1950s Culture and Society Baby Boom Suburbia The Age of the Automobile Teenagers Rock n Roll TV CBC
Baby Boom After the WWII people started having large numbers of children -Postponed due to the war -Families larger then with 3-4 kids as the average -6.7 million kids born between making up 1/3 of the population -All retiring now
1950s Suburbia 1000s of new homes were built to accommodate the growing population -Baby boomers, immigration Many in outlying areas of the city were land was cheaper Suburbs include model houses, big houses with large lots with lawns, patios, and swimming pools
Bedroom Communities Suburban subdivisions became known as bedroom communities Had their own schools, parks, churches Commuters would travel to work in the city and return to the peaceful suburbs at night
The Age of the Automobile The automobile represented all of the elements of the post war era -Fascination with technology -Progress -Personal freedom Cars a symbol of luxury -chrome, fins, fancy tail lights In the 1950s, Canadians bought 3.5 million cars -Necessary for the suburbs
Differences in Education Pre WWIIPost WWII Usually only made it to grade 7/8 1 in 10 finished school War and economic depression kept them out of school Baby boomers spent more time in school than before- graduation! No wars or hardships to keep them out of school
Birth of the teenager There were no wars or economic hardships to push kids to take on adult roles The emergence of leisure time Both factors allowed for the invention of the teenager
Rock and Roll: Born in the 1950s Each generation is almost afraid of the music of the newest generation Song lyrics, new performers, and the African-American influences in rock shocked and frightened the older generation -Racism influenced a prejudice towards rock -Elvis’ provocative hips caused mayhem and shots below the waist were banned
Dancing
Introduction of Television TV became a necessity in this new era of luxury and new technology Cost about 20% of average income Friends, families, and neighbours would gather around one TV First colour TV show came out in 1966 in Canada
TV Influencing the Economy Advertisers were now able to send powerful and appealing messages that consumption was the road to happiness -Bigger, newer, better products TV spoke directly to the younger generation as consumers -Sweet cereals, toys, pop, ect.
TV Reinforcing Social Values Popular shows promoted the ideal of a traditional wholesome, family lifestyle -Dad is in charge and makes the money, mom stays home to raise kids and look pretty, kids are obedient to their father’s rules
Reinforcing Social Hierarchy Women who broke the rules or challenged the authority were either made into a joke or threatened with abuse The Honeymooners "One of these days Alice—pow! Straight to the Moon!" Predominantly white TV shows
The Massey Commission American stations dominated the airways Canadian children grew up identifying with American culture than their own -Still an issue today In 1949 Laurent establishes the Massey Commission to investigate the state of Canadian culture
The Massey Commission Report In 1951, it suggested that Canadian culture needed to be protected from American influences Canadian television would be used to promote national communication and for the cultural education in drama and music
Measures Taken as a Result of The Massey Commission The CBC was put in charge of the development of TV -By % of Canadian homes had access to the CBC The National Film Board would be strengthened The Canada Council of Arts was created and funded by the government -Awarded grants to writers, artists, and theatres
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Created in Based on recommendations for the Massey Commission This agency would regulate the amount of foreign material broadcast over the airways and impose rules requiring Canadian content