1950's Influence On American Culture

I) Introduction: Hello everyone today I will speak to you about an English rock band who most of you have heard off, “The Beatles”. They were one of the biggest musical icons in history. The band consisted of 4 legends: John Lennon (guitar), George Harrison (guitar), Paul McCartney (bass) and Ringo Starr (drums).

Nirvana ended up in a weeklong tour in the United Kingdom after Grohl joined the band (Burlingame, 2006). From getting a new band member, to getting on the top scale in the U.S, to being offered to go on tour, it all looked well for Nirvana so far. It all came to the point of deciding on a meaningful band name. Getting Their Band Name Continuously changing names, the band could never agree on a band name that fit well. Nirvana means a state of joy or a world of tranquility and delight, Cobain and the band decided to use that as a name for one of their shows (Burlingame, 2006).

Song Analysis: “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan Bob Dylan is one of the modern elites of American musical history who has been lifted high by his distinctive and unique singing voice. He is an iconic songwriter full of thought-provoking and controversial lyrics that has attracted and driven many people to appreciate his expensive body of work. He was born in 1941 as Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota then changed his name to Bob Dylan in 1961 after moving to New York City. Bob started his musical career by highlighting themes on political background, composing protest songs as well as being an acoustic type guitar player, founding his repute as free-thinking artist. Bob then changed his style of singing to societal-minded songwriting in 1976 by releasing an album that contained a thrilling mega-truck “Hurricane”.

Winthrop’s excerpt is an example of a life event that will encourage individuals to come together for centuries. When I think of a more current event, I feel on September 11, 2001, a similar impact on individuals was made when the worst terrorist act in the United States occurred. I think of the 9/11 terrorist act in New York City, Washington, D.C. and the United Airlines Flight 93. This is an example of American history where on that day people were forced to look beyond their differences, arguments and competitions and work together. During this incident, many regular working class people became heroes.

It also won 1 Oscar with another 11 wins and 6 nominations. The most iconic song used “The Time of My Life” won an Academy award for Best Music, original song” “Dirty”. To of been awarded an Oscar and won other awards just shows how amazing of a film it truly is. Writer Eleanor Bergstein explains in an interview from Samuel G Freedman’s article “FILM; 'DIRTY DANCING ' ROCKS TO AN INNOCENT BEAT” stating, “I meant 'Dirty Dancing ' to be a celebration of the time of your life when you could believe that a kind of earnest, liberal action could remake the world in your own image” (Freedman).

(Random House Inc., 2014) The 1950’s saw Australia thrive and challenge British cultural ties with a sudden influx of American lifestyles, as more Europeans began to settle the population was impacted greatly through this cultural diversity.. Whilst the country was living in the shadow of The Cold War, the end of The Fifties gave them the opportunity to develop a great sense of national pride. Technological revolution transformed peoples homes, the way people worked and the time they spent in leisure; especially as many had to return to the happenings of everyday civilian life. They were no longer leading their lives as military people, and this showed greatly in this era.

America has been influenced by many people, inventions, and cultural phenomenons since it’s confederation in 1776. Phineas T. Barnum has influenced much of mass-entertainment since coming to America in 1834 at age sixteen (Harris 13), he has vastly changed what it means to promote and entertain in American Culture. His knowledge of what people want and how to make people think they want what he had, was amazing. He constantly fooled people and had a way of making the customers come back. James Cook argues that Barnum’s fascination with the entertainment business began in July 1835 while reading a newspaper article about Joice Heth, a one-hundred sixty-one year old maid of General Augustine Washington and nanny of later President George Washington.

War was absolutely devastating; emotionally and economically throughout the world. Especially after World War I, is was shocking to people because it was the first time anyone had witnessed something so distorting. In America, it changed everyone 's life styles. People became more materialistic and rebellious. The UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History talks about that time period by saying “The novel reflects the outward glitter and the inward corruption of the Roaring Twenties , also known as the Jazz Age, a decade of prosperity and excess that began soon after the end of World War I (1914–18) in 1918 and ended with the 1929 stock-market crash”(656).

As John Lennon once said, “a dream you dream alone is just a dream, a dream you dream together is reality”(www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/beatles). Four men, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr created The Beatles to get their memos of unity, love, jubilance, and emotion across to the world. The Beatles revolutionized Rock and Roll for everyone when they climbed their way to stardom. From some of their first songs: Love Me Do, Please Please Me, and Twist and Shout. To some of their major hits: All You Need Is Love, Eleanor Rigby, and Hey Jude.

1970's Fashion The beatles broke up, The Vietnam War still persisting and everyone became infatuated with Disco in the 1970’s. The 70’s fashion was inspired by many musicians, movies such as the hit “Saturday Night Fever”, television shows, the war, women's liberation movement and Earth Day along with many other events that took place during that era. Events of the 70’s greatly influenced the outrageous fun and hip fashion industry and is still seen today in various forms. Historical, political and social events all largely fueled the self expression craze in the 70’s. “The Vietnam war definitely made an impact and was reflective with some of the antiwar protestors wearing military attire that was altered (Frankel).”

Ruther B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, and Samuel J. Tilden, the Democrat candidate, were both running for president. The 1876 election was the most controversial election America has ever seen. Millions of African-American lives were crushed by the election of 1876. In order to win the election, Ruther Hayes created the Compromise of 1877 and in return, pulled the soldiers out the South who were there for Reconstruction. Reconstruction means to rebuild the South and introduce them back into society.

The San Diego Ballet performed Romeo and Juliet at the Old Town Temecula Theatre on October the 25th. This dance company uses music from a famous composer Sergei Prokofiev and the choreography was done by Javier Velasco. Velasco explains that his focus was centered on the two young people in love, Romeo and Juliet. He wanted to give the audience a glimpse of the first sensation of one’s true love. It was decided by Javier Velasco to select a smaller cast of colorful characters that would help bring a clear perspective between the feuding families, the entire performance lasted ninety minutes.

This music style had shaped the future of those in the 1950’s setting a platform of the music to come. Rock and Roll couldn’t have taken flight without the popular artist of the time including the widely known “King of Rock” Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and many more bands from England and America. Rock and Roll transformed society in the 1950’s causing a separation in tradition from the older generation and the newer generation known as the “Beat Generation”, according to website ushistory.org. It received its name from the style of the music and the newly formed dance moves arising.

He took Route 66 as he was inspired to write a song about Route 66. Him and his wife, Cynthia, suggested that they would travel the famous highway as they performed the song for Nat King Cole called “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” became the most recorded song in history. The album cover by Bobby Troup composed in 1946 with popular rhythms and blue standards. With the rising amount of people traveling on route 66, tourist attraction has become a huge thing.

The Woodstock music and arts festival was an unimaginable success. Millions of people from all over came to take part in this sharing of great rock music in one of the most successful nonviolent rebellions against the Vietnam War. This festival was filled with young hippies who overflowed the surrounding town and even caused a serious lack of supplies. Rock festivals popped up all over America after Woodstock and the spirit of rock and roll traveled faster than ever before. Woodstock and festivals like it were the prime of the "flower power" movement before the unfortunate deaths of many stars and rock legends in following years, like Jimi Hendrix (Woodstock Music Festival Epitomizes the 1960s).