The Return of the 90s: A Cultural History of the Present

by Madeline Lane-McKinley (Editor), Sean O'Brien (Editor), Annie McClanahan (Foreword)

Why are we so obsessed with the 90s? This is an insightful political reckoning with an anomalous decade

The 1990s were a cultural watershed, marking a turning point in popular music, television, cinema, literature, and fashion. Nestled between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 9/11 attacks, the decade witnessed the 'end of history' and the birth of the internet, the consolidation of neoliberalism, and a political urgency embodied by the anti-globalization movement. We now see this pivotal decade in the rearview mirror as a force to reckon with, have yet to write its history, and have only begun to come to terms with its lasting significance.

This anthology dives into the contemporary fascination with the '90s. Plotting a playful course between sociology and cultural studies on the one hand, and giddy nostalgia on the other, the book charts decisive developments of the decade to fully apprehend its resonances today.

Covering everything from 'girl power,' Star Trek, and hip-hop, to queer cinema, anarchist counterculture, and the erotic thriller, The Return of the '90s excavates key moments in '90s culture and uncovers its multiple reckonings in the present.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2026

Reviews

[Rhini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the micro pop culture analyses alongside a macro dialectical approach to historical narratives throughout the 1900s up to the present day. The 90s never ended, or never even really began - time is an imperial tool used to compartmentalise history and segregate movements and waves of revolution, allowing burgeoning fascism to erase our collective struggles. We're all still fighting the same fight.

[Arno]

Should be specified: A Cultural History of US-Canadian Present.