1999

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(68 68 68 1)>The year 1999 was a high-water mark for popular culture. According to one measure it was the best movie year ever. But as journalist Ross Benes shows the end of the '90s was also a banner year for low culture. This was the heyday of Jerry Springer Jenna Jameson and Vince McMahon among many others. Low culture had come into its own and was poised for world domination. The reverberations of this takeover continue to shape American society.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(68 68 68 1)>During its New Year's Eve countdown MTV entered 1999 with Limp Bizkit covering Prince's famous anthem to the new year. The highlights of the lowlights continued when WCW and </span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(68 68 68 1)>Benes shows us how so many of the strangest features of culture in 1999 predicted and influenced American life today. This wild ride through pop culture uncovers the connections between the kayfabe of WWE and the theatrics of politics between the faddish obsession with Beanie Babies and with NFTs between faithful fans and political loyalists between violent video games and society's scapegoats and much more. </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(68 68 68 1)>1999</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(68 68 68 1)> is not just a nostalgic look at the past. It is also a window into our contentious present.</span></p>