Think back to December 31, 2009. The year leading up to the new decade was full of highs and lows. President Obama was inaugurated. The worst of the Great Recession sent shockwaves through the economy. A passenger airliner piloted by Captain Sully crashed into the Hudson, with all passengers surviving. We looked ahead to the upcoming years with hope and anticipation, ready for a new decade of adventure. Whatever we were expecting, the 2010s definitely delivered endless excitement. As we enter the 2020s, we should take a moment to reflect upon this past decade and all the changes it brought with it.
Major Moments of Progress
Marriage Equality
Former President Obama repealing DADT on September 20, 2011.
The past decade has experienced a significant growth in the acceptance of the LGBT community around the world. In 2011, the United States took another step toward progress in eliminating the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) under the Obama administration. DADT began under the Clinton administration and barred openly gay, bisexual, and lesbian individuals from serving in the military. Ending the policy reflected a major societal shift during the 2010s towards more openly accepting and supporting LGBT individuals.
Activist waves pride flag outside Supreme Court following the Obergefell v. Hodges decision
The repeal of DADT paved the way for the eventual legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. The Supreme court case Obergefell v. Hodges ruled 5-4 in favor of extending the right to marriage to all same-sex couples in the United States. This revolutionary court case marked a major milestone in the fight for LGBT equality, in both the US and abroad.
While major progress has been made in advancing LGBT rights over the past decade, the fight for equality is still not over. Acceptance of and equality for LGBT individuals abroad has not been completely realized.
#MeToo
Civil rights activist Tarana Burke coined the phrase “Me Too” in 2006, raising awareness of the prevalence of harassment and sexual abuse in society. However, the general awareness of the phrase really sparked in 2017, with the publishing of a New York Times article recounting the first allegation of sexual harassment and abuse against Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein. As a result, subsequent allegations against alleged perpetrators–both in and out of the entertainment industry–accelerated as more victims grew empowered and supported.
Though the movement has sparked both support and backlash, its social and cultural influence is definitive. Society, as a whole, is much more aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and abuse. There is still more work to be done, but the #MeToo movement has certainly empowered survivors of sexual harassment, abuse and assault around the world.
Major Moments in Entertainment
Film
The past decade has seen increased relevance of serious social themes in film and entertainment. Movies exploring deep topics, like racism and classism, have historically captured only very niche audiences. In the 2010s, however, films exploring more intense themes have captured the attention of broader audiences. Films like the 2016 film Moonlight or Jordan Peele’s thriller 2017 Get Out were overwhelmingly popular, each winning countless awards for their sharp social commentary, fantastic screenwriting, and excellent cinematography.
The 2010s also saw the growth and popularization of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though the franchise’s first movie was initially released in 2008 with Iron Man, over the past decade the growth of the MCU has resulted in the development of a strong and devoted fanbase. The release of both Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) attracted even more attention from the public, setting up their first major crossover film The Avengers (2012) for overwhelming success.
Perhaps the most significant moments in the franchise’s history came in early 2018, with the release of Avengers: Infinity War, which grossed over 2 billion dollars at the box office. Both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise turned out in droves to witness the conclusion of Marvel’s Phase 3 saga Avengers: Endgame in 2019. The MCU continues to dominate the movie landscape, with plans for its fourth phase already in motion.
Television
The 2010s marked a period of dramatic transition for entertainment, specifically the rapid transition from traditional TV watching to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus. Streaming has dramatically impacted how our society consumes TV shows, with the popularization of binge-watching completely revolutionizing how stories are told on a larger scale.
The Game of Thrones series on HBO has dominated the entertainment industry since its first debut in April 2011. The show’s ambitious adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s works captured audiences, from unique plot twists to fantastic acting. Its bold departure from Martin’s original storyline marked a period of intense growth and dramatic screenwriting for the show. The concluding season of the 73 episode saga captivated audiences in early 2019, with epic battles and bone-chilling drama leaving every viewer on the edge of their seat.
The widespread popularity of the Netflix Original Stranger Things following its debut in 2016 has launched the entire teen cast to stardom. Stranger Things is widely renowned and incredibly popular for its unique storyline and compelling acting, with over 25 million views of its third season within four days of its release. The Stranger Things kids have grown into pop culture icons, likely to dominate the entertainment industry in the future.
The 2010s truly marked a renaissance of unique and fantastic moments in pop culture and entertainment. As we approach the new decade, we can only hope for more innovation in film and television in the years to come.
Major Moments in Music
The past decade has experienced a dramatic transition in style and in popular music. The popularization of Spotify and Apple Music have led to a growth in streaming, allowing people from around the world to share unique musical tastes. Even the difference of musical style between the beginning of the decade and the end is significant. (Just to make you feel old, Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK” peaked in popularity around 2010).
This past decade has marked the growth of vibrant and unique musical styles. Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” for example, has redefined the typical country music sound. Debate whether his work truly qualified as country did not stop the entire country from enjoying his new sound, which broke records as the longest-leading #1 single this past summer.
As some artists challenge typical confines of musical genres, others have sparked conversation and provoked thought with work highlighting deep topics, like gun violence, and racism. Beyoncé’s Lemonade album, specifically, focused on the celebration of African American culture. Her innovative work, though primarily R&B, drew influence from countless styles of music including pop, soul, reggae, and many others. The Lemonade album specifically empowered and touched countless lives throughout the world, winning numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Other artists similarly touched upon painful issues of race and gun violence in the United States. Specifically, Donald Glover—also known as Childish Gambino— released “This Is America,” which boldly discussed the influence of racism and gun violence upon American society. His music video, specifically, garnered attention for its jarring and sobering imagery. The song itself was released during the height of the March For Our Lives movement, following the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Today, Gambino’s work continues to provoke serious discussions of race and violence.
As the decade comes to a close, we should look back upon all the moments the past ten years have given us. The 2010s were filled with rich moments of excellence and pure joy, and harrowing moments of hardship. Looking forward to 2020, we can hope that the new decade to come will bring new challenges and opportunities for growth and progress to be made.
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