90s Ennui
Set between the collapse of the USSR and 9/11, when American capitalism seemed triumphant and unchallenged. The fall of communism, "the End of History", should have brought a "and they lived happily ever after"; yet, it appeared that consumerism and materialistic wealth weren't maybe as powerful, awesome and fulfilling as we have been led to believe.
During the 1990s, a small convergent type of thematic movement emerged, which in essence addressed the dread of peace and prosperity. It is a reformulation of the theme "money doesn't buy happiness" but applied to the whole of Western society and the USA especially, e.g. on a civilizational level. It is a reflection of the promise that wealth would bring happiness, and on the (slow) realization that it did/might not.
It is the pursuit of happiness beyond the free market, the cubicle and the emergent Corporation that took over the world in that decade.
These movies address this generational angst. They may differ wildly in their attitude, approach, treatment and conclusion; but they all have this thematic core.
The protagonist is male and white. He is usually educated and is stuck in a monotone desk job.
During the 1990s, a small convergent type of thematic movement emerged, which in essence addressed the dread of peace and prosperity. It is a reformulation of the theme "money doesn't buy happiness" but applied to the whole of Western society and the USA especially, e.g. on a civilizational level. It is a reflection of the promise that wealth would bring happiness, and on the (slow) realization that it did/might not.
It is the pursuit of happiness beyond the free market, the cubicle and the emergent Corporation that took over the world in that decade.
These movies address this generational angst. They may differ wildly in their attitude, approach, treatment and conclusion; but they all have this thematic core.
The protagonist is male and white. He is usually educated and is stuck in a monotone desk job.
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