Mechanization reduced demand for farm jobs Mechanization reduced demand for farm jobs Industrialization led to urbanization Industrialization led to urbanization Business flourished (“Big Boom”) Business flourished (“Big Boom”) Middle class increased Middle class increased Automobile transformed society Automobile transformed society

Between 1922 and 1929 dividends from stocks rose 108% Between 1922 and 1929 dividends from stocks rose 108% Corporate profits increased 76% Corporate profits increased 76% Wages grew by 33% Wages grew by 33% Productivity increased, production costs decreased Productivity increased, production costs decreased Result was rampant materialism Result was rampant materialism People spent money on consumer People spent money on consumer goods, recreation and travel, goods, recreation and travel, professional sports professional sports

entertainment: movies, dance, “touring,” radio entertainment: movies, dance, “touring,” radio Prohibition: “speakeasies,” bootlegged liquor Prohibition: “speakeasies,” bootlegged liquor Women “liberated”: bobbed hair, short flapper dresses, right to vote (1920) Women “liberated”: bobbed hair, short flapper dresses, right to vote (1920) Jazz Age Jazz Age

(including aftermath of WWI) (including aftermath of WWI) Rural Americans (especially soldiers) experienced urban and European life Rural Americans (especially soldiers) experienced urban and European life Optimism changed to disillusionment after war Optimism changed to disillusionment after war Civilization was “a vast edifice of sham, and the war, instead of its crumbling, was its fullest and most ultimate expression.” (John Dos Passos) Civilization was “a vast edifice of sham, and the war, instead of its crumbling, was its fullest and most ultimate expression.” (John Dos Passos) “Bohemians” and Expatriates “Bohemians” and Expatriates Chicago, New York (Greenwich Village), and Paris (West Bank) Chicago, New York (Greenwich Village), and Paris (West Bank) Effects of WWI

They saw the breakdown of traditional values and emergence of a “godless” world view They saw the breakdown of traditional values and emergence of a “godless” world view Freud, Darwin, Marx Freud, Darwin, Marx Marked by rebellion and anger of younger generation regarding war Marked by rebellion and anger of younger generation regarding war Fostered loss of familiar: family life, community, religion, patriotism Fostered loss of familiar: family life, community, religion, patriotism Western civilization symbolized as bleak desert in desperate need of rain (spiritual renewal) Western civilization symbolized as bleak desert in desperate need of rain (spiritual renewal) This is the rise of Modernism This is the rise of Modernism

A disillusionment with old; a search for the new. A disillusionment with old; a search for the new. Modernism encompasses the works of thinkers who rebelled against nineteenth century society, believing the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization, and daily life were becoming outdated. Modernism encompasses the works of thinkers who rebelled against nineteenth century society, believing the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization, and daily life were becoming outdated. Modernists directly confronted the new economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world. Modernists directly confronted the new economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world.

Expatriates in: Expatriates in: London London Ezra Pound Ezra Pound T. S. Eliot – The Waste Land T. S. Eliot – The Waste Land Paris Paris Gertrude Stein – Known mainly because of her influence on other expatriates Gertrude Stein – Known mainly because of her influence on other expatriates Said to Hemingway: “All of you young people who served in the war, you are the lost generation.” Ernest Hemingway – Believer in “cult of experience” Ernest Hemingway – Believer in “cult of experience” Style: clean, simple, devoid of unnecessary words Style: clean, simple, devoid of unnecessary words (short sentences) The Sun Also Rises The Sun Also Rises A Farewell to Arms A Farewell to Arms For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls The Old Man and the Sea The Old Man and the Sea F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby

Post-impressionists Post-impressionists Expressionists Expressionists Primitives Primitives Cubists Cubists