I thought it might be fun to look at how everyday objects have changed over time. Ten years seems like a decent increment (though my Back to the Future fanboy REALLY likes the sound of 30: let's do one step at a time). So let's look at 2008, when the Giants won the superbowl, and Miley Cyrus was a squeaky-clean Disney starlet.
The Phone of 2008
While the device we think of as a smart phone had some predecessors, in the form of things like the blackberry, the touch screen interface we know today was still relatively new only ten years ago.
The Music of 2008
Many popular artists of 2008 will still be familiar names today; including Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kanye West, and Rihanna.
In 2008, My Chemical Romance and The White Stripes were still together and making music, while today, both of these names have faded into history.
Interestingly, Beyonce had left Destiny's Child only three years prior, and her solo career was still a fairly new development in the grand scheme of things.
The Politics of 2008
In 2008, Barack Obama beat John McCain for the presidency. This win secured Barack Obama's first term in office, and today it's easy to forget the fact that, very suddenly, Americans lived in a world where an African-American man could provably become president. What today seems inevitable was, at the time, a landmark moment in American politics.
Video Games of 2008
Some big series started with a 2008 debut, including Dead Space and Valkyria Chronicles; while Fallout 3 brought the Fallout franchise into the modern era. This is also the year of indie darling: Dear Esther. All of this, in a year where the public was still seeing expansions for The Sims 2.
The Playstation 3 had come out two years before, but the PS2 was still in production, and would continue to be for another FIVE years. The XBox 360 was three years old, and the original XBox still had another year before its retirement. The Gamecube had been retired, but with the Wii breaking sales records left and right, and the incredible sales of the Nintendo DS in Japanese markets, Nintendo wasn't suffering the lack of Gamecubes on store shelves.
Health in 2008
"Hot" yoga, nettle tea, and Goji berries were just some of the fads and buzzwords surrounding health in 2008. Low Sodium and Probiotic reared their heads, and, in defiance of today's feelings about the dreaded gluten; whole grain was a go-to for the health-minded individual.
Top Selling Car of 2008: The Toyota Camry
I'll be honest, I don't know much about cars. Anyway, here's a picture of a 2009 (because cars come out a year early of their model number for some reason) Toyota Camry.
Looking around, it looks like the Camry is known for comfort, safety, and fuel efficiency. So, I guess those must have been things that people liked in 2008.
The Movies of 2008
Iron Man kicked things off in what we now call the MCU with an after-credits scene that changed audience expectations of what movies could do. The Dark Knight contributed to make 2008 a watershed moment for superhero movies. The Incredible Hulk was there, too, I guess.
Kids movies brought Kung Fu Panda, which sparked off a sprawling franchise, and Wall-E: an instant classic with genuine artistry in its execution.
Taken, Tropic Thunder, Cloverfield, and Slumdog Millionare also came along to make this a year to remember in movies.
Overall, the last ten years have seen some tremendous changes, and a few surprises in what has stayed the same. It'll be interesting to see where the next ten years might take us. Thanks for reading, all.
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