🇺🇸United States · 10s
The Social Network Era
Instagram, the iPad, and Deepwater Horizon. The world went mobile.
4 milestones of 2010
BP's oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers. 210 million gallons of oil spilled over 87 days — the worst environmental disaster in US history.
Environmental and human disaster — honor the 11 workers killed
Apple released the iPad. Critics called it a 'big iPod touch.' It sold 300,000 on day one and created the tablet market.
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launched Instagram. Photo sharing with filters. 25,000 users on day one. 1 million in two months.
President Obama signed the ACA ('Obamacare'), the most significant healthcare reform since Medicare. Extended coverage to 20 million uninsured Americans.
Politically divisive — present factual impact
70% local · 30% international
Inception
Christopher Nolan — Dreams within dreams. The spinning top. Nolan's mind-bender.
Toy Story 3
Lee Unkrich — Andy goes to college. Everyone who grew up with Woody cried.
The Social Network
David Fincher — The Facebook origin story. 'A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool?'
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky — Natalie Portman's Oscar. Ballet as psychological horror.
Iron Man 2
Jon Favreau — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 6.8
The Walking Dead
2010-2022 — Zombies on AMC. The show that made Sundays terrifying.
Game of Thrones (production)
Pilot filmed 2010 — HBO was building Westeros. The cultural juggernaut was coming.
Downton Abbey
2010-2015 — British period drama conquered American living rooms.
Currency: USD
Inflation: 1.6%
Slow recovery from the Great Recession. Unemployment at 9.6%. Housing market still depressed.
Inflation-adjusted values
iPad
Apple created the tablet market. 15 million sold in the first year.
Photo sharing with filters launched a visual culture revolution.
4G LTE
Fast mobile internet began rolling out, making smartphones truly useful.
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