The narrative of American individualism and exceptionalism was oddly endearing in the midst of a period of sustained global stability rather than an era of resurgent (and violent) political nationalism.Įven in terms of entertainment, the original Independence Day arrived at a point where it was enough for a blockbuster to be a blockbuster, where thematic resonance and political commentary were optional extras that were tolerated so long as they didn’t get in the way of the explosions. In 1996, the destruction of the White House and the Empire State Building could be treated as ridiculous escapism rather than traumatic repetition. However, the nineties were a time of much lower anxiety for most Americans, and time of peace rather than perpetual existential warfare.Īs a result, Independence Day had a radically different context in the summer of 1996 than it would in the summer of 2016. Paranoia and conspiracy theory were working their way into mainstream political discourse. There were clear shifts in American political rhetoric that paved the way for the current political climate. It is, of course, too easy to let nostalgia paint the nineties as some sort of “golden age.” There were horrific conflicts unfolding in Africa and Eastern Europe. The Twin Towers still stood, and most Americans were oblivious to the existence of Osama Bin Laden or al-Qaeda.
They were a time at which Franci Fukuyami could make a semi-credible case that the United States stood at the end of history. However, there is another truth about nineties nostalgia buried within this belated and bloated sequel.
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