consume as well. The never-ending rotation of the fashion cycle ensures older styles are bound to make a comeback into contemporary fashion. Classic brands like Juicy Couture, Ugg and True Religion are re-releasing designs that were stylish at the height of their popularity. Some brands, such as ModCloth, create exclusively vintage-inspired designs. Retro hairstyles, makeup and accessories have also been resurfacing. Hairstyles from the past like the ‘70s style shag and ‘90s layered locks inspire modern haircuts like the “butterfly cut.”

Roller skates are being worn again since roller skating is returning both off and on the rink. Roller-skating was repopularized not only online, with creators like Oumi Janta on Tiktok showing their skills, but through appearances on other media. Roller skating was seen in Netflix’s “The Crown” and, most notably, the most recent season of “Stranger Things.” Because older styles are re-emerging, vintage fashion is more accessible than ever. Some prefer authentic vintage clothing to a retro reproduction because vintage is generally higher quality, and items are typically more one of a kind. Vintage clothing is now found beyond consignment and thrift shops. Online vintage and second-hand stores like Depop and Vinted have expanded the market for vintage clothing. In an age where we are ceaselessly digitizing, there is surprisingly a growing market for physical media as well. Vinyl record and CD collecting are expanding in popular - ity with a younger market. Vinyl records, in particular, have had an enormous re - vival. In 2022, Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album was released in not only digital, but vinyl, CD and even cassette format. “Midnights” was the first album in 35 years to sell more vinyl records than CDs. Despite this, in 2021, CD sales had increased for the first time in 17 years. In art, film photography has made a comeback with instant and disposable film cameras. Polaroid cameras had a comeback with the launch of Polaroid Originals in 2017, ten years after the discontinuation of the original Polaroid instant film camera. There has also been a revival of disposable film cameras, even after a major drop in sales from 1999 to 2008. In addition, directors are reverting to traditional film cinematography instead of digital cinematography. The second season of HBO’s “Euphoria,” released in early 2022, was shot entirely on 35mm and 16mm film. Video games are increasingly being sold in digital formats, but some wish to preserve the traditional aspects of video games.

Video game consoles have extensively evolved since 1967, when the first video game system prototype, the Brown Box, premiered. The Brown Box was later renamed the Odyssey to be sold as the first home video game console. The Odyssey allowed families to play a variety of games at home with their television set. Many new video game consoles have emerged to build what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. One of the most popular home video game consoles, the Atari 2600 was released in 1977. Since then, video game systems have evolved for a better playing experience. The PS5 console, released in 2020, has a 4k, 3840x2160 resolution. In comparison, the Atari 2600 has a 160x192 resolution. In 2017 Nintendo released the Super NES Classic Edition, a rendition of the Super Nintendo Entertainment system that was first released in 1990. The Evercade VS, first released in 2021 is another video game console modeled on a classic design. Retro game systems give users the experience of playing on a classic model but with a modern system. However, there is a difference between retro game systems and the hobby of retrogaming. Retrogaming is the practice of playing classic video games on original or modern systems. “Retrogaming is basi- cally playing anything that was before the GameCube era. It’s 2D or 3D games, usually by Nintendo, Sony, Sega and Atari,” says retro video game collector Grant Hillman. Retrogaming is practiced as a way of preserv ing the authenticity of the game and for nostalgia. “It’s easy to play an emulated game, but I want to appreciate how the game was originally intended to be played.”

Aside from materialistic objects, retro isn’t just rec reated in clothes, furniture and games. People from past eras are carried into today by their ideals and accomplishments. Whether it is by their influence in the music industry or their role in historical events, their achievements in the past have turned them into iconic and well-remembered figures today. The 1960s was known for being an incredibly chaotic time peri od in history, including the Vietnamese War, the Civil Rights Movement and huge advancements in science. The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most mem orable moments in history that has had a lasting im pact on society’s structure, and Martin Luther King Jr. is always the first person that comes to mind for it. His actions have encouraged several people to take courage even today. Before King, many were scared to step forward and voice their thoughts. In 2022, however, when faced with injustice, people didn’t hesitate to initiate the Black Rights Movement and fight for their rights. While racism is still present today, King’s actions helped pave a path of courage for future citizens to walk on. In addition to societal changes, the field of science was greatly expanded through space exploration, promoted by John F. Kennedy. Kennedy believed in man’s unwavering quest for knowledge and shared his view by investing in the space program to help NASA send a human to the moon for the first time. It seemed impossible at the time, especially since America was considered young in scientific advancements. Still, the event succeeded and served to inspire the next few generations of engineers, scientists, and computer programmers. Since landing on the moon, accomplishments in space exploration have increased exponentially with landings on Mars and Venus, construction of James Webb’s infrared telescope for viewing distant galaxies and testing nuclear engines for use in future missions. Dreams and ideas that had seemed impossible then were now seen as possible, and today’s scientists are constantly working to realize them.

Moving away from the field of science, music from the 1960s holds a special place in the music industry today as many still listen to classic songs composed by The Beatles or The Beach Boys. The 1900s marked the start of rebellious behavior in teenagers, which was reflected in music. The era gave way to multiple genres of music including rock and roll, folk rock, rhythm, blues and more. Many musicians used their songs as a way to protest against several societal issues, whether it be related to civil rights or simply spreading culture. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez both paved the way in creating music suited for political protests with one of Dylan’s songs, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” being a civil rights anthem. Among the African American community, still suffering from segregation at the time, the young musicians worked on refining the sound of jazz and funk to share their culture. The Beatles utilized a style of rhythm and blues with their music, becoming a huge hit in Britain and eventually in other countries as well. All over the world, the various music styles evoked feelings of freedom, and many of these talented artists’ songs are still played on radio stations today. Even younger generations are familiar with them since they can connect with the rebellious and free style of music. Humanity will continue to flourish in the future, but the past will always remain as an important factor in that growth, as feeling nostalgic is inevitable. As the fields of science, music and fashion continue to expand in new directions, the paths leading to the old will never fade. Someone will always walk down the paths to revisit both treasured and painful memories, and retro style and items aid that journey.