The Keith Haring exhibit, at the SFMOMA in Spring/Summer 1998, was the first major retrospective of the artist. It featured more than 100 pieces, from his early art school illustrations to his subway graffiti drawings, gallery pieces, and large-scale paintings. It also documents, through photography and paraphenalia, Haring's glamorous New York City lifestyle (look out for Run DMC, Timothy Leary, William Burroughs, Boy George, Pee Wee Herman, Madonna, Frankie Knuckles, and Junior Vasquez). The exhibit is sponsored by Swatch.

Great

Clare, bemui@usa.net
Hong Kong
nov 1

The dj is the cultural icon of the 90's... Bring the Beat Back!

dj Cozmic Cat, cozmic_cat@hotmail.com
philly
oct 25

I think that globally and locally "BODY AND SOUL"(the paradise garage of the 90's)shows you that everything is still the same except at a different place.With a different name and, at a different time. LONG LIVE HOUSE. RESPECT DUE TO CHICAGO AND, THE UNDERGROUND.

Luis ventura, l.a.ventura@worldnet.att.net
new york
sep 29

If anyone out there has heard Mr. Bungle and does'nt think their shaping music for the next generation, then well you havent heard "Mr. Bungle California"

San Juan, c2sanjuan@earthlink.net
San Francisco
aug 9

Bob Dole.. I mean, common people!

Someguy, Someguy@PYR8.com
Ottawa, Canada
jul 27

I think what will define the nineties the most is our (humans in the nineties) insatiable need to define things. I think that about does it. Right?

Wilson, tbwilsonky@yahoo.com
Los Angeles
jul 18

all natural herbal plastic.

daredevil, daredevil@alloymail.com
Huntington Beach
jul 12

the cell phone. when answering the phone, the greeting you hear is no longer: "HOW are you?" it is now: "WHERE are you?" on vacations, at the movies, at business meetings, at funerals...you'll hear them ring at every inappropriate time & place imagineable. no place is sacred where cellular service is available. and now they are the perfect fashion accessory, with interchangeable face plates, so you can simultaneously color-coordinate your phone with your outfit, while on the phone coordinating your schedule with your best friend's. i never thought i'd break down & get one, but...oh, sorry, gotta go---my phone's ringing.

michele, mtsf@aol.com
sf
jun 25

locally - e,et,und,y,and-globally. The concept defines the 1990s.The way in which everything is running so fast( aroundeverywhere), medias,the net, arts,english, cocaine,just spots,music. Anyway it's easy, and speed.and you're free to take your time. push the bluebotton in your brain.

amanda montanari, amandamontanari@hotmail.com
milano-italy
jun 4

The Sex Pistols defined the nineties twenty years ago: we're the future—no future

John Yates, turnyate@aol.com
knoxville
may 14

Hmmmm...This is an interesting question as it leads the respondent to segregate the tumultuous emotions of the decade and specify a hero or heroic aesthetic. This is like hitting the symptoms of the disease...or in this case the cure. The nineties will, like any decade, be remembered dor a myriad of influences judged as "good" or "bad" by the moral eye of each beholder. The big thing though happening underneath any judgement of the situation and it's inevitable course is how 90's culture subtlely changes our Group Perception. One person up there mentioned Diversity Montages and everyone notices the mixing of cultures. For better or worse...the nineties will be noted for its role in the globalization of the planet. It won't be immediate, but it will occur and maybe we'll war over it or maybe not. But, eventually, we accept where we're at. Until then, the Columbine High, Civil Wars, Racial and Cultural Prejudicial Hate and "New" mental disorders and internal and widely unrecognized and misdirected Self-Hate situations will get more frequent. The nineties is the beginning of what was desired by the so-called "sixties" movements. It will be though in a different form than expected. Right now though, we are so confused on both spiritual and material psycho-emotional levels that we recycle anything that seems to cure the Fear. This will be a major change but I doubt we'll notice it happening. But, someday the nineties will mark a crossover of Culural Eras. Enjoy the Remixing....Namaste!

J'sai, jsaia@hotmail.com
Earth-1
may 10

A new level of empowerment and connection made possible by the widespread use of computer technology and the internet.

Millenium Child, duckdive@yahoo.com
San Diego
apr 23

I think the thing that defines the 1990's, is the never ending quest to reinvent ourselves. It is sad but true, in music in books in art in pop culture in general. If someone who has the tinyest bit of infuluence says "hey, I'm punk, or goth or glam or a FReAK ou a raver or a two-tone ska child or a swing kid or a skater or industrial," everyone jumps on the wagon, till the newest hippist thing comes along. I'm tired of diffrent "waves" of diversity. We need to realize we all like something different, and if we find someone with the exact same intrests we should be concerned with how genuine we really all. So in short I think the 90's is the decade of the poser. I mock the person with ONE genre of music in a personal collection. The person who wears all black day in day out. The chick at Contempo buying spikes and a chain. I mock them all, for ruining the 90's, a time of corporate America, and the poser culture.

Courtenay, tankgirl@aol.com
salinas
apr 20

I think locally here in Los Angeles, The Arena define the street culture among the Latino youth culture! The Arena nightclub is the #1 all ages happening hot spot for the last 10 years! As far as media artists goes, I personally think US as individuals define our own culture!

Joey B!, JoeyB@housemail.com
Hollywood, CA
apr 20

I think Korn defines the 90's. I mean think about it. They are such a good band (besides horney little girls that love BSB and N'SYNC) they are the most listened to and popular band. They are singing songs that us (Generation XXX) can relate to andmake us feel good (i.e. "Children of the Korn" from Follow the Leader). We children are not taking it anymore and Korn knows this!

Heather (Sno-Balls) Wallace, steelcandy@yahoo.com
Iola
apr 12

The commecialization, recycling and repackaging of all art, music and people that start out as anti-establishment, authentic, counter-culture, true, individual and original (for example: jazz, hippie, punk, skate, rap, rave, cyberpunk, hackers, etc, etc) The assimilation and ultimate prostitution of this once-pure art for the almighty advertising dollar. These revolutionary counter-culture aesthetics are absorbed into the very establishment they were meant to fight against. They are bought and sold as any other product is. Underground art, music and people eventually become just a tool to sell you shit you don't need. The jingle in a car/soda commecial or the hook in some movie/tv show. That is 90's pop culture. A mish-mash of past and future, a vegan smothie with herbal extasy and herbal viagra in it. What's up No.Cal? Peace from So.Cal.

Paulo von Borries, ambientgoo@aol.com
Laguna Hills, CA
apr 12

I think the 90's is all about going out and having a good time, and not worrying about wha people think of you. If you want to walk around in 34" big jeans and an undershirt, do it!!! It's not about making other people happy, or about following a band just because your friend likes them!!! Do what you feel is right!!! Be who you want to be and peace out!!!! Tara

Tara Barnett, pokey_196@hotmail.com/
Oshawa
feb 18

It is all about the RAVE. Where else can you see all types of people coming together for one reason and one reason only to have fun. It is also about the realitive ease that one can go about putting on a function like this. It is also about the dissemation of inforamtion. Anyone who has access to a computer connected to the internet can send his or her thougths rants and raves out to the whole world in an instant. That I must say will define the 90's and the next melineum

JOHNNY MEM, CGROW@HOTMAIL.COM
RICHMOND VA
feb 18

it's true that bill gates and windows has been a major milestone in the 90's, but let us not forget that he is not behind the success of the web which is why most people buy a pc. everyone wants to get connected and more and more people are overcoming their computing fears because the web is a pretty neat place, and i do mean "pretty." netscape was the pioneer of the graphical browser, and that is what led to the internet/web explosion. netscape made something that was originally used only by scholars, computer "nerds", and educational and government agencies user friendly. so one the major media happenings that will help define the 1990's, in my opinion, is the development of netscape by Marc Andreessen and his college buds.

Joey, joeys@ibm.net
Las Vegas
jan 18

The 90's have been about three things, in my opinion. 1) Reruns of every past decade going back to 1940. I guess people just have nothing else better to do than imitate, bring back, or dig up the past; in movies, music, dance, clothing, culture .. And putting the modern 90's spin on it. 2) Trying, however unsucessfully, to become better people. You know, the "Eat Right, Don't Smoke, Love your neighbor, Take care of the environment, Save third world countries from starvation, Get your kids a decent education, and still have enough of a personal life to relax in your GAP khaki's while you eat strawberry cheesecake, read the latest 'Oprah Reccomends' book, and sniff your lavender scented candles from Bath & Body works..." thing. Everyone's trying it. Blah. (3 Waiting and Waiting and WAITING for the millineum. OH MY GOD, like it is going to be *so* different from this decade. Well, we might have faster computers. *grin*

Jasonda, Jasonda@MSN.com
Abilene TX
jan 14

Well as I see it, Madonna seemed to have influenced the people who use AOL. As for the overall decade we know as the 90's, I would have to say Bill Gates. Although I can't stand him or his company Microsuck, who else put a computer in almost every home in America not to mention the world. Coming in a close second would have to be Steve Jobs - the father of Apple and now Pixar. Now how many people who have visited this site are using an operating system other than one from either formentioned companies? Nuff said!!! Happy Millenium to all...

Rocky Sebastian, rocky@nono.com
Marina del Rey
dec 15

by rocking the graphic design universes of print and motion graphics, david carson and kyle cooper have significantly contributed to the look and attitude of the 90s. yup. those two. them and van damme.

ardith ibanez rigby, ardith@akimbodesign.com
sf
may 28

If you are looking for one person, I'd say Madonna has most influenced pop culture in the 90s. From her material girl days and Desperately Seeking Susan flick, to the rehashing of the Marilyn look, the Blonde Ambition tour and tunes, to the Vogue video and dance craze (ripping off of gay dance culture all the while), the Sex book and the "expose" documentary Truth or Dare (can you say Diva) to dueting with BabyFace back before Mariah discovered him, to Evita: songs, movie and officialized Estee Lauder Evita makeup line to her record company (unleashing A. Morrisette amongst others) and now the earth mother new age look with real live baby in tow. And I'm not even a big fan! I don't know how you'd define 90s fashion, music, film, or obsessions without mentioning her a few times. If you're looking for a movement, and not one person in particular-the Rap Scene by far.

Kristi, Swellkh@aol.com
may 28

So this decade is the precursor to the millenium? A complete Letdown if you ask me. Our generation has no new ideas, it merely repackages those of other times.

Pariah, wd40@hotmail.com
may 28

The sixties tried to change the world, the seventies tried sex and drugs, the eighties were about money, and the nineties are about our bodies. We eat, we diet, we look for fatless foods. We pierce ourselves, we tatoo ourselves, we even scar ourseves, we dress up from other eras, and we mix it all together so you have a girl who's about a hundred pounds with magenta hair, a pierced eyebrow, a celtic armband tatooed on her upper arm, and she's dressed like Doris Day. Want the art of the nineties? Walk down any San Francisco Street. With the job crunch, employees aren't even forced to conform to work anymore, and your five dollar an hour deli worker looks like your 100 thou a year programmer. I love this decade. it's odd.

christina, cwodtke@greetst.com
San Francisco
may 28

Bill Gates....Of the Nerds, For the Nerds, By the Nerds

BillaBee, met45@jps.net
may 28

What art events do I think will define the 90's? The discovery of many new sexually repressed "outsider" artist such as, A.G. Rizzoli and Henry Darger.

Dana-Maria Valat, Mardou_Fox@hotmail.com
San Francisco
may 28

Ok.. someone has to say it...Madonna represents 90's pop culture in that she appeals to all ages, cutures, genders... she has achieved success as an artist and a business person.. and influences music/fashion/art. A strong woman who seems to get what she wants by taking risks... Plus she seems like a cool mom. can she do no wrong?

Maleon4996@aol.com
may 27

The Clintons. Who else can chase the hoochie mamas, making the paper every week with a new jilted honey, AND STILL hold office? And what about the Mrs.? How many more "cheeks to turn" does she have left?

kingtut, jn2d@dnai.com
Mission
may 27

Looking back 10 years from now, I think the 90's will be characterized by mainstream acceptance, especially among youngsters, of "subversive" themes. Think: Extasy, Computer Music (all genres), Graffiti, S & M, Medical Marijuana, Raves, Dennis Rodman, Internet Sex, The Worldwide VIBE, Baggy Jeans, Rave- Wear, Tattoos, Telecommuting, Burning Man, Phreaks like me and you! [Of course, those of us in the B.A. might be biased.] Stay tuned for our next episode: "2000-2010 The Individual vs. The Corporation"

Ivar aihdag, rg@aureal.com
Fremont
may 27

Happenings ... Burning Man. It has the right mix of the timeless primal and ever evasive post-modern ambience to capture the 1990s vibe.

Steve March, steve.march@wrs.com
Alameda, CA
may 27

There were many that influenza this 90's era and it's very difficult to pick out one, but not too difficult... I would have to say it was me- both locally and globally. A bit self- absorbed whould you say?!?!?! Fame has always been a very desirable thing, but in the 90's this desire has grown into an unquenchable fire that looms in all of our colons. And I'm not the only one who thinks that, as PBS had a special on it a month ago... (well, not the colon fire). So there. Poogene has helped defined the pop culture of the 90's as much as anyone.

poogene, poogene@pacbell.net
San Francisco
may 27

So you wanna know who I think has defined POP culture in the 90's? Without a question, it is Bjork. She is the symbol of artistic freedom. Whether or not mainstream culture recognizes what an influence she has had on music and style is another question. However, anything she does seems to trickle down into the mainstream. I also think many others will answer this question the same way.

Megan Pinkerton, MPink@aol.com
may 27

The 90's is RETRO HELL. The comeback and popularization of "SWING, 70's FUNK, SKA, PUNK ROCK, etc". The cocktails. Blaxploitation movies. Pot. Cocaine. Godzilla. The return of METAL. I'm tired of it all. I'd rather listen to 'good' Electronica or a Stereolab record and take some Echinacea/B vitamins/Odwalla to cure my freakin's headache/hangover.

Eiso, eiso@cea.edu
San Francisco
may 27

Jerry Springer & Viagra (together or separate). Of course, in about a month, no one will know what I am talking about....which is also very 90's!

Pierre La Fou, gfrenkel@sfgiants.com
SF
may 27

my vote for 90s culture maven has to go to scott baio. scott has evolved and stood for me as the emblem of our generation: a child who has become a (hu)man. scott grew up before our very eyes, from innocent chachi-creature in the early happy days episodes of the 70s, thru the halcyon "charles in charge" era of the 80s and 90s--from busboy at arnold's to benevolent dictator of suburbia. watching scott baio metamorphose from doe-eyed proto-leonardo into care worn but still studly mentor to another generation of kids, well, geez, it kinda makes me heartsick

pablo escobar kim, fmg@jps.net
oakland
may 27

did someone say world wide web?

tess ting, tessting@fabric8.com
lower haight
may 27

locally: love garage, boogie buffet, and the bulletproof boat parties were among the best. globally: we must applaud the melding of all musical genres.

ida thawte, ida@fabric8.com
san francisco
may 27