There’s also some element of coming of age during the Reagan administration, which everybody has painted as some glorious time in America, but I remember as being a very, very dark time. There was apocalypse in the air the punk rock movement made sense.

Clive Owen

 

The Quote in Other Words

During the Reagan administration, there was a sense of maturing that occurred, but it was not the idyllic time that many have portrayed it to be. Instead, I recall it as a period of great darkness. The feeling of impending doom was pervasive, and it was during this time that the punk rock movement became relevant.

 

Explanation of the Quote

This quote speaks to the idea that the Reagan administration, which is often romanticized as a time of prosperity and patriotism, was actually a time of great turmoil and uncertainty. The speaker suggests that the punk rock movement, which emerged during this time, was a response to the sense of impending doom that pervaded American society.

The idea of “coming of age” during this time suggests that the speaker was a young person at the time, and that their experiences were shaped by the political and social climate of the era. The fact that they remember it as a “very, very dark time” suggests that their memories are colored by a sense of fear and anxiety.

Overall, this quote challenges the idea that the Reagan era was a time of unbridled optimism and prosperity, and suggests that the punk rock movement was a response to the darker aspects of American society during this time. It also speaks to the power of music and art to provide a voice for those who feel marginalized or oppressed.