Cultural Changes In The 1950's

Many individuals/Scholars tend to characterize the 1950s as a time of conformity, prosperity, & solidarity. While the 1960s was viewed as the decade of pandemonium, chaos & rebellion. These descriptions of both decades may be accurate. But many argue that there is a correlation between the two periods.

The United States had appeared to be dominated by consensus and conformity in the 1950s. The fifties were the decade of reform to the better led by president Eisenhower. The economy was booming. Further, there was a rise in consumerism which resulted in a domino effect on the economy. On the other hand, issues arose during that time as well, such as the fear of communism. Additionally, disagreements and rebellions. The 1950s was characterized as a prosperous and conformist for several reasons. For instance, the development of the suburbs. The fifties was a period of civil rights groups, feminism, and change.

As I mentioned previously, the sixties were a time of change. For instance, young people, watching their friends and family drafted into the Vietnam War, began to question traditional society and the government. Additionally, women changed their views on their place and role in the family. Also, new ideas emerged, changing the look of families both then and now. In 1960, more than 70 percent of families still looked much like the family of the 1950s, with a man who brought in the family 's sole income, children and a stay-at-home wife and mother.

2 It is essential to go back to the fifties to be able to understand the sixties historically and sociologically. The fifties brought relief since the Depression and war were over, and now “science was mobilized by industry, and capital was channeled by government as never before.” 3 This new affluence gave the United States the ability to create suburbia and conform to moving in. This affected the sixties because conformity resulted in people rebelling.

What We Really Miss About The 1950s In her essay, “What We Really Miss About the 1950s”, Stephany Coontz talks about the myth of the 1950s. She begins her argument by stating some reasons why the nostalgia for the 1950s exists. The main thing Americans miss about the those days is the stability. She acknowledges that this fallacy is not insane.

The 1950s was an important year for fashion and for African Americans. A few things that were important in the fifties was segregation, fashion and the influence that the fifties had on fashion.

The years of the 1950s and 60s was a time where many hardships occurred as global tension was high and as a result many wars occurred as well as movements. The historical issues and events of the fifties and sixties was often propelled by popular culture through art and media such as television, paintings and music. The civil rights movement succeeded in bringing equal rights to the African American population within the United States in a peaceful manner thanks to meaningful art forms. The Vietnam War was widely seen as a controversial conflict and opened insight to Australians as to what was actually happening through music and television which in turn swayed the public opinion of Australia’s involvement with the war.

Looking back in time at advertisements and television shows in the era of the 1950’s and 60’s will open our eyes at how the world has changed in the past sixty-five years. The value of the way society sees certain demographics of people to the outlandish lifestyles expected among Americans of the time. The world has changed so much just in my life span when that time frame is doubled it is incredible to think just how different of a world we live in today. From big companies such as Coca-Cola to main stream cable television shows on AMC depicts a picture of segregation and ideology of Americans during this

When World War II ended, the United States rejoiced with what they assumed their victory would determine; total peace, the discontinuation of Communism, the return of all the dearly missed soldiers, and greater equality for all, especially in the workplace. Much to the dismay of many citizens at home during the war, these aspirations were not exactly what they expected. In the near short years right after the war, there was much prosperity and many were perfectly content, but in these years, many had difficult times with the changes that occurred after the war. With these rough times came many fears of the conditions of the country, but many of these fears were greatly calmed through the work of the President Eisenhower in the 1950s. In the

The 1960’s was a time of great conflict and tension for America. Lyndon B. Johnson was elected president in 1963, and many social issues were dividing the United States at this time. The fight for equal rights for every citizen, not just white males, caused many riots, protests, and distress for the country. The Vietnam War was taking place on the other side of the world, but was severely affecting Americans back in the States. It lead to the Anti-War Movement, which still affects America on foreign relations today.

Unlike the other films, Pleasantville is a comedic movie where it starts two young teenagers trapped in another world—the world of 1950s America and their wild adventures trying to escape in order to returned home. However, despite the comedic elements—the film is a deconstruction of the “good old days” of the 1950s; often polarized as “where values and families meant something” in response to the rise of social change in modern-day America. Social changes is hot button issues today—where controversy arise in response to the norms being broken. Pleasantville brings forth the true reality of the 1950s and showcase the events is not what it seems. Gender and racial discrimination is often ignored of the “good days”; mainly because of the belief that United States was united after a brutal war of World War II.

David Farber is the author or editor of three additional books on the 1960s and both David Farber and Beth Bailey are professors of American history at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, which suggests that the authors are well-acquainted and knowledgeable on the topic of post-Sputnik American education. It is important to note that because of the date of publication, 2001, Farber and Bailey’s book is a secondary source; which indicates that it offers different perspective, analysis, and conclusion on the 1960s. However, because it is a book published in 2001, is it unknown whether or not the authors had first-hand experience with the topics they were writing about—which could affect their particular school of thought or

The 1950’s was the decade of change. Key events across the decade and the world include the beginning of the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the first ever Organ Transplant and the introduction of Coloured TV. Also Political battles centred around communism and capitalism dominated the decade.

In the 1950’s the American economy was booming due to the conclusion of World War II. Economic prosperity transformed family life and people put more emphasis on the individual. Television programs represented how people should live the ideal life. With many changes in culture people began to have a different perspective on life. In the 1998 film, “Pleasantville” directed by Gary Ross and the novel, “The Catcher in the Rye” written by J.D. Salinger both depict teenage culture of the 1950s.

Many historians view the 1950s as an era of prosperity, conformity, and consensus, and view the 1960s as turbulences, protest, and disillusionment. I agree with many historians and their point of view to this era. Socially speaking, although the Civil Rights movement had started roughly around 1954, the 1960s was the period where the Civil Rights movement skyrocket. The 1950s were viewed as a prosperous and conformist for the reason of the development of the suburbs.