CANADA’S POST WAR UNIT s

CONSUMER SOCIETY After WWII, there were few long term productions that could contribute to sustaining wartime economic success; After WWII, there were few long term productions that could contribute to sustaining wartime economic success; Companies quickly adapted to developing consumer goods – many already had applications during wartime; Companies quickly adapted to developing consumer goods – many already had applications during wartime; Consumers were able to purchase these new items as many had jobs, and could afford to support production industries; Consumers were able to purchase these new items as many had jobs, and could afford to support production industries; More workers were needed for production to keep up with the demand and thus supported the consumer cycle; More workers were needed for production to keep up with the demand and thus supported the consumer cycle;

ECONOMIC CYCLE Unlike after WWI, women were not so willing to return to their homes at the end of the WWII; Unlike after WWI, women were not so willing to return to their homes at the end of the WWII; As they entered the workforce they increased the family income to increase spending; As they entered the workforce they increased the family income to increase spending; Items that were once out of reach for the average family came down in price; (cars, houses) Items that were once out of reach for the average family came down in price; (cars, houses) The growth of the Canadian economy was sustained by consumerism and a newly defined status for the 1940s and 1950s; The growth of the Canadian economy was sustained by consumerism and a newly defined status for the 1940s and 1950s;

AMERICAN ECONOMIC INFLUENCES American prosperity during WWII as a producer of almost everything for the Allies made them very wealthy; American prosperity during WWII as a producer of almost everything for the Allies made them very wealthy; Their economy also became closely tied to the Canadian economy as many branch plants were established; Their economy also became closely tied to the Canadian economy as many branch plants were established; Although most of the profits returned to the US, these branch plants employed and paid Canadians who then spent their money at home; Although most of the profits returned to the US, these branch plants employed and paid Canadians who then spent their money at home; Main problem: many decisions regarding branch plants were made in the US and had no real reflection of maintaining Canadian interests; Main problem: many decisions regarding branch plants were made in the US and had no real reflection of maintaining Canadian interests;

TELEVISION AND MASS MEDIA The most influential cultural force from its inception was television; The most influential cultural force from its inception was television; Shows, attitudes and ideals would greatly affect Canadians’ ideas of culture and cause confusion between American and Canadian identities; Shows, attitudes and ideals would greatly affect Canadians’ ideas of culture and cause confusion between American and Canadian identities; By 1948, the CBC received government licensing to develop a purely Canadian television service; By 1948, the CBC received government licensing to develop a purely Canadian television service;

CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION two stations in Montreal and Toronto fed both English and French programs to the population; two stations in Montreal and Toronto fed both English and French programs to the population; 1953 – local service in Ottawa and Vancouver; 1953 – local service in Ottawa and Vancouver; 1954 – stations in Winnipeg and Halifax; 1954 – stations in Winnipeg and Halifax; Since 1954 – 15 Canadian independent stations have been given licensing; Since 1954 – 15 Canadian independent stations have been given licensing; They are responsible for the reflection of Canadian culture, values and ideals to a national and international audience; They are responsible for the reflection of Canadian culture, values and ideals to a national and international audience;

TV CULTURE Early TV shows were done live in a studio, the sets were simple and restricted (like live theatre); Early TV shows were done live in a studio, the sets were simple and restricted (like live theatre); TV became a subculture of the 1950s, spawning other aspects of its character: TV became a subculture of the 1950s, spawning other aspects of its character: –TV tray –Frozen dinners These were the result of marketers understanding the family watching at mealtime and making mealtime and TV part of their daily activities; These were the result of marketers understanding the family watching at mealtime and making mealtime and TV part of their daily activities; Shows also responded to the varying TV attitudes; Shows also responded to the varying TV attitudes; –Variety, children, educational/intellectual, sport

Beginning of TV Culture

SUBURBAN CANADA The economic prosperity, baby boom and housing boom of the 1940s and 1950s meant that more housing locations had to be found; The economic prosperity, baby boom and housing boom of the 1940s and 1950s meant that more housing locations had to be found; Attempts were made to disperse the traffic or “downtown gridlock” as many drove to their places of employment from their houses located in the city; Attempts were made to disperse the traffic or “downtown gridlock” as many drove to their places of employment from their houses located in the city; City planners were encouraged to develop residential locations outside the main region of the downtown – therefore developed a sub- urban area; City planners were encouraged to develop residential locations outside the main region of the downtown – therefore developed a sub- urban area;

RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL Locating the new residential areas outside the city attracted industrial plants to develop in adjacent areas so that their employees could avoid the city completely; Locating the new residential areas outside the city attracted industrial plants to develop in adjacent areas so that their employees could avoid the city completely; The suburban areas developed “convenience” centers for shopping, libraries, public transit and entertainment; The suburban areas developed “convenience” centers for shopping, libraries, public transit and entertainment; Lots for these houses were often larger than in the city and attracted those interested in green space and the impression of prosperity; Lots for these houses were often larger than in the city and attracted those interested in green space and the impression of prosperity;

DOWN FALL OF CONSUMERISM Increased product availability caused increase product desirability – many families may have spent more than they were able to afford; Increased product availability caused increase product desirability – many families may have spent more than they were able to afford; Increased poverty for some; Increased poverty for some; Increased work hours for some families, entrance of both parents into the work force; Increased work hours for some families, entrance of both parents into the work force; Children were unsupervised for a portion of their day – baby sat by the television or a neighbour; Children were unsupervised for a portion of their day – baby sat by the television or a neighbour; It then became termed the “idiot box” or the “boob tube” because of it is a passive activity; It then became termed the “idiot box” or the “boob tube” because of it is a passive activity;

TEENAGERS Those between ages 13 and 19 were newly distinct group; Those between ages 13 and 19 were newly distinct group; Able to stay in school longer, attend university or college to further education before entering a career; Able to stay in school longer, attend university or college to further education before entering a career; Previously, young people would pass from childhood to the working world, possibly not finishing school at all; Previously, young people would pass from childhood to the working world, possibly not finishing school at all; This new teenage group had leisure time (after school, parents at work) and some spending money (from either parents or a part-time job); This new teenage group had leisure time (after school, parents at work) and some spending money (from either parents or a part-time job); There were still some attempts to educate and control the group to maintain some conformity; There were still some attempts to educate and control the group to maintain some conformity;

TEENAGE TRAINING

TEENAGE CULTURE Because of the strictness of the parent group (had lived through war and seen what happens in a chaotic state) the teenage group felt the need to rebel; Because of the strictness of the parent group (had lived through war and seen what happens in a chaotic state) the teenage group felt the need to rebel; Rebelling against conservative ideas of their parents, the teenagers created their own culture; Rebelling against conservative ideas of their parents, the teenagers created their own culture; Their ‘non-conformist’ style merely applied to the culture of their parents, there was still a need to conform to a particular teen group; Their ‘non-conformist’ style merely applied to the culture of their parents, there was still a need to conform to a particular teen group; As parents lost touch with the trends and attitudes of the teenage culture, there was a widening of the “generation gap;” As parents lost touch with the trends and attitudes of the teenage culture, there was a widening of the “generation gap;”

ROCK CULTURE Emergence of music as a defining force in youth culture was not unique to 1950s teens; Emergence of music as a defining force in youth culture was not unique to 1950s teens; However, the development of rock and roll created an entirely different edge to teenage culture; However, the development of rock and roll created an entirely different edge to teenage culture; Combination of southern blues, country and rockabilly that had a fast pace, quick lyrics and electric guitars; Combination of southern blues, country and rockabilly that had a fast pace, quick lyrics and electric guitars; The transistor radio also helped the growth of rock and roll in both the US and Canada, as rock radio stations also grew in number and teenagers could carry the music with them; The transistor radio also helped the growth of rock and roll in both the US and Canada, as rock radio stations also grew in number and teenagers could carry the music with them;

CANADA ROCKS Development of Canadian acts reflected the growth of a Canadian style; Development of Canadian acts reflected the growth of a Canadian style; Development of Canadian stations (CHUM 1050); Development of Canadian stations (CHUM 1050); 1960s sound became more distinctive and saw a development of groups, more than single acts; 1960s sound became more distinctive and saw a development of groups, more than single acts;

ROCK ‘N ROLL Departure from music of adults; Departure from music of adults; Energetic and rebellious music – hypnotic; Energetic and rebellious music – hypnotic; Racist undertones to any objections because the roots of R&R were in the black southern US; Racist undertones to any objections because the roots of R&R were in the black southern US; It was thought to be immoral, crude and corrupting; It was thought to be immoral, crude and corrupting; Teenagers did not feel that the music had a moral attachment, it was just music, but it did define the teenage experience; Teenagers did not feel that the music had a moral attachment, it was just music, but it did define the teenage experience;