Download - Chapter 40 Lecture - Oak Park IndependentChapter 40 America Confronts the Post–Cold War Era, 1992–2000 Presented by: ... Clinton forced government to shut down for 27 days in late

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Chapter 40AmericaConfrontsthePost–ColdWarEra,

1992–2000

Presented by:

Mr. Anderson, M.Ed., J.D.

I.BillClinton:TheFirstBaby-BoomerPresident

• 1992presidential race– Democrats:

• Gov.WilliamJefferson(“Bill”)Clintonforpresident• SenatorAlbertGoreforvice-president• Clintonclaimedtobea“New” Democrat• FormedDemocraticLeadershipCouncil (DLC):

– Pushed pro-growth, strong defense, and anticrime policies– DLC'sascendance reflected how market-oriented ideasdominated politics bylate 1990s

I.BillClinton:TheFirstBaby-BoomerPresident(cont.)

– Republicans:– Continued touse “social issues” ofReaganera

– Emphasized “family values”– Nominated GeorgeH.W.Bush andVice President J. Danforth Quayle for second term

– Bush claimed credit forending Cold Warand trumpeted hisleadership inPersian GulfWar, buthurt byweakeconomy

– Electionresults:• 19%votedforH.RossPerot—emphasizeddeficit• Clintonpopularcount44,909,889;Bush39,104,545;Perot19,742,267

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I.BillClinton:TheFirstBaby-BoomerPresident(cont.)

• Electoralcount370Clinton;168Bush;0Perot• ClintonfirstbabyboomertoascendtoWhiteHouse• Perot:strongestshowingforindependentorthirdpartycandidatesinceT.Roosevelt,1912(seeMap40.1)

• DemocratswonmajoritiesinbothhousesofCongress• Nearrecordofnewmembers:39AfricanAmericans,19HispanicAmericans,7AsianAmericans,oneNativeAmerican,48women(6oftheminSenate)

• ClintonnominatedRuthBaderGinsburgtoSupremeCourtin1993

Map 40-1 p958

II.AFalseStartforReform• Clinton thought hehadmandate forreform

– Gaysandlesbians:• Advocatedendtobanonserviceinarmedservices• Settledfor“Don'tAsk,Don'tTell” policy

– Allowed gaysand lesbians toserve inmilitary withoutofficially acknowledging their presence (Congress repealedthis discriminatory policy in 2010)

– Health-carereform:• AppointedHillaryClintonasdirectoroftaskforcechargedwithredesigningmedical-serviceindustry

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II.AFalseStartforReform(cont.)

• ComplicatedplandeadonarrivalwhenpresentedtoCongressinOctober1993

• ShewonelectionassenatorfromNewYorkin2000• BecamefirstFirstladytoholdpublicoffice

– Deficitreductionbill,1993:• PassedwithnoRepublicansupport(harbingerofbitterpartisandivide)

• Spendingcutsaswellastaxincreasesonwealthy• Combinedwithincreasinglybuoyanteconomyby1996toshrinkdeficit

• Congressarguedoverhowtomanagebudgetsurpluses


– 1994anti-crimebill:• Mostfar-reachinganti-crimebillpassedbyCongress• Funded100,000newpoliceofficersaswellasconstructionofmoreprisons

• Federalbanonsomeassaultweapons(expiredin2004)• Whenstatesalsostiffenedlawenforcement,U.S.incarcerationratebecamehighestinworld

– With 5%ofworld's population, U.S.A.has25%ofall prisoninmates by2014

• Violentcrimeratebegansubstantialdeclineafter1995

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– Antigovernmentmoodpersisted:• Oklahoma City bombingoffederalbuilding,1995

– 168 lives lost– Inretribution for1993standoff in Waco,Texasbetweenfederal agentsand fundamentalist sectknown asBranchDavidians

» Ended with compound destroyed anddeathofmanywomen andchildren

– Brought to light secretive underground ofparamilitary“militias” ultrasuspicious ofallgovernment

• Reflectingdisenchantmentwithpoliticsandpoliticians,severalstatespassedterm-limitlawsforelectedofficials

III.ThePoliticsofDistrust– RepublicanscampaignedonContractwithAmerica

• LedbyGeorgiaRepresentativeNewtGingrich• Promisedall-outassaultonbudgetdeficitandradicalreductionsinwelfareprograms

• Republicanswon:11newgovernorships,8seatsinSenate,53seatsinHouse

• Republicancontrolofbothhousesforfirsttimein40years

• DefeatofsouthernDemocratsledtoaccelerated– Ideological and geographical sorting oftwo parties– More partisanship

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III.ThePoliticsofDistrust(cont.)

– 1996:majorconservativevictorywithWelfareReformBill:• Madedeepcutsinwelfaregrants• Requiredable-bodiedwelfarerecipientstofindemployment

• SignedbyreluctantClinton• LiberalDemocratshowledatpresident'saction• Clintonsawitasshrewdstrategyofaccommodatingelectorate'sconservativemoodbymovingtoright


– WelfareReformBillreflectedgrowinganti-immigrantsentimentasnumberofimmigrantsgrew

– Clintondenouncedprovisionsthatrestrictedbenefitsforbothlegalandillegalimmigrants

– IncreasedimmigrationespeciallyaffectedSouthwestbecauseofbigincreaseinMexicanmigrants(seeFigure40.1)• Mexicans=largestcontingentofmodernimmigrants

– Republicananti-immigrantpoliciesgalvanizedmanyvoters,butalienatedgrowingLatinopopulation(SeeMakersofAmerica)

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Figure 40-1 p961

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Figure 40-2 p963


– IfClintonoverplayedmandateforreformafter1992,Republicansafter1994“RepublicanRevolution” overplayedmandateforretrenchment

– RepublicanswantedcutsinMedicareandeducation

– DisagreementbetweenRepublicanCongressandClintonforcedgovernmenttoshutdownfor27daysinlate1995andearly1996

– CausedbacklashagainstGOP– HelpedClintontoreboundfromearlierdefeats

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IV.ClintonComesBack– 1996electioncampaign:

• RepublicanschooseRobertDoleascandidate• ClintonwasDemocraticcandidate• Bothappealedtoswingvoters,especiallymiddle-classfemalesuburbanites(seeFigure40.3)

• ReboundingeconomyhelpedClinton• Results:Clinton'spopularcount47,401,898toDole's39,198,482(seeMap40.2)

• Clintonwon379electoralvotes;Doleonly159• RepublicanskeptcontrolofCongress• Perotpickeduplessthanhalfhisvotesof1992

IV.ClintonComesBack(cont.)

– Clinton=FirstDemocratsinceFDRtobereelected

– FacingRepublicanCongress,Clintonproposedmodestlegislativegoalsforsecondterm

– YetClintonoftenputRepublicansondefensivebyclaimingpoliticalmiddleground• E.g.,embracedWelfareReformBillof1996

V.RacialProgressandPerils

– Affirmativeaction:Clintonpledgedto“mendit,notendit”

– CaliforniapassedProposition209in1996:• Prohibitedaffirmative-actionpreferencesingovernmentandhighereducation

• Withit,minorityenrollmentstemporarilydropped• FederalcourtdecisionHopwoodv.Texashadsimilareffect

– Clintoncriticizedtheseassaultsonaffirmativeaction,butdidnottrytoreversethem

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Figure 40-3 p965

V.RacialProgressandPerils(cont.)

– Racialdivisionsloomedlargeincultureandpolitics

– StressesespeciallyevidentinLosAngeles(1992)• Magnetforminorities,especiallyimmigrantsfromAsiaandLatinAmerica

• LAriotstestifiedtoblackskepticismaboutjusticesystemandangeratAsianmerchants

• O.J.Simpson'smurdertrial(1995)fedwhitedisillusionmentwithstateofracerelations

• DebateoververdictreflectedyawningchasmthatseparatedwhiteandblackAmericans


– Increasinglysegmentedresidential landscapesreflectedracialdivide

– Bylate1900s,minorities=majoritypopulationofmanycities,aswhitesdominatesuburbs

– Whenwhitegentrificationofcitiescausedrealestatepricestosoar,minoritiesconcentratedininnercoresofoldindustrialcities

– Residentialmapacheckerboardofracialdifferenceaswellasvividcontrastsofprosperityandpoverty

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– Blacksgainedpoliticallyinwakeofcivilrightsrevolutionof1950sand1960s• morethan9,000blackelectedofficialsby2000• IncludedsomethreedozenmembersofCongress• Mayorsofseverallargecities

– By2000,blackshadadvancedinhighereducation• Educationalgapbetweenblacksandwhitespersisted• Assaultsonaffirmativeactioncompoundedobstaclesformanyyoungblacks

– 2000:16.6%ofblacks overageof25with atleast abachelor'sdegree comparedwith 26.1%ofwhites


– Racialdivisionsalsoshapepolitics– Blacksverypro-Clintonin1992and1996– RacialminoritiesbecomeincreasinglykeycomponentsofDemocraticelectoralbase

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VI.GlobalizationandItsDiscontents

– Clinton'smajorpoliticaladvantagewaseconomy—longestsustainedperiodofgrowthby2000

– FederalReserve'slowinterest,easymoneypoliciesalongwithInternetboomcutunemploymentto4%• Inflationremainedlow

– Insuchapositiveeconomy,ClintonandRepublicanCongressderegulatedfinancialsector• Loosenedrulesonnewinstrumentscalled“derivatives”• RepealedGlass-SteagallActof1930sthatbarredcommercialbanksfromdealinginsecurities

VI.GlobalizationandItsDiscontents(cont.)

– ClintonsignedNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA) in1993:

– Created free-trade zoneofMexico, Canada, andU.S.A.– Buckedhis own party's protectionists, especially labor leaders

• 1994:furthersupportedglobalfree-tradewhenhepromotedcreationofWorldTradeOrganization(WTO):

– Successor toGeneral Agreement onTariffsand Trade (GATT)– Simmering discontent over trade policyboiled over in1999when Clinton hosted WTOmeeting inSeattle

– Protesters railed against human andenvironmental costs ofeconomic globalization

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– Clintonabigadvocateoftradeexpansion– AsChinaboomed,hesoft-pedaledearliercriticismofBeijingonhumanrightsandsoughtimprovedtrade

– By2000,hepushedcontroversialChinatradebillthatCongresspassedinMay2000:• MadeAsiangiantfull-fledgedtradingpartnerofU.S.A.

– Anotherstepinglobalization


• Communications technology acceleratedglobalization

• Computers keytoproductivity gainsandeconomic growth inlate1900s

• Microsoft led transformation tofast-paced“information age” asstoring, organizing, andprocessing databecameindustry

• Internet heralded communications revolution


• Networkedpeopleformedelectronicglobalvillageofinstantaneouscommunication

• Speedandefficiencyofe-communicationsthreatenedtowipeoutentireoccupations(postalcarriers,etc.)

• Certainjobscouldbe“outsourced” toothercountries(e.g.,IrelandorIndia)

• Related forcesofcomputer revolution andeconomic globalization defined opportunitiesandchallenges atdawnofnewmillennium

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VII.TheFeminist Revolution– Womeninworkplace:

• 1900:womenabout20%ofworkforce• Presenceinworkplacesteadilyincreasedovernextfivedecades

• 1950s,women'sentryaccelerateddramatically• By1990s,nearlyhalfofallworkerswomen,andmajorityofworking-agewomenheldjobs(seeFigure40.4)

• Mostastonishingwasupsurgeinemploymentofmothers• 1950s,mostmotherswithchildrenstayedhome• 1990s,majorityofwomenwithchildrenasyoungasoneyearoldwerewageearners(seeTable40.1)

Figure 40-4 p968

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VII.TheFeminist Revolution(cont.)

• Womenbroughthomethebaconandthencookeditbecausemostmendidnottakeongreatershareofdomesticchores

• Greaterburdensofparenthoodhelpexplainoccupationalsegregationandpaydisparities

• Womenfarmorelikelythanmentointerruptcareersorchooselessdemandingcareerpathstopermitparenthood

• Womencontinuedtoreceivelowerwages• Tendedtoconcentrateinlow-prestige,low-payingoccupations(“pink-collarghetto”)

• Aslateas2012,womenmade77centsondollarcomparedtomen


• Accountingformorethan½thepopulationin2010,womenwere:

– 33%of lawyers and judges (up from5% in 1970)– 32%ofphysicians (up from10% in1970)

– FamilyandMedicalLeaveActof1993:• Jobprotectionforworkingfathersandmotherswhoneedtimeofffromworkforfamily-relatedreasons

– Someemployersprovidedpaternityleave inadditiontomaternityleave,bothusuallyunpaid

– Familypracticesandstructureschangeasmoreandmorewomenwork


– Traditionalnuclearfamilychanged:• By1990s,oneoutofeverytwomarriagesendedindivorce

– 1960s, 5% ofall births were tounmarried women

– 1990s, 1outof4white babies, 1outof3Latino babies, and2outof3African American babies born tosingle mothers

• Iftraditionalfamilyincreasinglyrare,familyremainedbedrockofsociety

• Familiesnowassumedvarietyofforms:– Household led bysingle parent, stepparent, orgrandparent– Children with gayand lesbian parents

• Teenagepregnancyanddivorceratesdecline,mid-1990s

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Table 40-1 p970

VIII.SearchingforaPost-ColdWarForeignPolicy

– ClintonlookedforformulatoreplaceanticommunismasbasicpremiseofU.S.diplomacy

– Absorbedbydomesticissues,Clintonuncertainatfirst• AfterSomalirebelskilledmorethanadozenAmericans,ClintonwithdrewU.S.unitsin1994

• BurnedbySomalia,U.S.A.stoodbywhenethnicviolenceinRwandain1994resultedindeathofhalfamillionpeople

– TormentedBalkansinsoutheasternEurope:• ViciousethnicconflictragedinBosnia

VIII.SearchingforaPost-ColdWarForeignPolicy(cont.)

• U.S.A.dithereduntildecidingtocommittroopstoNATOpeacekeepingcontingentin1995

• NATO'spresencefailedtopacifyBalkanscompletely• SerbianpresidentSlobodanMilosevi'c(1999)unleashednewroundof“ethniccleansing” againstethnicAlbaniansinKosovo

• U.S.-ledNATOforceslaunchedairwaragainstSerbia• BombingforcedMilosevi'ctoacceptNATOpeacekeepingforceinKosovo

– Milosevic arrested in2001 andputon trial before InternationalCriminal Court in theHague, where hedied in2006before trialcompleted

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• MiddleEastremainedamajorfocusofU.S.diplomacy• 1993:ClintonpresidedoverhistoricmeetingbetweenIsraelipremierYitzhakRabinandPLOleaderYasirArafat

• AgreedonwithdrawalofIsraeliforcesfromWestBankandGazaStripandpoliticalself-ruleforPalestiniansthere

• Twoyearslater,Rabinkilledbyassassin'sbullet• ClintonandMadeleineAlbrightspentrestof1990stryinginvaintofindsolutiontoIsraeli-Palestinianproblem

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• MiddleEastalsosourceofanotherkeyproblemforU.S.A.• Growthofradical,anti-AmericanIslamistterrorism• MosteffectivetransnationalnetworkwasAlQaeda• BombedU.S.embassiesinKenyaandTanzania,1998• BombedU.S.S.Cole,2000• Saudi-bornleaderofAlQaeda,OsamabinLaden:

– Declared waronallAmericans and their allies in1998 fatwa– Denounced U.S.military presence in region, especially SaudiArabia– As well asU.S.support for Israel in dispute with Palestinians

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• Clintonsteppedupeffortstoleavelegacyasinternationalpeacemaker

– Along with work inMiddle East, hehelped bring peace toNorthern Ireland in1998

– Diplomacy inKorean peninsula aswell as in IndiaandPakistan aimed to reducenuclear tensions inAsia

• GuidingprinciplesofU.S.foreignpolicyinpost-ColdWareraremainedill-definedandelusive

IX.ScandalandImpeachment• ScandaldoggedClinton from startofpresidency– Criticschargedhimwitheverythingfromphilanderingtoillegalfinancialtransactions:• Allegationsofcorruptrealestatedeal(Whitewater)whilehewasgovernorofArkansastriggeredinvestigationbyspecialprosecutor

• Noindictmentevermaterialized– Mobilizedconservativemovementwithitsownmediaamplifiedeachaccusation

IX.ScandalandImpeachment(cont.)

– Lewinskyaffair:• Jan.1998:revelationthatClintonengagedinsexualaffairwithyoungWhiteHouseintern,MonicaLewinsky

• Liedunderoathaboutaffairinanotherwoman'scivilsuitaccusinghimsexualharassment

• Sept.1998:WhitewaterspecialprosecutorsubmittedtoHousereportoutliningelevenpossiblegroundsforimpeachment,allrelatedtolyingaboutLewinsky

• Dec.1998:Republican-controlledHousepassedtwoarticlesofimpeachment:

– Perjury before grand jury

– Obstruction of justice

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– Democraticminoritychargedthat:• HoweverdeplorableClinton'spersonalmisconduct,• Sexualtransgressionsdidnotrisetolevelof“highcrimesandmisdemeanors” prescribedinConstitution(seeArt.II,Sec.IVintheAppendix)

• HouseRepublicansrepliedthatperjuryandobstructionweregraveissuesandthat“ruleoflaw”atstake


– MostAmericansleanedtowardviewofClinton'sactionsaslowfollies,nothighcrimes• 1998midtermelections,votersreducedRepublicanmajorityinHouse:

– Gingrich then resigned

• RegardingClinton,mostAmericans:– Disapproved ofhispersonal morals

– Likedmostofhis political andeconomic polices– Wanted himtostay inoffice

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• Inearly1999forfirsttimein130years,impeachmentproceedinginU.S.Senate

• Factswidelyknown• Politicalpositionsoftwopartieslockedin• Resultsoftrial:

– Obstruction of justice—5 northeastern Republicans joinedall45Democratic senators invoting notguilty

– 50votes forconviction fell farshort ofconstitutionallyrequired two-third majority

– Voteon perjury chargewas45guilty, 55notguilty

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X.Clinton'sLegacyandthe2000Election

– Clinton'slegacymixed:• Economicpoliciesencouragedgrowthandtradeinrapidlyglobalizingpost-ColdWarworld

• Ascentrist“NewDemocrat”,heconsolidatedReagan-BushrevolutionagainstNewDealliberalism

• Settinglowstandardinpersonalconduct,hereplenishedpubliccynicismaboutpolitics

• In2000,DemocratsstayedonpoliticalcoursesetbyClintonbynominatingV.P.AlbertGoreforpresident

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X.Clinton's Legacyandthe2000Election(cont.)

– GorepickedasrunningmateSenatorJosephLieberman,outspokencriticofClinton'sbehavior• LiebermanfirstJewnominatedtomajornationalticket

– RepublicanchallengerwasGeorgeW.Bush:– Surrounded himself with Washington insiders– Including vice-presidential nominee Richard Cheney– Inclear jabatClinton, promised to“restore dignity to theWhite House”

• Estimatesthatfederalbudgetwouldproducesurplusof$2trillionincomingdecadesetstageforpresidentialcontest


– Candidates' economicviews• Bush:

– Return surplus to“the people” through massive taxcuts– Promote private sectorprograms, suchas school vouchersand reliance on“faith-based” institutions tohelp poor

• Gore:– Proposed small taxcuts

– Targetedatmiddle and lower class people– Strengthen Social Security

• Foreignpolicyhardlyfiguredincampaign


• Election results:• Countrynearlysplitevenlybetweentwocandidates• Florida'selectoralvoteswoulddeterminewinner• 5-weekstandoffoverhowtocountvotesinFlorida

– Democrats arguedsome ballots confusing orhadbeenmisread bymachines; asked for recounts byhand in severalcounties

– Republicans claimedrecounts would be“changing the rulesin themiddle of thegame” and thus thwart ruleof law

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• Afterweeksoflegalbickering,SupremeCourtintervened:

– By five-to-four votealongpartisan lines– Court reasoned that sinceneither Florida's legislature norcourts hadestablished uniform standard forevaluatingdisputed ballots, handcounts amounted tounconstitutional breachofFourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause

– Ruling gaveBush theWhite House but castshadow ofillegitimacy overhis presidency

– Bush officially won Florida by537votes outof6million cast


• Bush'selectoralcount271toGore's266(seeMap40.2)• NationalpopularvotewentdecisivelytoGore:

– Gore:50,999,897 to50,456,002 forBush

• Forfirsttimesince1888,candidatewonWhiteHousewithfewerpopularvotesthanhisopponent

• Deepeningracialpolarizationofpartypolitics:– African Americans voted forGoreoverBush by ratioof10 to1– BlackFloridians claimed election officials interfered with theirvotes

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XI.EPluribus Plures

• Controversial issuesofcolor andculturepervaded realmofideas– Creedof“multiculturalism” startin1970s

• Builton“culturalpluralists” likeHoraceKallenandRandolphBourneofearly1900s

• Celebrateddiversityforitsownsake• Stressedneedtopreserveandpromote,ratherthansquash,varietyofethnicandracialculturesinU.S.A.

XI.EPluribus Plures(cont.)

• Nation'sclassroomsbecamebattlegroundsfordebateoverAmerica'scommitmenttopluralism

• Multiculturalistsattackedtraditionalcurriculumas“Eurocentric”

– Advocated greater focus onachievements ofAfricanAmericans, Latinos, Asian Americans, andNativeAmericans

• Criticsarguedthat:– Too muchstress onethnic difference would comeatexpense ofnational cohesion

– And appreciation ofcommonAmerican values

XI.EPluribus Plures(cont.)

• CensusBureauenliveneddebatein2000whenitallowedrespondentstoidentifythemselveswithmorethanoneofsixstandardracialcategories:

– Black, white, Latino, American Indian, Asian, andNativeHawaiian orother Pacific Islander

• Asnearlysevenmilliondescribedthemselvesasbiracialormultiracial,reflectedrevolutioninattitudestowardrace

– As of1960s, interracial marriagestill illegal in 16states

• Byearly21st century,manyproclaimedprideinmixedracialheritage

– Golfer TigerWoods– Actress Rosario Dawson

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XII.ThePostmodernMind

• Growing comfort with multiplicity energizedcultural andintellectual output

• Eraoftenreferred toas“postmodern” butlotsofdisagreement onexactdefinition

• Condition offragmented perspectives,multiple truths, andconstructed identities

• Rejected rational, totalizing descriptions ofselforworld

XII.ThePostmodernMind(cont.)

– Replacedmodernism'sfaithincertainty,objectivity,andunitywitheclecticcelebrationofdiverseandoverlappingoutlooks

– Postmodernarchitecturemademostvisiblefootprint• RobertVenturiandMichaelGravesreviveddecorativedetailsofearlierhistoricalstyles

• Celebratedmixofarchitecturalelements• FrankGehryusedundulatingsheetsofmetallicskin—

– Guggenheim Museum (1997) in Bilbao, Spain– Walt DisneyConcert Hall (2003) inLosAngeles

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– Postmodernsensibilityshapedotherartforms• ClassicalmusiccomposersJohnAdamsandJohnZorn:

– Brokedown boundaries between “high” and “low” styles– Blended diverse genres and traditions in experimental mix

• ChoreographersStevePaxtonandTwylaTharp:– Paired everydaymovements with classical techniques and gavedancers license to improvise

• Visualartistsalsofelteclecticurge:– Cindy Sherman, JennyHolzer, KaraWalker combined old andnewmedia toconfront, confound, and evenoffendviewer

– JeffKoons andShepard Faireyborrowed industrial materials andpop culture imagery toblurdistinction between highbrow andlowbrow cultures

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– Postmodernliterature,likeart,haddeeprootsinpost-WWIIera• AfterWWII,WilliamS.Burroughs,KurtVonnegut,ThomasPynchon:

– Pioneered use ofnon-linear narratives, pastiche forms, parody,andparadox

• MichaelChabon,JeffreyEugenides,andZadieSmith:– Adapted techniques forcontemporary audiences

• DavidFosterWallace,InfiniteJest(1996)• ColsonWhitehead,TheIntuitionist(1999)• Manypostmodernauthorsfemaleand/orpersonsofcolor

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• ToniMorrison:– Bewitching portrait ofmaternal affection amidst horrors ofslavery inBeloved (1987)

– In1993 became firstAfrican American womantowin Nobel Prize for literature

• E.AnnieProulx:– Comical yet tenderportrayal of struggling family in TheShipping News (1993)

• JamesWelch,LeslieMarmonSilko,JoyHarjo,andShermanAlexie:

– Contributed toNativeAmerican literary renaissance thatsought to recover tribal past while reimagining its present


– Immigrantwriters:• PlaywrightDavidHwang,novelistAmyTan• NovelistHaJin,Waiting (1999)andWarTrash(2004)• JhumpaLahiriexploredpainfulrelationshipbetweenimmigrantIndianparentsandAmerican-bornchildren

• Latinowriters:– Junot Diaz's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Brief Wondrous LifeofOscar Wao (2007)bridged Dominican Republic andNew Jersey

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– Onstage,politicalthemesandsocialcommentarypredominated• TonyKushner,AngelsinAmerica(1991)inspiredbyAIDSepidemic

• AswasJonathanLarson'sTonyAward-winningmusicalRent(1996)

• EveEnslerusedcomicintimacytoespousefeministempowermentandendtoviolenceagainstwomeninVaginaMonologues(1996)

XIII.NicheNation

– Postmodernsensibilitiesgreatlyshapedpopularartsofmusic,film,andtelevision• Newcommunicationstechnologyandmediamarketsenabledartiststomixdisparateelements

• Whilecommercialpopculturebecamemicrotargetedandniche-oriented

• HiphopartistsfromPublicEnemytoJay-Z“sampled”beatsandoverlaidthemwithcomplex“rapping”schemes

• “Mash-up” artists– Fused fragments fromsongs ofdifferent musical genres– Remixed onesong's vocaltrackoveranother song'sinstrumentals

XIII.NicheNation(cont.)

– Communicationstechfragmentedconsumingpublicandallowednewvoicestobeheard

– Independentfilmmovementchangedcinema• QuentinTarantino'sPulpFiction (1994)usednonlinearstoryline

– CableTVproducedhigh-qualitydramasforsmalleraudiences;e.g., TheSopranos(1999-2007)

– Comparedtoearlier, fewernationalexperiences– PopculturematchedsocietyatlargeasU.S.A.becamemorepluralist,hybridized,anddiverse

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