Film opinion: ‘Dazed and Confused’ - nostalgia for a time you never lived
It seems that every year, there are new movies or TV shows set in decades past.
Richard Linklater's 1993 movie, Dazed and Confused, is no exception, and it was Film News Blitz’s Nisha Cullen’s personal introduction to films like this.
But what is this phenomenon? And why are young people so drawn to the past? Nisha explains…
‘Dazed and Confused’
Dazed and Confused was both written and directed by Linklater.
It was Linklater’s third feature, and he would go on to direct the likes of the Before trilogy, School of Rock and Boyhood, to name a few.
Released in 1993, Dazed and Confused follows high school students hazing the incoming freshmen on the last day of school in 1976.
Originally a disappointment at the box office, the movie has cemented itself as a cult classic.
Already enamoured by the 70s when I watched this film at 14, thanks to one of my favourite sitcoms, That '70s Show, the film instantly made its way to become my favourite.
With a soundtrack full of famous 70s names, such as Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, and so many more, the soundtrack alone creates an incredible and immersive 70s experience.
Plot, or lack thereof
If you’re looking for a film with action, heartbreak, or anything that goes on, this is not the place for you.
Dazed and Confused is one of those films where nothing important really happens.
The characters smoke weed, plan a party and go about town and school.
There’s no conflict, no action. Just a feel-good coming-of-age story.
Up there with the likes of Clerks and Lost in Translation, along with many of Linklater’s other projects, Dazed and Confused is up there with the best movies where nothing at all happens - and it works.
Anemoia: nostalgia for a time you weren’t around in
Yes, there’s a word for it. Anemoia refers to this exactly.
Often derived from hearing personal stories from people who were around in that time, hearing music, and yes, watching television and films from or based during that era.
Famously, you have Stranger Things, which follows a group of teenagers in the ‘80s.
We can even see ever-changing fashion trends returning.
Gen Z often gravitate towards 2000s, or Y2K, fashion trends, like layering or low-rise jeans.
However, through romanticising the past, we can often overlook the hardships and inequalities faced during that time.
Derry Girls is a perfect example of how to create a story that still touches on the struggles faced during a particular era of history, in this example, The Troubles faced in Northern Ireland.
Why does this happen?
It is often said that unhappiness or escape are factors in experiencing anemoia.
In a world full of technology, it feels almost like a breakaway when you can watch something and people aren’t communicating via text, or there aren't characters using modern technology.
In a way, it almost feels more realistic, despite reality for us meaning people are on mobile phones almost constantly.
In extreme cases, this sort of thinking can cause anxiety for an unknown future, but at its best, anemoia can inspire even more nostalgic styles of entertainment.
Takeaway
It is important to watch these kinds of movies with the context of what was going on at the time.
As much as I love the era of the 70s, it’s important to recognise that not everyone was considered equal at the time, and that there was just as much negativity and evil in the world as there is today.
My main draw towards the past is the lack of modern technology, the kind of technology that wrecks creativity and rewards AI-generated brainrot that provides no real substance.
And I can get that from watching some of my favourite films, like Dazed and Confused.
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