Remember the 80's?

The 80's were a time when MTV actually played music, rock music began to make its way into suburban homes and upset parents across the country. Teenagers would be influenced by the music and the images on that channel. My home was no exception. I was born in 1982, but two of my older brothers were teenagers during this time. I had opportunities to observe how music and fashion on MTV influenced their sense of style, or lack thereof. Rock music influenced teenagers to be "bad" and "tough." They -like many teenagers- searched for excuses to walk around with "chips" on there shoulders. But how could they express their rebellious spirit with their style. In order to express ones toughness there is only one hair style that would do the job: the toughest hairstyle of them all - the mullet.

The mullet is a deceptively rebellious hair style. I say this, because when you first see a person with a mollet approaching it is generally not noticeable. In fact, some people can even seem very clean cut from the front. However, their wild side is revealed when they turn around exposing their long and uncontrollable hair hanging down between their shoulder blades. The mullet had several different variations. Some were curly, some straight, some wavy; some were accessories with dangling earrings from the left ear only, others were complimented by long and bushy sideburns, while, unfortunately, some chose to wear a lonely mustache to complete their look. The undeniable toughness a mollet can exude has not been paralleled by any other hair style. Even the m0-hawk doesn't compare to genious of the mullet. A mo-hark screams "I wanna be different than everybody!" But the mullet simply says "get out of my way, or I'll kick your butt! because it's time to party!"

The benefits of wearing a mollet were numerous. Because of the initial clean cut appearance those that sported a mollet were able to foster good first impressions, therefore capable of obtaining decent jobs. Teenagers today that attempt to look tough often go too far overboard and ruin their chances at employment. The mullet decieved employers by making a small effort to tame the wildness in the back. However, once work was over there was no taming that beast. The work uniform would be replaced with a sleeveless shirt with the name of a rock band, and all hell would break loose.

There has never been such a ambiguous hair style before. This "business in the front and party in the back" style was not only a look, but it was an attitude. Those, like my brothers that survived the 80's managed to express their wild side, but retain a certain sense of responsibility. As I look down the hallways of the school I teach, I have noticed that responsibility has waved "bye bye" to some of these kids long ago. Although, I never wore a mullet, nor do I intend to, I have to admit that I respect the heck out of it!

Learn more about this author, Drew Price.
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