1.4 Cultural Changes In 1920s Flashcards
1.4 Jazz Age
developed by black Americans in New Orleans - instantly became popular with black Americans
Great Migration to North , Chicago New York , spread of jazz and white musicians began to play jazz across America - aided by commercial radio
*apart of the New Negro Movement
jazz associated with cultural revolution - black female singer could achieve success - Bessie Smith Billie Holiday
Louis Armstrong records bought by black and whites
accompanied new dance crazes - Charleston
BUT not universally popular
country areas remained white country music and black areas blues were still important
denounced by KKK
The religious revival of the 1920s saw preachers condemn the loose morals and sexual excesses of the decade and music of the devil
1.4 harlem renaissance
apart of the New Negro Movement - achievement in literature , music , art and plays
Harlem was a black ghetto - destination during the migration . began to insert black unique identity into northern cities
Universal Negro Improvement Association believed in Pan africanism (all should unite for fight of equality)
In 1921, an all-African-American Broadway musical was produced, ‘Shuffle Along’.
In literature L. Hughes produced The Weary Blues (1926), which explained the black experience.
The NAACP used its periodical ‘The Crisis’ to publicise the works of young African-American poets and writers.- celebrate achievements
still faced discrimination across America in jobs, housing and education. The Harlem cultural renaissance must be placed against the re-emergence of the KKK to provide a broader perspective of society in the 1920s
1.4 Popularity of Baseball
developed during civil war but 1920s first golden age for sport
1929 most major cities had a stadium that could hold tens thousand people
Baseball teams, yankees and White Sox became house hold names / celebrities
eg: Babe Ruth (“sultan of swat”) signed for Yankess for $100,000 - seen as greatest player of all time
controversy: 1919 World Series Final , Chicago white Sox team was accused and convinced of amthc fixing
Recovered quickly:
appointment of kenesaw Mountain Landis as national baseball commissioner - helped clean up image of baseball by stamping out corruption and banning substances
sport benefited from growing prosperity of 1920s
workers had more money to spend and consumers boom helped fuel demand for spectator sports
Growth of commercial radio allowed more people to listen to sports
Newspapers developed sports sections with coverage of Major League Baseball
Remained segregated - until after Second World War when Jackie Robinson played
1920- Negro baseball league - poorly financed compared to white team BUT still attended by large crowds = opportunity
- Sport and the radio came together most effectively in professional boxing. KDKA went on air to broadcast J. Dempsey winning the world heavyweight boxing title in 1919. Throughout the 1920s it continued to bring live commentary of matches to a wide American audience.
Radio
help bring the entire country together
before: would have to visit theatres and mainly in big cities and big towns
radio - for millions irrespective of where they live
allow people to receive national recognition
important during the religious revivals in 1920s - Aimee McPherson, used radio to broadcast her religious beliefs across America
(important as cars to bring America together)
growth in commercial radio stations - KDKA companies could sell their wares through radio advertising
- For the first time, small towns and remote rural areas were able to hear up-to-date news broadcasts, music, radio plays and comedy shows. Broadcasts were sponsored by private companies, meaning the growth of radio matched that of advertising.
cinema
lead in world entertainment , California
until 1927: all films were silent = films could be enjoyed all over the world
before the world: short length comedies - Charlie Chaplin
1915- first full length feature film ‘Birth of a Nation” - private showing in the White House + helped relaunch the KKK
by 1929 each small town had own picture house and industry dominated by paramount and Warner brothers , multi millionaire
created americas films stars that represented the american dream , coming from poorer backgrounds then living rich lives Eg Douglas Fairbanks
- celebtries became obsession for Americans via newspapers
Fashions that appeared in films were copied by film fans.
BUT religious moralists were concerned that cinema could undermine the christian ethos of the country= pressure= creation of code for censorship in 1930
talking films in 1927 made Al Johnson a star overnight
hollywood began the oscars prove its importance in American society and world cinema.
USA top country for popular culture in the world
Literature
periods was known as “lost generations” - artists who had survived the war - concentration on realism , reflecting actual experiences including moral issues - breaking prohibition laws eg
F Scott Fitzgerald - Great Gatsby - rebelliousness during decade - flappers and breaking prohibition laws - highlighted his message of the “age of excess”
Hemingway - Sun also rises
became national and international acclaim and gave Americans literature a global reputation for the first time
- lead in popular culture
