1981 - Year of the Rooster

[Eric the Green]

Remember the Strauss and Howe formula about the 3T: institutions suck; personal life expands. 1981 was toward the end of the 2T; it was winding down, and was pretty much about "counter-" awakening since the late 70s. But, although the social-political awakening was winding down, and people wanted to relax or reverse it now, the old conformity and limited self-awareness of the 1T was gone, and permission was available for various lifestyle experiments to continue. Opportunities were opening for self-liberation and for following your own spiritual and economic path. Of course, pop culture was sleepening as fully as the political culture was at this time. Inspiration was ebbing fast, and may never return. But, on a personal level, people could hang out on lots of fringes, stay inspired, and do their own thing.