4c cultural change Flashcards
Explain how Hollywood changed in response to the HUAC investigations. *
Hollywood sought to prove its loyalty to the HUAC by creating a series of cold war films which involved anticommunist themes
impact of hollywood
Cold War themed films told stories of communist infiltration and spies - contributing to the public paranoia and feeding into the fear that communists were trying to poison and destroy American society
Enemies and bad guys in films became communists
List three films that were released with an anti-communist message. *
Robert Stevenson’s I Married a Communist, 1950, highlighted how a communist’s past would always catch up with them
The Body Snatchers, 1956, sees aliens who lack independence invade earth
How many television sets were sold in the first 6 months of 1950? *
3 million
How did an increase in television sets change who was able to watch television? *
Families and people on low incomes could now have access to shows, popular entertainment and sports that previously been associated with the middle classes and the rich
What percentage of Americans saw watching TV as their favourite way to spend their time? *
50%
How were families portrayed on TV sitcoms and programs? *
Sitcom families tended to be white and middle class, nuclear family
Women on TV without husbands and families were portrayed as unhappy
Leave it to Beaver is a key example of a TV show promoting traditional American family values
What percentage of the population were under 24 in 1950 and 1960? *
41.6% and 44.4%
What did Frederic Wertham argue in his “Seduction of Innocence” research about teenage behaviour? *
It claimed that comic books helped to corrupt young people.
Select the statements that tell us that teenage behaviour wasn’t as rebellious as research suggested. *
Less than 1 in 10 teenage gangs actually participated in violent behaviour
At the start of the 50s the average age for marriage reduced to 20.3 years compared, to 21.5 in 1940.
Less than 1% of teenagers nationally were ever held on criminal charges in 1956
Describe how music changed. Include 3 precise examples in your answer. *
Rock and roll music was closely associated with youth rebellion
Elvis Presley and his fellow performers gained fame later in the 50s.
Rock n Roll was closely associated with African American music - but it only took off in popular culture once it had started to be performed by white musicians
However, many teenagers still preferred to listen to the likes of Pat Boon, Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney.
what evidence was there of teenage rebellion in america
an increase in drunkenness, gang fights and murders
new yorks murder rate increased 26% in a year
what was a key cause in the development of teenage culture
an economic boom provided teenagers with financial power which enabled teenage consumerism and independence from their parents
how did the second world war transform the economy
the war transformed the economy from focusing on the new deal to industrial development
how did TV and films contribute to the teenage stereotype
TV and films contributed to the teenage stereotype and reinforced concerns. Teenagers often portrayed as juvenile delinquents who were aggressive, violent and confrontational towards authority.
