By Misty Barron
UNIVERSITY CENTER – Vince Locke, creator of the “Stranger Things and the 1980’s” podcast, hosted a Brown Bag luncheon on Jan. 18. The popular Netflix show and the many cultural references to the 1980s were discussed.
The event was a deep dive into the cultural influences and references in the show, giving the audience a greater understanding of the themes and inspirations of the show.
Locke started the talk by sharing his insights on the rise of nostalgia and its connection to the events of 9/11. He explained how society’s hunger for heroes and a clear line between good and evil have contributed to the popularity of 80’s-themed shows and a surge in superhero movies.
Many fans of “Stranger Things” have pointed to Steven King and Steven Speilberg’s influence on the show. Locke delved further into this, highlighting how each season echoes many iconic movies of the 80’s.
While Locke agreed King and Speilberg’s movies are the easiest to recognize, there were many others. His list included classics such as Alien, Jaws, and Rambo.
Music became a hot topic when Locke took questions from the audience. He spoke on the symbolism of songs in the show and how they reflect the social class of its characters. This opened discourse on various songs, especially “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush and how it signifies the internal struggle of Max and her family life.
When asked if there was anything important the show was missing from the 1980’s, Locke said that nothing was missing. However, he did go on to say that politics of the time had barely been mentioned. The 80’s was a time of political upheaval and the rise of Ronald Regan.
“Chernobyl,” Locke answered when asked what he was looking for in future episodes. “I’m surprised it wasn’t in season four.”
Participants of the brown bag lunchtime talk asks questions and debate cultural references in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Jan. 18, 2023; photo credit Onnie Stone 
Students listen to Professor Vince Locke discuss cultural references found in Netflix’s Stranger Things during a brown bag lunchtime talk, Jan. 18, 2023; photo credit Onnie Stone 
People listen in and add to the Stranger Things conversation via Zoom, Jan. 18, 2023; photo credit Onnie Stone 
Professor Vince Locke offers insight into cultural references in Netflix’s Stranger Things in response to some participants questions and comments, Jan. 18, 2023; photo credit Onnie Stone 
Students listen to Professor Vince Locke discuss cultural references found in Netflix’s Stranger Things during a brown bag lunchtime talk, Jan. 18, 2023; photo credit Onnie Stone
Brown Bag events are presented by Delta’s Humanities Center throughout the month. Students and community are invited to join on campus or through Zoom. For more information, see their Facebook page for upcoming speakers.
