The Outsiders S. E. Hinton 1967

1950s ► Conservative period ► Post-WWII ► Good economy ► Eisenhower ► “I Love Lucy” ► “Father Knows Best” ► “The Honeymooners” ► “Ozzy and Harriet” ► “Leave It to Beaver”

American Politics ► The president of the United States during the early 1960s was John F. Kennedy, Jr. The President, or JFK as he was often known, was extremely popular and charismatic. He brought a lot of optimism to the American public in the early years of his term. He worked for Civil Rights and for the disadvantaged. He was assassinated in 1963 during a Presidential parade.

Society ► America was a country in turmoil, dealing with the Civil Rights Movement as well as the beginnings of the Vietnam War. ► The Vietnam War was met with great conflict at home. As the decade continued, many people became disillusioned with the actions of the government and protested their continued occupation of the then- Communist country. ► The Civil Rights movement, which worked for equal rights for African-Americans gained strength throughout the 1950s and early 60s. ► Martin Luther King Jr., a reverend from the American South, worked fervently for these rights. He advocated for non- violent protests and peaceful demonstrations.

1960s ► JFK President : Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, NASA, assassinated ► LBJ President : Civil Rights Act ► MLK, Jr. & Malcolm X: civil rights movement ► 1969: Moon, Woodstock ► Counter-culture, cultural revolution ► Beat poets ► Rock n’ roll ► Rebel cinema ► Hippies, psychedelic ► Free speech, Chicano rights, antiwar movement, sexual revolution

S. E. Hinton ► Oklahoma ► 1948-today ► 16 years old when wrote The Outsiders ► Father died of cancer early ► Friend was beaten up in school fight ► Two cliques at school, Greasers and Socs

General Setting ► The Outsiders presumably takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where S. E. Hinton grew up. ► We mostly see the East-side of the city, from the perspective of the Greasers.

Greasers v. Socials (Socs) ► GREASERS ► Working class poor ► East side ► Community menace ► Elvis ► T-shirts and jeans ► No car, T-Bird ► Long, greased hair ► SOCS ► Wealthy ► West side ► Community trust ► Beatles ► Madras shirts/jackets ► Mustangs ► Semi-Beatles haircuts

Fashion During the time period of the novel, Soc “types” would wear madras shirts and khakis. You can see an example of typical clothing below. James Dean embodied the cultivated Greaser image. Leather jacket, jeans, white t-shirt and boots were typical of boys who emulated the free and uncontrolled lifestyle Dean seemed to live. Madras Shirt Hair Grease Cologne

Greasers

Greasers ► Hoodlums, hoods, juvenile delinquents, JDs ► Smoke, weed-fiend, cancer stick ► Heaters = guns ► Fuzz = police

Grease, American Graffiti, “Happy Days”

Socs

Socs

Madras Clothing ► Lightweight cotton fabric with patterned texture, ideal for summer ► Popular in 1960s

Drive-Ins Watching movies at the drive-in theatre was a popular thing to do, especially for teenagers. The car culture was a big part of society. You’ll notice that cars are often mentioned in the novel.

Cars Chevrolet Corvair, (1962) Ford Mustang, 1964-today (1964) Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, (1964)Ford Thunderbird, (1960) Socs Cherry Valance Buck Merril

Paul Newman ► Actor, rebel, handsome ► The Hustler (1961) ► Hud (1963)

Drive-In Restaurants These restaurants were a typical place to take a date. They are also where gangs would hang out.

DX Gas, Dairy Queen, Tastee Freez

1960s Consumer Products

The American Dream Happiness for the characters of The Outsiders was a girl, a car, some money, a strong group of friends, and probably an ice-cold bottle of soda. How much has changed?

Literary Allusion: Gone With the Wind ► Margaret Mitchell ► 1936 book ► 1939 film ► Bestseller ► American Civil War and Reconstruction ► Gallant Southern gentlemen and belles

Literary Allusion: Great Expectations ► Charles Dickens ► 1861 ► British classic story of Pip, an orphan, who grows from a youth to adulthood

Literary Allusion: Robert Frost ► Poet ► ► Rural New England ► “The Road Not Taken” ► “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” ► “Nothing Gold Can Stay”

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” ► Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.