By: Steven Beda
Essential Question- The 1920's was an era of "rebellion" in pop culture. The creation of sites such as speakeasies during Prohibition serves as a good example of the "rebellion" during this era. It was a pop culture ruled by the youth of America. Many developments of the 1920's pop culture was rejected by the older generation; the rise of Hollywood, the flapper, jazz music had created a different culture than that of the older generation. Life greatly improved with the rise of Automobile, airplanes, and radios.
Automobiles -Car sales played a large role in the economic boom of the 1920's. the mass production of vehicles like the Ford Model T created jobs in the automobile industry and stimulated the market for the raw materials needed to make the vehicles, such as steel petroleum, rubber, and glass. Cars changed the way people spent their free time. Many families took trips by car instead of trains at this point, and the image of owning a car no longer meant being in the upper class. The creation of cars also sparked a boom of car related businesses such as drive-in restaurants, motels, and gas stations. Radio/Movies - Radios and movies in the 1920's influenced the younger generation the most. Both the radio and Hollywood were trend starters. The image of the Flapper urged women to go buy make-up and the fashion of the flappers. The radio was responsible for the popularization of jazz music. The trends set by the radio and Hollywood found most of its success among the working class as both symbolized the American Dream. Advertising -Advertising a product changed from simply announcing the existence of a product in a dull, dry fashion to persuading the public they needed and deserved to own the product. Advertisers hired movie stars and sports figures to persuade Americans to buy all types of products. Magazines and newspapers changed from plain investigative articles to new consumerism culture. Coca-Cola is a good example of a company that succeed from changing the way they advertised. When first introduced in the 1880's, the product was marketed as a medicine, with claims that it cured headaches, and that it "revived and sustained" a person. Seeking to build repeat business and brand loyalty, by the 1920's the company emphasized it as a refreshment and "fun food". Sports The 1920's was a time when America and the world wanted to put the memory of the Great War behind them and enjoy life. The War provided an economic boom for Americans, along with the automobile as a means of transportation. People now had more free time. With this new free time, people turned their attention to sports. Baseball was the most popular sport during this time. Writer Edgar F. Wolfe argued in the 1923 Literary Digest that the urban ballpark was a meeting ground for Americans of all classes and backgrounds. The people are able to unite in “rooting” for the same ball club, and forget their selfish ends in discussing a subject that holds a common interest for both. The New York Yankees and Babe Ruth were among the most popular sports teams and figures. Growth in radio also contributed to the excitement for sports. Airplanes
Airplanes began as Freight carriers. Air mail was when the popularity of planes began to "Take Off". Air mail became so popular that many people thought of using planes to transport people. The price was very high, so only the upper-class could afford to fly. But Airplanes were not all transportation in the twenties. Air shows, where planes did tricks were very popular as well. the Airplane even created a national hero, Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh was the first man to cross the Atlantic ocean by himself in an Airplane. |
---------------------------------------Thinking Like a Historian------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Change and continuity- Pop Culture changed quite a bit, in comparison to the decade before it. Pop culture today very easy to compare to Pop culture from the twenties. not much remained the same from the previous decade, Pop culture was glamorous and rebellious was more in style (Movies, Movie Stars, jazz, Dancing, Radio). Comparing the trends of Twenties Pop culture to today's Pop culture, many parallels can be made. The idea of going to a club to drink and dance is the same, seeing movies and the idealization of movie stars is still the same, and the popularity of sports is still the same. The only things that have changed about these topics is the style i.e. Jazz, types of movies.
-Change and continuity- Pop Culture changed quite a bit, in comparison to the decade before it. Pop culture today very easy to compare to Pop culture from the twenties. not much remained the same from the previous decade, Pop culture was glamorous and rebellious was more in style (Movies, Movie Stars, jazz, Dancing, Radio). Comparing the trends of Twenties Pop culture to today's Pop culture, many parallels can be made. The idea of going to a club to drink and dance is the same, seeing movies and the idealization of movie stars is still the same, and the popularity of sports is still the same. The only things that have changed about these topics is the style i.e. Jazz, types of movies.