As time entered the late 1990s, when Bill Clinton officially began his second term, American society was undergoing an interesting cultural transformation.
In films, novels, stage plays, music, and sports programs, the heroes and idols beloved and pursued by audiences were undergoing subtle changes.
The once strong, perfect, classically heroic figures like those in ancient Greek sculptures were slowly losing favor, as evident in the protagonists of literary works.
The 1994 film, "The Story of Ah Gan," which achieved great success by featuring a fool as the main character involved in many significant events of modern American history, hinted at this trend.
Released the same year and initially lackluster at the box office, but later gaining a good reputation, "The Shawshank Redemption" focused on escape from prison and confinement, also a symbolic gesture.
