The Conservative Post-Disco Phase: Footloose and Flashdance

Abstract

Hogg sets out some of the changes which brought about the death of disco. He highlights a return to more conservative values demonstrated by the election of Ronald Reagan as US President. A summary of films of this phase demonstrates a return to more traditional dance venues such as the stage and the prom. An analysis of Flashdance compares it to the pop-musicals starring Elvis Presley and, similarly, Footloose is compared to the early British pop-musicals which alienated the Beatles. The effect of this return to previous formats, along with the emergence of the phenomenon of MTV, upon further development is assessed.