Zeigeist: Part 3

1992 - 2000
Bill Clinton President

In hindsight, there are some interesting patterns we can chart in the list of major events during this period. With the Rodney King incident, OJ Simpson’s trial, Matthew Shepherd’s murder, and California’s ban on affirmative action, we can see our nation’s xenophobia steadily increasing.

If we consider the incidents of domestic terrorism, with the Unibomber and the Oklahoma City bombing, and the increase in the threats from the middle east (USS Cole and US embassy bombings and Musharaff’s coup), it’s not surprising that the most popular films evolve from a focus on legal dramas and spy adventures to more and more films on threats that are impossible to fight (natural disasters and apocalyptic visions of the future).

We have the Bush, Jr. years to look forward to the full blossoming of our distrust and hatred of "the other" in our fear of immigrants.

Major Events
Rodney King/LA Riots (1992)
Waco (1993)
Combat roles for women in military (1993)
NAFTA ratified (1993)
World Trade Center bombing (1993)
Black Hawk Down in Somalia (1993)
Civil war and genocide in Rwanda (1994)
Aristide returns to Haiti (1994)
Oklahoma City bombing (1995)
Rabin assassinated (1995)
Unibomber arrested (1996)
Olympic bombing in Atlanta (1996)
OJ Simpson trial (1996)
California ban on affirmative action (1997)
Two embassies in Africa bombed (1998)
Northern Ireland Peace (1998)
Matthew Shepherd killed (1998)
NATO bombs Yugoslavia (1999)
Columbine (1999)
WTO protests in Seattle (1999)
Elian Gonzales custody battle (1999)
Musharaff stages coup in Pakistan (1999)


Top Movies

1993
Jurassic Park
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Fuguitive
The Firm
Sleepless in Seattle
Indecent Proposal
In the Line of Fire
The Pelican Brief
Schindler’s List
Cliffhanger

1994
Forrest Gump
True Lies
The Santa Clause
The Flintstones
Dumb & Dumber
Clear and Present Danger
Speed
The Mask
Pulp Fiction
Maverick

1995
Batman Forever
Apollo 13
Toy Story
Pocahantas
Ace Ventura
Casper
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Goldeneye
Crimson Tide
Waterworld

1996
Independence Day
Twister
Mission Impossible
Jerry Maguire
Ransom
101 Dalmatians
The Rock
The Nutty Professor
The Birdcage
A Time to Kill

1997
Titanic
Men in Black
Lost World: Jurassic Park
Liar Liar
Air Force One
As Good as It Gets
Good Will Hunting
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Tomorrow Never Dies
Face/Off

1998
Armageddon
There’s Something About Mary
The Bug’s Life
The Waterboy
Doctor Dolittle
Rush Hour
Deep Impact
Godzilla
Patch Adams

1999
Star Wars: Phantom Menace
The Sixth Sense
Austin Powers
Matrix
Tarzan
Big Daddy
The Mummy
Runaway Bride
Blair Witch Project

2000
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Cast Away
Mission Impossible
Gladiator
What Women Want
The Perfect Storm
Meet the Parents
X-men
Scary Movie
What Lies Beneath