ALL AMERICAN ADS of the 80's

The emergence of the digital world signaled a looming change in the advertising industry. But cash, cocaine, and Calvins were still 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 the outrageous and flamboyant. 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. Leg warmers were big, shoulder pads were bigger and hair was biggest of all. 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. Madonna was the young sexy heart-throb. Buff guys advertised underwear. Barbarians (with art by Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and others) pushed products including beer! If 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 is for you. To all those who still hear the echoes of "I want my MTV!" A massive collection with a lot of fascinating vintage ads. Steven Heller is an expert of art and design, and he makes each one of these volumes a joy to look through!