Both politically, as the first full century marked free from major geopolitical tensions, and culturally, with the emergence of cutting-edge technology and resurgence of loose sexual morals, the 1990s marked a revolutionary time in the West. With this increase in amenities and rejection of traditionally held values, American children of the 90s grew up in a type of “Western echochamber”, one of which the United States had not seen since the Roaring Twenties. This shift from a “hard times create strong men” to a “strong men create good times” society has, throughout history, been symbolized with various types of art. The stone engravings of strong families, and paintings venerating Augustus Caesar of the Pax Romana served as homage to Rome’s societal traditions, and practices. These such artforms thanked their God(s) and ancestors for leading them to the society of amenities and comfort they enjoyed in their time. As the world moved into a more postmodern era, the artforms that came along with “golden eras” reflected the comfort of the blossoming society, however also clearly portrayed the secular progressivism that still plagues our American culture today.
Seattle-based band Pearl Jam’s 1997 song “Given to Fly” perfectly reflects the specific method of rejoicing people who had lived through nearly a century straight of economic and political turmoil chose to employ. Reflective of the aforementioned cultural policy of secular progressivism, instead of widely thanking God and their ancestors for the place 90’s Americans were in, they chose to exclusively forward, overexcited for the future. While it is understandable that this time was full of anticipation for the newest computer games, or Sitcom episodes, people forgot how to stop, look back, and contemplate the path the world took in order to get them to the place they were in their time, and the never ending stimulation caused this problem to carry into the 21st century.
In this flurry of looking to the future, children became a large focus in the days of the 90’s. As Pearl Jam’s vocalist Eddie Vedder describes the song as a children’s board book, its pages containing a fable that makes you feel like you’re flying, and learning to not care what others think while simultaneously giving love away.
With Disney’s growing empire of sitcom TV shows geared towards minors, globalization allowing for the mass production and transportation of cheap toys, and the usage of the internet to revamp the “children’s advertising” industry, adults turned increasingly towards children, making them almost the center of society. This is why the Millennial generation is constantly heralding their childhood as particularly iconic, with memorable commercial jingles, fun toys, and fan favorite TV characters.
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