In an era defined by rapid innovation, teenagers are turning back time and rediscovering the past. From the grainy effect of an old camera to the comeback of 2000s low-waisted jeans (except much baggier), teenagers are reviving the trends that their parents left behind.

Digital Cameras:

Scrolling through Instagram, it’s likely to come across a “photo dump” here and there, many of them appearing grainy or look like they have a filter on. these photos aren’t taken by the average iPhone but by something older, a digital camera.

“I think the appeal is that (a digital camera) takes so many different types of photos,” freshman Maggie Zissman said. “Not necessarily better, but I think differently. It appears warmer and captures your emotions better.”

Zissman feels more in touch with reality when taking photos with a digital camera compared to a phone.

“(When) I take (photos) on my camera, I feel like I’m more in tune with what I’m doing,” Zissman said. “If I’m just taking a picture on my phone, then I’m not really focusing on taking it. I’m just doing it because I have my phone in my hand.”

Vintage cameras naturally give their photos an “older” look that is difficult to replicate even with purchased filters. It is the “vintage” feel of a digital camera that makes it so special.

Vinyls:

Today, access to music is instantaneous. With the touch of a button, people can listen to their favorite songs, but pressing “play” is out of style. A vinyl and a record player appeals more to the teenage brain. Freshman Addison Atkinson spends her Sunday afternoons chilling out and listening to records by the Beatles and Sublime.

“At first, I only thought that music came out of the radio of the car, until I discovered vinyls,” Atkinson said. “A vinyl definitely offers more of an interactive feel, and it holds more sentimental value than just playing it on your phone.”

Rather than an endless list of songs, vinyls are physical collectibles. There is a certain satisfaction of collecting them. Some of Atkinson’s favorite vinyls she has collected are “Songs for a Nervous Planet” by Tears for Fears. It is an experience to use a vinyl; placing it on a turntable, watching it spin and hearing the soft crackle of analog sound is somewhat comforting to teenagers.

“Being able to touch a vinyl and put it on the record player,” English teacher Steven Garnett said. “I feel like it is a more meaningful experience rather than just pushing a button. So, if it makes kids happy, it’s fun for me too.”

Movies:

In the rising popularity of nostalgic films, movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Dead Poets Society” and “Forrest Gump” are back in the watchlists.

“I got interested in old movies because my older brother is a major in film,” sophomore Sophie Matusiak said. “He taught me all about old films, and I thought it was cool.”

In a fast-paced world with constant noise of the buzzing of technologies and devices, older films become a timeless space where students can find some space away from distractions.

“It’s very common among people our age to watch old movies,” Matusiak said. “I think it’s just because it helps you escape from the modern day world.”

Some things simply last and transcend generations.

“It’s kind of nice to know that some things don’t have to change just because we’re told they do,” Garnett said.