A New Mass Culture Chapter 7 Sections 4 & 5

Lecture Focus Question How did the new mass culture reflect technological and social changes?

Movies Motion pictures wildly popular in the 20s Silent films Charlie Chaplin and the “Little Tramp” 1927: “Talkies” → films with sound Al Jolsen and “The Jazz Singer”

Jazz Music Roots: African-Americans in New Orleans, then Chicago and Harlem, NY Based on improvisation Black musicians, white audience Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington Charleston and the flapper

Modernist Literature Lost Generation: American writers of the 20s inspired by their “lost” condition to search for new truths & new ways of expressing them “lost”: disillusioned with 1920s cultural values Harlem Renaissance: writers and artists celebrated African American culture, explored questions of race in America, expressed joys/pains of being black in America

Newspapers & Magazines Tabloids: compact newspaper with large headlines, few words, and many pictures Magazine circulation increased dramatically Radio & phonographs broke sales records Advertisers eager for potential consumers Mass media created a common culture

An Age of Heroes American Heroes won against all odds → the “underdog” Challenged the unknown Represented the upbeat spirit America wanted to recapture

Charles Lindbergh “Lucky Lindy” Flew solo nonstop from NY to Paris Won the race (and $25,000) against all odds

Amelia Earhart First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Attempted to fly around the world Disappeared mysteriously over the Pacific Challenged the unknown

Sports Heroes Spectator sports became a big business during the 20s 1st highly publicized boxing fight & 1st heavyweight champion Baseball’s popularity explodes Babe Ruth: baseball hero

Before (1900s): After (1920s): the Gibson Girl the Flapper Very conservative Quiet-mannered, obedient Long dresses Long hair in elaborate hairdos Little make up Did not drink or smoke A moral example Big impact on women’s fashion and behavior Short dresses Hair was bobbed Heavy makeup Drank and smoked Rebellious, bold, energetic, fun-loving The “New Woman”

Before: the Gibson Girl

After: the Flapper

Men’s Fashion

Women in the Work Force Professional women held clerical positions Mostly white, single Businesses remained prejudice against women Employers expected women to quit if they married or became pregnant

Lecture Focus Question How did the new mass culture reflect technological and social changes?