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Strange Future Pessimism and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

W.H. Auden

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Published in Strange Future: Pessimism And The 1992 Los Angeles Riots

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The 1992 Los Angeles Riots were a turning point in American history. They exposed the deep racial and economic divisions that existed in the city, and they led to a widespread sense of pessimism about the future.

Strange Future: Pessimism and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

by Joan He

5 out of 5

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In the years after the riots, a new strain of pessimism emerged in American culture. This pessimism was not based on any specific event or set of circumstances. Instead, it was a general sense of unease about the future. People felt that the American Dream was no longer attainable, and they worried about the direction the country was headed.

This strange future pessimism was reflected in popular culture. Movies, TV shows, and music all explored themes of decline and decay. The 1992 film Falling Down starred Michael Douglas as a white-collar worker who goes on a rampage after losing his job. The 1993 film American History X told the story of a young man who becomes a white supremacist. And the 1995 album Illmatic by Nas was a gritty and realistic portrait of life in the projects.

Strange future pessimism also influenced politics. The 1994 midterm elections saw the rise of the "Contract with America," a Republican Party platform that promised to cut taxes, reduce government spending, and increase defense spending. The Contract with America was a response to the fears and anxieties that many Americans felt about the future.

Strange future pessimism has continued to shape American culture and politics in the years since the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. The 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent Great Recession led to a renewed sense of pessimism about the future. And the rise of Donald Trump and the alt-right has been fueled by fears about the country's future.

Strange future pessimism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It is rooted in both real and perceived threats to the American way of life. It is a pessimism that is both understandable and dangerous. Understandable because it is a response to real problems, dangerous because it can lead to inaction and despair.

The Causes of Strange Future Pessimism

There are a number of factors that contributed to the rise of strange future pessimism in the years after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. These include:

The decline of the American manufacturing sector
The rise of income inequality
The increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the United States
The growing sense of political polarization
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters

These factors created a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about the future. People felt that the American Dream was no longer attainable, and they worried about the direction the country was headed.

The Consequences of Strange Future Pessimism

Strange future pessimism has had a number of negative consequences for American society. These include:

A decline in social trust
An increase in political polarization
A decrease in civic engagement
A rise in mental health problems
A decline in economic growth

Strange future pessimism is a serious problem that has a number of negative consequences for American society. It is a pessimism that is both understandable and dangerous. Understandable because it is a response to real problems, dangerous because it can lead to inaction and despair.

Overcoming Strange Future Pessimism

There is no easy solution to strange future pessimism. However, there are a number of things that can be done to overcome it. These include:

Addressing the underlying causes of pessimism
Promoting a more positive and hopeful vision of the future
Encouraging civic engagement
Investing in mental health services
Promoting economic growth

Overcoming strange future pessimism is a challenging but necessary task. By working together, we can create a more positive and hopeful future for all Americans.

Strange Future: Pessimism and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

by Joan He

5 out of 5