Dec 26
Soviet Union Dissolves
The USSR officially ceased to exist. The Cold War was truly over. The US emerged as the world's sole superpower.
🇺🇸United States · 90s
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Grunge, the Gulf War, and the end of the Soviet Union.
What happened
4 milestones of 1991
Jan 17 - Feb 28
Gulf War — Operation Desert Storm
A US-led coalition liberated Kuwait in 42 days. CNN broadcast the war live. 'Smart bombs' and night-vision footage became iconic.
War — acknowledge Iraqi civilian casualties alongside military narrative
Sep 24
Nirvana Releases 'Nevermind'
Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album dropped. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' killed hair metal and launched grunge. Generation X had its anthem.
Mar 3
Rodney King Beating Filmed
George Holliday filmed LAPD officers beating Rodney King with a camcorder. The footage, aired nationally, exposed police brutality. The acquittal would spark the 1992 LA riots.
Police brutality against a Black man — center the systemic injustice
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
James Cameron — Liquid metal T-1000. The best action sequel ever made.
The Silence of the Lambs
Jonathan Demme — Hopkins. Foster. Fava beans. Swept all five major Oscars.
Beauty and the Beast
Trousdale/Wise — First animated film nominated for Best Picture.
Point Break
Kathryn Bigelow — Keanu and Swayze. Surfing, skydiving, bank robbery.
Hook
Steven Spielberg — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 6.8
What was on TV
The Real World
1992 — MTV's reality show (premiering next year) would start here with casting in 1991.
Home Improvement
1991-1999 — Tim Allen grunted and America laughed. #1 show by 1993.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987-1994 — Hit its creative peak in seasons 4-5. 'Make it so.'
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$2.80
Gallon of gas$1.14
Movie ticket$4.21
New car (avg)$16,000
Inflation: 4.2%
Mild recession. Bush's approval soared after the Gulf War but the economy would cost him 1992.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1991 (USD)
$2.80
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1991 (USD)
$1.14
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1991 (USD)
$4.21
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (avg)BLS
1991 (USD)
$16,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
World Wide Web goes public
Tim Berners-Lee published the first web page. The internet era had begun.
Super Nintendo (US)
SNES launched in America. Mario World changed gaming.
Linux kernel
Linus Torvalds released Linux 0.01. Open source was born.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Grunge flannel and ripped jeansDoc Martens bootsBabydoll dressesBackwards baseball caps
Slang
Whatever— I don't care (with attitude)
All that and a bag of chips— Someone who thinks they're amazing
Fly— Cool, attractive
Behavior
- Grunge culture rejected the excess of the 80s
- The Gulf War was the first 'living room war' via CNN
- Gen X identity crystallized — cynical, ironic, flannel-wearing
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