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“Nineties Anxiety”: 50 Posts About The ’90s That Show What Life Was Like Back In The Day
Interview With Expert
In the never-ending battle of which decade is the best, it’s the 1990s for Millennials. 61% of Gen Y feel nostalgic for the ’90s, and they’re accompanied by a surprising 37% of Gen Zers, who were mostly born in the 2000s. For Millennials, it’s a time when they were kids, carefree, and having fun.
For others, it’s all about the distinct ’90s aesthetic: grunge, vintage PCs, Seinfeld, and Kate Moss. If you find it pleasing, then you’ll probably love Nineties Anxiety. It’s the place for all things related to the ’90s. Whether it’s a nostalgia-inducing pic with an old-timey cellphone or a cool shot of a young Leo DiCaprio – they’ve got you covered!
To know more about nostalgia and how the way we remember the '90s might differ from reality, Bored Panda reached out to Kendall R. Phillips. He's a professor of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University, with interests in public memory, popular film, and popular culture. He's also the author of numerous books on horror cinema and the author of Framing Public Memory, Global Memoryscapes: Contesting Transnational Remembrance. Read our conversation about the '90s, nostalgia, and its subtleties below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Boy Curiously Touches The Shield Of A State Trooper Photographed By Todd Robertson During A KKK Rally In Georgia, 1992
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ 1994
BROmanicus85 9 months ago
That poor child........ Being included in such a hateful rally, without even realizing what those garments represent...
If you weren't born in the 1990s and your only reference to the decade was the Nineties Anxiety Instagram Page, you'd think it was all about cool fashion, music, and movies. And sure, their 2.6 million followers might be a testament to how nostalgic we feel about the decade, but it may not accurately represent what it was like to live during it.
We asked Professor Kendal Phillips, whose academic interests include popular culture and public memory, to explain whether our nostalgia-saturated view of the '90s can compare to the reality of the last decade of the 20th century. "Like most decades, the '90s was a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the bizarre," Phillips says.
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#2
Bob Ross ‘The Joy Of Painting’, 1990
‘People look at you like you’re a little weird, but, you know, I’ve always been a little weird so it’s no big deal. Everybody who knows me expects that.’
#3
Microsoft Xp ‘Bliss’ Wallpaper By Charles O’rear - A Virtually Unedited Photograph Of A Green Hill And Blue Sky With Clouds In Sonoma County, 1996
It’s estimated that billions of people have seen the picture, possibly making it the most viewed photograph in history
The professor explains how the 1990s began on many positive notes. "[It] seemed to promise an age of new beginnings," he tells Bored Panda. "The Soviet Union had collapsed, Germany was reunifying, and Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa. It seemed like the beginning of a new age or, as George Bush put it, a 'new world order.'"
"Unfortunately, all the promise of an era without a simmering cold war didn't last long," Philips continues. "The US invasion of Iraq, the 1990s version, not the 2000s, revealed that the '90s was not going to be an age of peace and tranquility. The genocide in Rwanda was a dark preview of some of the atrocities to come, as was the war in the former Yugoslavia."
#4
The Royal Corgis Coming Off The Queen's Flight In London, 1998
#5
Fruit-Shaped Bus Stops In Nagasaki,japan (1990)
#6
New York, 1991
Things weren't looking so good inside the U.S., too. "Domestically, the '90s saw domestic terrorism in Oklahoma City, race riots in Los Angeles, and the horrific mass shooting at Columbine High School. So, if people were fixated on the sounds of grunge and the fantasies of a close group of Friends getting together at the Central Perk, well, let's just say we had reasons for seeking an escape."
#7
In 1995, Nasa Tested The Effects Of Various Drugs On Spiders. These Are The Webs Woven When The Spiders Were Exposed To Different Substances
Alicia M 9 months ago
Who knew that caffeine messed up spiders worse than LSD, or anything else? Spider cop: "Are you under the influence of any substances?" Spider: "Just LSD" Spider cop: "Very well then. Have a good day and stay away from caffeine. Have you seen Earl's web? Don't want to end up like that guy."
#8
‘Found A Picture When I Was 5 At My First Concert #spicegirls And Took A Picture With A Girl Dressed Up As Baby Spice Who I Just Realized Now Was Blake Lively’ - Bria Madrid, 1997
#9
Fran Drescher’s Emmy Award Winning Outfits From ‘The Nanny’, 1993-1999
That brings us to the issue of nostalgia in general, not just the '90s. Some say that it's a way for contemporary society to escape from the uncertainties of the present day. Professor Phillips somewhat agrees. "I think nostalgia often hinges on the desire to escape the present. Most scholars identify the rise of popular nostalgia in the 1800s as Western culture faced the increasing complexity of urban and industrial life."
#10
Summer Mix 1999 Part 1
#11
Forrest Stops In Monument Valley ‘Forrest Gump’, July 1994
#12
Heath Ledger And Julia Stiles In “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
He says that since then, people more or less always sought comfort in romanticizing the past. "Just as folks in the 1820s might have dreamed of a simpler life on the farm, folks in the 2020s seem to be dreaming of a simpler life during [the] reign of Michael Jordan," Phillips observes.
#13
1980s And 1990s Audio Equipment
#14
Berlin-Based Artist Hans Hemmert Hosted A Party Where Guests Wore Shoe-Extenders To Make Them All The Same Height Of Two Metres
Bringing all the partygoers to a common eye level, the shoes, all made from blue foam, highlighted the person’s real height in the visual uniformity of the sole instead of at the head, like a walking bar graph. (1997)
#15
Farm Workers In Front Of The Great Buddha Of The Bamiyan Valley In Afghanistan Photographed By Steve Mccurry, 1992. The Statue Was Destroyed By The Taliban In 2001
giku T 9 months ago
i hate islamic vandalism. ın Turkiye, locals used to destroy the frescos nad murals in churches..treasure hunters blew the ancient burial sites in search of valuables and artifacts. anatolia is so rich culturally and historically but is becoming barren because of these ignorant folk
Yet Phillips doesn't view nostalgia as a Big Bad Evil. "Nostalgia, in my estimation, is relatively harmless and can even be beneficial if we use these fantasies to try to unpack the core values we feel we've lost. Unfortunately, in the current age, there are also efforts to weaponize nostalgia and to use the fantasy of a better life in the past to villainize certain populations," he also adds.
#17
‘Hocus Pocus’, July 1993
#18
Behind The Scenes Of 'Teletubbies’, 1997
Indeed, researchers have found that nostalgia can make us feel better. In 2008, Constantine Sedikides and colleagues did a series of studies. After these studies, they concluded that "chief among the perceived benefits of nostalgia was its capacity to generate positive affect, bolster social bonds, and increase positive self-regard."
#19
May 18th 1995, Shawn Nelson Casually Walked Into A National Guard Armory And Stole A M60a3 Tank
#20
Yoshitomo Nara ‘Dog From Your Childhood’, 1995
#21
Alicia Silverstone As “Cher” For Clueless. (1995)
"Nostalgic participants manifested stronger social connectedness than did control participants," the researchers explained further. "They felt more loved and protected, had reduced attachment anxiety and avoidance, and reported greater interpersonal competence."
#22
Kim Cattrall As Samantha Jones ‘Sex And The City’ Pilot, June 1998
“This is the first time in the history of Manhattan that women have had as much money and power as men, PLUS the equal luxury of treating men like sexual objects.”
#23
‘Romeo + Juliet’ Soundtrack Cassette, 1996
Marcos Valencia 9 months ago
My second gf loved this soundtrack. I was 23, she was 21. Our story ended some years later, but she is still important in my journey in this world.
#24
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route - Toyama To Nagano, Japan In Late 1990s
But why the '90s exactly? What's so special about this decade in particular? Dr. Renee Middlemost, a lecturer in Global Communication and Media at the University of Wollongong's Faculty of Law, Humanities, and the Arts, has said that it's completely normal for current generations to look back at past decades. "Every generation looks back at past trends," she claimed.
#25
Weekly World News, June 1992
Marcos Valencia 9 months ago
The Spanish version survived just one year (1994/95). Too ahead of its time. In the post-COVID era, they would be a strong opinion-maker.
#26
Iconic UFO Themed Mcdonald’s In Alconbury, Cambridgeshire In The UK, November 1993
#27
Tower Of Vintage PC’s From The Early 90’s
She thinks that the vast availability of '90s media plays a part in how popular it is now. "I believe it has something to do with the way people are watching media these days. With platforms like Netflix around, people recommend shows to each other, and there are [fewer] people seeking out new things. Our tastes seem to have narrowed," she said.
#28
‘Animorphs’ Cover Illustration For The Science-Fantasy Children’s Book Series Featuring Kids Morphing Into Animals, June 1996-May 2001
#29
Decorative Ceiling Hidden By Early 1990s Renovation In Moscow
#30
Blockbuster Video Was Founded By David Cook In 1985 As A Stand Alone Mom-And-Pop Home Video Rental Shop In Dallas, Texas
Later grew into a national store chain featuring video game rentals, DVD-by-mail, streaming, video on demand, and cinema theater. The company expanded internationally throughout the 1990s. At its peak in 2004, Blockbuster employed 84,300 people worldwide and operated 9,094 stores. Today, “The Last Blockbuster” in Bend, Oregon is the only remaining location.
Solitas 9 months ago
I remember working there as a kid, best part was being aboe to take home free videos every night, worst part was working there whil the Kevin Costner Robin hood movie played over and over and over again. "I may be blind, but even I can see that you're in love" Ugh I hate that freekin movie
Another factor is how the current youth finds the '90s media relatable. Take the show Friends. It's about navigating your life in your 20s and just hanging out with your friends. Dr. Middlemost returns back to the idea that nostalgia comforts us. "When you're feeling dark about the world, you go back to the things that make you feel better."
#31
Friendship With 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000gt-X, 1997
#32
Wide Leg Pants And A-Line Skirts From Late 90s Mccall’s And Delia*s Catalogues
DogsAreLife 9 months ago
Stepping on the backs of those all the time, and also puddles soaked you to the knees. The good old days. Loved our look.
#33
‘The Basketball Diaries’, April 1995
#34
Kai Tak Airport In Hong Kong Closed Its Runways On July 1998, Leaving Behind A Legacy Of Aviation Challenges - Plane Making A Jaw-Dropping 45-Degree Turn
Gavin Johnson 9 months ago
My Dad was on the management team that structured the building and reclamation of land for the replacement runways. We live in the U.K. and he used to fly to Japan and Hong Kong to do face-to-face meetings there every few months. As a teenager I went with him once and was taken around Hong Kong by some of the staff who took me to restaurants / shops they used. It was beyond amazing and blew my tiny British 15 year old mind! I loved the place and the people.
#35
Copacabana Beach In Rio De Janeiro, 1990
#36
Volkswagen Golf Harlequin Launch In Atlanta, June 1996
#37
Darvin Ham Shatters Backboard During Ncaa Tournament Photographed By Scott K Brown, March 1996
#38
‘Spongebob Squarepants’ Pitch Bible Original Artwork And Show Concepts By Stephen Hillenberg, 1996
#39
Fugees ‘The Score’, February 1996
#40
High Risk Graffiti On The 430ft Metlac Bridge In Veracruz, Mexico In Late 1990s And Early 2000s
#41
New Yorkers Stop To Watch The ‘Seinfeld’ Finale In Times Square, May 1998
#42
Custom Limousines By Car Collector And Custom Builder Jay Ohrberg, 1990
#43
World Renowned Climbers Beth Rodden And Tommy Caldwell Photographed By Corey Rich During A Portaledge Stop On El Captain In Yosemite, 1999
#44
Japanese Street Style In The Late 90s And Early 2000s
#45
Doug Coombs Dropping In At Corbet's Couloir (Wyoming), 1989
#46
Salem Ad, 1998
#47
A Couple On The Streets Of Paris, 1990
#48
‘Outrageous’ Teen Makeovers From Jenny Jones And Ricki Lake Daytime Talk Shows Throughout 1990s
sbj 9 months ago
Don't think Angie would have been welcomed into any gang she looks too girl next door to make the cut
B W 9 months ago
She is definitely an undercover cop, I am an expert from watching 21 jump street.
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DogsAreLife 9 months ago
No one really bats an eye at these looks anymore. Just people peopling.
AndThenICommented 9 months ago
One thing commercialism gave us. If everyone is unique, no one is unique mwahaha
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Mario Strada 9 months ago
For the record, these styles would have been tame even by 90s standards, at least for those of us that had been to London, New York, Paris and Rome in the late 70s and 80s. The only people that found them strange and "countercultural" were talk show hosts with an agenda, satanic panic idiots, and a slice of the population that was asleep for the previous 20 years.
AndThenICommented 9 months ago
You’re right, but these kids were usually from the south or Midwest of the US where they clutched their pearls at anything. I moved from San Fran to Florida and I went from being treated like an artistic creative to being treated like a criminal, all because of my coloured hair and look. It didn’t deter me, but the experience of being away from a more positive vibe did cause some serious teenage depression
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Lacey Kat 8 months ago
I know Sunnie! I was the manager for her former band in which she was the lead vocalist. We are still in touch to this very day! Check out her music on her channel where she also has video from her Jenny Jones appearance. https://youtube.com/@sunniedazecoleman5696?si=p7Tz4lo8Z4RbzyF8
Octavia Hansen 9 months ago
Knowing that it took a lot to maintain this "look", someone had to be paying for it. Doesn't look like these gals work . . . so . . . how was it financed? (As an EX-punk, leather was not cheap.)
Rebecca Taylor 8 months ago
My mother would have been up set if I had tried to go on ether of these shows
#49
‘Akira’ In New York, 1990
![Nam June Paik [watchdog] 1996](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/C4MNY19t5gy-png__700.jpg "Nam June Paik [watchdog] 1996")
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What do you think ?
Holly's House 9 months ago
These were great, nice to see a list that wasn't the same meme photos over and over
Rostit.. . 8 months ago
smashing pumpkins but I do fuckng love Shirley Manson.
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Petra Schaap 9 months ago
the nineties were my favorite decade ever. I was 16 in 1990. Ready for the world. So much to explore. Got what i wanted. So much hope and fun and everything seemed possible.
Petunia Petal 9 months ago (edited)
This was a great list. Growing up in the 90s was brilliant!
Rostit.. . 8 months ago
whoever makes these? you mean the author that is listed under each picture? You sure about the Smart part of your username?
Load More Replies... Holly's House 9 months ago
These were great, nice to see a list that wasn't the same meme photos over and over
Rostit.. . 8 months ago
smashing pumpkins but I do fuckng love Shirley Manson.
Load More Replies... Petra Schaap 9 months ago
the nineties were my favorite decade ever. I was 16 in 1990. Ready for the world. So much to explore. Got what i wanted. So much hope and fun and everything seemed possible.
Petunia Petal 9 months ago (edited)
This was a great list. Growing up in the 90s was brilliant!
Rostit.. . 8 months ago
whoever makes these? you mean the author that is listed under each picture? You sure about the Smart part of your username?
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