1. The Roaring Twenties My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends- It gives a lovely light. A Few Figs from Thistles (first published in 1920):Edna St. Vincent Millay A Few Figs from Thistles (first published in 1920):Edna St. Vincent Millay An American lyrical poet and playwrightAn American lyrical poet and playwrightlyrical poetlyrical poet 1st woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. 1st woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.Pulitzer Prize for PoetryPulitzer Prize for Poetry She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work.She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work.

2. The Roaring Life of the 1920’s New Forms of Entertainment List examples from the video clip: New Movements in the Arts List examples from the video clip: New Attitudes and Fashions List examples from the video clip: VIDEO CLIP – “THE ROARING ’20’S”

3. The economic, political, and social changes of the early 20 th century manifested themselves in a widespread clash of cultures. As twentieth century modernity increasingly challenged Victorian traditions, this provoked a defense of older values. Basic transition in American culture from 1910’s to 1920’s.

4. Problems of Urbanization…”fuels” a culture clash Industrialization leads to growth of big cities. African Americans continue to move North. Cities struggle with Prohibition and organized crime.

5. CLASH OF CULTURES – 1910’s – 1920’s “Old” Culture – RURAL CULTURE –E–Emphasized production –E–Emphasized character (morals) –E–Emphasized scarcity ( frugal) –E–Emphasized religion –I–Idealized the past –L–Local Culture “New” Culture – URBAN CULTURE –E–Emphasized consumption –E–Emphasized personality –E–Emphasized abundance –E–Emphasized science –L–Looked to the future –M–Mass Culture (media) Warren Susman, Culture as History: The Transformation of American Society in the Twentieth Century (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984). Warren Susman, Culture as History: The Transformation of American Society in the Twentieth Century (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984).

6. Images of the 1920’s The Grand Illusion What made the decade “roar”? – Birth of the “modernization” –Jazz Age –The “New Woman” Suffrage; flappers;etc –Artistic “Freedom” Surrealism Functionalist Architecture –Frank Lloyd Wright –Scientific Research Edison’s Menlo Park,NJ Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Darwin’s Theory of Evolution –Entertainment Industry Movies, Radio, Professional Sports The Grim Reality What was superficial about the “roaring 20’s”? “ Lost Generation” living “high life”, but had “lost life’s meaning?! Boom economy… based on false “paper wealth” ?! An era that introduced a modern “anything goes” atmosphere that is ALSO filled with intolerance and discrimination?!