AMERICAN CULTURE IN

THE 1920’S

C H E L S I E L E A C O C K , A S H L E Y C O R D WI N , B R A D A L F O N S O

“ROARING TWENTIES”• The decade of the 1920s was often

referred to as the “Roaring Twenties” to describe an atmosphere of fun, loud music, and wild enjoyment, where everyone enjoyed themselves.

• It was not a completely accurate phrase.

• Farmers – less money from war, more competition, very low demand all due to overproduction.

• The 1920s was notable for a rebellion to traditional values .

GROWING CITIES• There was a sharp rise in urbanization.• More Americans clustered in cities as part of

the “change.”• Skyscrapers became widely popular.• Poor sanitation and overcrowding accompanied

the growth of cities.• However, there were more jobs.• The cities were looked upon with disdain. They

were thought to bring “evil” such as a “doing away” of religion and family life and introducing new ideas such as atheism and habits like drinking and criminalism.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Radio• Jazz• Sport• Cinema

RADIO• Radios became very popular. • Mostly all Americans listened and had their

own set.• Household Installment programs were also

established due to its large demand. • By 1922 the number of radio stations had

soared to 508 from only one licensed notable radio station.

• By 1929 NBC was making 150 million dollars per year from radio.

THE JAZZ AGEJazz music emerged and attached itself tothe youth. It was very popular among blacks, where it first emerged. The 1920s became known as the “JazzAge.” Dances such as the “Charleston” accompanied it. Images of the “flapper” came with it. The older generation saw the Jazz Age as evil and destructive to previous moral values.

JAZZ AGE CONT.The “ideal” flapper was looked upon a s“expensive and about 19.”They were short dresses, make-up, and smoked in public. Jazz Music was cited as bad in articles whichstated that:A) Jazz employs primitive rhythms whichexcite the baser human instincts;B) Jazz music causes drunkenness because reason and reflection are lost.

QUICK REVIEW• Why were the cities viewed as

immoral? • Why did the radio stations

grow to more than 500 by 1922?

• What was thought to be the negative aspects of Jazz?

SPORT• The popularity of sports bloomed,

baseball being the biggest of them. • New legendary teams emerged such as

“New York Yankees” and “Boston Red Sox.”

• Boxing also became popular due to figures such as Jack Dempsey.

CINEMA• Film industries developed like

Hollywood.• Popular “stars” were Charlie Chaplin,

Buster Keaton, and Douglas Fairbanks.• Until 1927 all movies were silent until

the first “talkie” came out.• Grew into a multi-billion dollar

business.• About 100 million were being sold each

week.

MORALS• Morality became a hot area as traditional morals and

ethics were seen to be slipping from society. • This was especially true in the area of sexuality. • Sex became more popular instead of “taboo.” • It made its commonplace in newspapers, everyday

conversation, and especially films. • Popular films that featured sexuality – Forbidden Path,

When a Woman Sins, Her Purchase Price, and A Shocking Night.

• Men and women actors became known as “sex symbols”

• 36 states threatened to introduce a censorship legislation due to the worry of the sex-obsessed films

MORALS CONT.• Contraceptive advice was

openly available for the first time

• There was an increase in the number of cases in which sex outside of marriage took place

THE CAR• The motor car was a main factor that led to all

the new features of the 1920’s being possible• Cars helped lead to the growth of cities by

opening up the suburbs and carrying people to where they needed to go

• It was said that “Cars carried boyfriends and girlfriends beyond the moral gaze of their parents”

• They also carried many of people to sporting events, vacations, and to visit their families as well as friends

QUICK REVIEW

• What were some outcomes of cinema on traditional values?

• How important was the motor car in making all other aspects of 1920’s culture possible

WOMEN IN 1920• Women received the vote in all states• Their domestic work was made easier due to the introduction of new electrical goods• The traditional rules followed by older women were not as serious to the younger women• Younger women became more daring with their clothes, they smoked in public, drank with men in public as well kissed in public• They ventured out with men without a chaperone • There were 10 million women in jobs in 1929- 24% more than in 1920• Women, since they made money of their own now, became targets of

advertising

WOMEN IN 1920 CONT.• Women became less likely to stay in

unhappy marriages- in 1914 there were 100,000 divorces; in 1929 there were twice as many

• Even though women took jobs, they were still paid less than men even if they did the same job

• Women weren’t seen as equals to men when it came to things such as politics

• Political parties wanted the vote of women, but they did not wish to have women as political candidates- considered them “unelectable”

• Even though there was a presence of women in media, those in America still kept traditional values

ACTIVITY

• Make a Venn diagram comparing the culture between that in 1920 and now

ASSIGNMENT• Answer the following questions • Either write the question then answer or

restate the question within your answer Why was the 1920’s called “The Roaring

Twenties”? How were the cities viewed as a threat to

traditional values? Why was jazz music viewed as a

corrupting influence? Why was there an explosion of sexuality

in the 1920’s? Why did cinema become so popular in

this time period?