Introduction

Work and labor have long been represented in American popular culture. The joys, sorrows, victories, and disappointments of working life have always been seen and heard in film, television, and music. The 1970s and 1980s were decades of significant social, political, and economic change in the United States. The political climate became more conservative, the Cold War began to come to an end, the country experienced demographic change, and technology shaped entertainment mediums. The story of American working life was a key part of popular culture throughout these crucial years.