1999 Mundane Office Space

1999 Mundane Office Space was a hyper-nihilistic or otherwise minimalist framework and outlook on the office work ethic. In 1999, major releases came out of Hollywood, which were mid-tier blockbusters. These films were seen as a lot more thought-provoking in their themes than other outings of the 1990s; movies like Office Space, The Matrix, Eyes Wide Shut, Fight Club, Being John Malkovich and The Green Mile. It was clear that 1999 was part of a turn-of-the-century paradigm’s shift in pop culture, but one aspect of 1999 and the year 2000 that was recognized by people online was a sort of this slight nihilism in its depiction of Office Space work ethics.

History[]

Origin[]

Criticism of hyper-capitalism, work ethics and mundane lifestyles isn't anything new in Hollywood. There have been countless films that have displayed this kind of criticism before, 1999 seemed to do something kind of different as it wasn't usually the main focus of the plot, it would usually be in certain scenes. The first film to do this was Office Space which had a more tongue-in-cheek way of displaying work ethics.

Before Office Space[]

Before 1999 and films such as Office Space, there were already a few dark comedies centered around the Office lifestyle showing a very bleak and cumbersome aspect to the workplace through its indirect comedic style, but these films are more plot-focused with narrative stories. Movies like Happiness (1998) and In The Company of Men (1997), these films leaned very heavily on dark subject matters and themes, but felt like a precursor to what would happen in movies from 1999 and 2000.

Characteristics[]

This aesthetic has many characteristics, one of which is dealing with the mundane, usually dealing with the main character feeling weighed down by their corporate job until something in their life pivots their perspective on it. Some scenes include violence, and most involve quitting. The main character uses self-monologuing to display their thoughts about their current predicament. The office space is usually very bland, empty and often resembles a liminal space; very heavy use of cubicles and early to mid-90s beige and grey monitors/photocopiers. This aesthetic heavily relies on mundane and oftentimes liminal aesthetics that convey a sense of sheer boredom. The iconic picture that started the Backrooms internet phenomenon was originally taken in 2002, which was around the time when office work interiors oftentimes had muted carpets, crackling noises coming from the ceiling lights, and the sound of fax machines.

Key Elements[]

Mundane office work
Monotone dialogue
Rage quitting
Corporate Dystopian
Neutral color scheme
Emotionless boss
Critique of capitalism
Turn of the century pessimism
Dead-end jobs

Decline[]

This trend only lasted from about 1999 and 2000. There were a few exceptions from 2003 and 2004 with both the UK version of The Office and The Incredibles. There was also a scene from the movie Wanted (2008) that also had a rage-filled quitting scene but most of this aesthetic was from that small period of time.

Fashion[]

Clothing looked similar to any other office clothing of the 80s and 90s, with oversized short-sleeved shirts, tacky ties, and baggy trousers, but clothing always looked colorless.

Media[]

Film[]

Most of this aesthetic was noticeable in films from about 1999 and the year 2000. There were a couple of exceptions from before and after said periods.

Pre-1999[]

Playtime (1967)
Falling Down (1993)
In The Company of Men (1997)
Happiness (1998)
The Truman Show (1998)

1999-2000[]

Office Space (1999)
The Matrix (1999)
Fight Club (1999)
Me Myself I (1999)
American Beauty (1999)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
American Psycho (2000)
Hamlet (2000)

Post-2000s[]

Secretary (2002)
Elf (2003)
The Incredibles (2004)
Wanted (2008)

Television[]

Although there aren't many TV shows with this aesthetic, it often continued in the UK with The Office comedy series on the BBC, which would later follow up with the US Office in 2005, carrying this style. Over in the US, Dilbert was the aesthetic done in animation and lasted until 2000.