Nostalgia has become one hell of a popular buzzword these days.
Maybe it’s our lives being reduced to hashtags or the experience of sharing a lot of pop culture with each other but the idea of items or media from the past becoming trendy has become one of the most divisive of our time.
Much like many others, I have also ventured into the world of nostalgia, spurred on by a therapeutic approach a colleague takes.
Every night before bed he listens to 20 minutes of songs from the 2000s, a ritual that keeps his spirits up.
With the lively music of that era compared to the depressing singers and their songs of today I can understand the need for a light companion to bed, especially songs loaded with memories.
Television became my therapy of choice and I’ve even resorted to making it my TikTok identity by reviewing a show I’m too embarrassed to be watching at my age.
While it might not trend as well as the Umlando challenge, the videos I make have been my therapy but this foray into nostalgia has reminded me of just how backwards television was 10 to 20 years ago.
There is no peace for old actors and writers who have had their iconic works destroyed by the woke eyes of today’s viewers.
I think about reality TV shows that I used to enjoy, like Running with the Reps, which is rampant with negative patriarchal notions.
Or even the likes of Ricki Lake or Dr Phil who aren’t as noble as I had originally thought they were.
The problem with these programmes is that they are of their time and while my brain cells would probably thank me for not watching my nostalgic favourites, some people actually have entertaining options that instil negative ideas.
While it’s easy to dismiss a TV show you are not familiar with today, it’s a lot harder telling yourself you’re going stop watching all Jackie Chan’s movies because he’s a proud homophobe.
The advantage of these movies and series coming back to prominence is that studios and production companies can bank on reboots, reinventing the franchise and modernising it.
I spent the better half of the 2021 lockdown watching old episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
When I felt discomfort at how Will Smith was the only person getting punished for the Oscars debacle, I pulled a Dr Umar and watched the remake of the series, Bel-Air in support of a black man who was becoming the victim of what felt like subliminal racism.
Having had no intention to watch a trendy remake I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had successfully modernised the cast, their cons and their psychology.
They made it a drama without riding on the darker toned wave that dominates a lot of boring teen dramas of today.
And to paraphrase the words from the Matrix reboot, these kinds of productions give chances to old actors and that’s something worth celebrating.
When I think of SA TV shows like Streaks, Suburban Bliss or the previously mentioned Running With the Reps it’s easy to find a plethora of flaws but I think a lot about programmes that were neglected and under-promoted in their time.
TV channels have always been docile with programmes that don’t immediately resonate with audiences.
It was mind-blowing to watch a sitcom about a quirky township girl whose biggest flaws were not limited to her bookish appearance but rather her need to stand up for herself on Mazinyo Dot Q.
Perhaps the victim of a title that was not enticing, the show was genuinely funny and proved that we were the home of great leading ladies.
The show, which featured Hakeen K Kazim playing a foreigner at a B&B as the romantic lead could do wonders for today’s South African who is divided by the politics of xenophobia.
While remakes and nostalgic television shows can be hit or miss, there is a great importance for it locally.
Our talents might not be getting paid for old work but perhaps in the SABC’s controversial vaults lies a remake waiting to change the world of globally streamed television.
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