DoaS Context Flashcards
1
Q
The Rise of Capitalism and Consumerism
A
- After WW2, there was a rise in Capitalism and Consumerism, particularly in the USA.
- Wartime utility production pulled America’s economy out of a depression, and from the late 1940s on, Americans saw a rise in their spending power.
- Jobs were plentiful, wages were higher, and because of the lack of consumer goods during the war, Americans were eager to spend.
- The American consumer was praised as a patriotic citizen in the 1950s as spending was perceived as contributing to the ultimate success of the American way of life.
2
Q
The American Dream
A
- The belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society.
- The lower you start the more opportunities you have despite not having the same resources.
- Willy Loman is a microcosm for many Americans who dreamt of reaping the benefits of the American Dream.
3
Q
Arthur Miller Family background
A
- Born the son of a well-to-do Jewish manufacturer in New York City in 1915, Miller had to experience the social disintegration of his family when his father’s business failed during the Great Depression of
the 1930s.
4
Q
Attitudes to Mental Health
A
- The public defined mental illness in much narrower and more extreme terms than did psychiatry, and fearful and rejecting attitudes toward people with mental illnesses were common.
5
Q
Meritocracy
A
- A social system, society, or organization in which people get success or power because oftheir abilities, not because of their moneyor social position.
- Ingrained Propaganda into the character of Willy Loman who cannot fathom his lack of success in the face of his, what he perceives as, hard work.
6
Q
The Nuclear Family
A
- Stereotypical idealised family which consists of aFather, Mothers, Sons and/or Daughters.
- The suburbs became an increasingly more popular as the baby boom soared over America; prompting more and more families to move tothese suburbs.
- Affordable housing caused a great increase in the population in the suburbs. The addition of shopping centres and fast-food restaurants added to the ease of living in the suburbs and further increased its popularity. -> Mass marketing birthed the world of Advertising and idealisation of Capitalist and consumerist lifestyles.
7
Q
WW2
A
- WW2 created a lot of jobs which boosted the USA out of a depression.
- Numerous industries thrived because of World War II, including the automobile, manufacturing, fashion, and film industries.
- Post-war prosperity was not just the end of the Great Depression, but also the rise of the middle class and the idealised suburban lifestyle, as returning soldiers re-entered the workforce and women returned to traditional roles as homemakers.
8
Q
What jobs did Arthur Miller take on so he could finish his studies at the University of Michigan?
A
- Waiter, truck driver, and
factory worker.
9
Q
What were the impacts of Miller’s formative years?
A
- These formative years gave Miller the chance to come in close contact with those who suffered the most from the Depression and instilled in him a strong sense of personal achievement necessary to rise above the situation.
10
Q
When did Miller begin writing plays?
A
- He began writing plays in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until Death of a Salesman was performed in 1949 that Miller established himself as a major American dramatist.
11
Q
What was society like in Miller’s time?
A
- A society that emphasised the hollow values of material success.
12
Q
What was Levittown?
A
- Seven planned communities created by the real estate developer William Levitt and his father’s company Levitt & Sons.
13
Q
Why was Levittown built?
A
- These prototypical American suburbs were built after World War II for returning veterans and their families.
- Those who had once rented apartments in central city locations could now afford to own a modest home - the first Levittown house cost just $6,900.
14
Q
How does Levittown represent capitalist/consumerist ideologies?
A
- To speed up production and keep costs low, the homes were constructed with prefabricated parts and assembly line methods, and were almost identical.
15
Q
What was the G.I Bill?
A
- The GI Bill of Rights, also known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, was signed into law by President Roosevelt on June 22, 1944.
