The emergence of the digital world signaled a looming change in the advertising industry. Still cash, cocaine, and Calvins were the staples of flagrant consumerism. With cell phones just around the corner and the death of print in the air, advertisers were still devoting substantial dollars to one of the most outrageous, flamboyant, and prosperous decades of the 20th century.

Massaging the Consumer

The digital future of ads in the extravagant 1980s…

With the cold war ebbing, crime and inflation at record levels, and movie star-turned-President Ronald Reagan launching a Star Wars of his own, the 1980s did not seem likely to become one of the most outrageous, flamboyant, and prosperous decades of the 20th century. The "greed is good" mantra on Wall Street spawned the power-dressing, exercise-obsessed "Me Generation" of Yuppies. The art world enjoyed the influx of capital; computers and video games ruled in the office and at home; and the Rubik's cube craze swept the nation. Leg warmers were big, shoulder pads were bigger and hair was biggest of all.Whether your heart warms nostalgically at the memory of E.T. and marathon Trivial Pursuit sessions; if you think Ghostbusters and break dancing are totally awesome, this book's for you. To all those who still hear the echoes of "I want my MTV": All-American Ads of the 80s will leave you ready to reach out and touch someone. So just do it!

The author

Steven Heller has produced over 200 books on visual communication and published countless articles in international design magazines. Currently he is cofounder and cochair of the MFA Design program at the School of Visual Arts, New York.

The editor

Jim Heimann is the Executive Editor for TASCHEN America. A cultural anthropologist, historian, and an avid collector, he has authored numerous titles on architecture, pop culture, and the history of Los Angeles and Hollywood, including TASCHEN’s Surfing, Los Angeles. Portrait of a City, California Crazy, and the All-American Ads series.

All-American Ads of the 80s

Steven Heller, Jim Heimann

Hardcover, 19.6 x 25.5 cm, 2.40 kg, 640 pages

ISBN 978-3-8365-8861-4

Multilingual Edition: English, French, German