As a result of the war, America felt a new patriotism. As the wealth of the country increased the people were inclined to celebrate their success. They also celebrated having a much easier life than in comparison to the hardship and compromises of the war years. This was evident in the products that were designed to save Americans time and effort. There was advertising particularly aimed at women in the home household products. The consumerist beliefs were perpetuated by the mass media, radio, television, cinema and print media. Household objects and celebrities faces were the way to sell these products. Art became visible to greater sections of the population and to lower classes. Because of its positioning, images were seen in conjunction with advertising and printed on clothing and acce...
After the end of World War II, the United States went through many changes. Most of the changes were for the better, but some had an adverse effect on certain population centers. Many programs, agencies and policies were created to transform American society and government.
American Society on the Change during the Post-World War Years. After World War II, Americans experienced a time of rapid social change. American soldiers were discharged and returned home from the battlefields, hoping to find work and to get on with their lives. Marriage rates increased dramatically after the war.
The 1920s became known as an era memorable for being a time when new products, new ways of marketing and advertising, and standardization gave the country new ways to interact, enjoy themselves, and introduce them to new products. Although very common today, standardization of mass culture like magazines, radio, movies, music, and sports were exciting new innovations to the people of this time. Not only did they distract from the monotony and stresses of work but they created celebrities that people aspired to be like.
After the war, the American people made the change from "old" ways to "new" ways. Many factors, such as new technology, fundamentalism, new looks and church led to tension between the old and the new. The 1920s were a time of conflicting viewpoints between traditional behaviors and new and changing attitudes.
There is a fine line between what American society looked like during World War II and contemporary America. The dilemma is that society has gone from patriotism and a fight for liberty to “everyone walking around with a chip on his or her shoulder” (Carr 2). This two distinct differences on America culture and society is manifested in, Howie Carr’s “Take $2000 and Call Me in the Morning” and Ronald Reagan’s speech, “The Boys of Point du Hoc”.
At the end of World War II, American culture experienced an overhaul that ushered in a period of complacency beneath which paranoia seethed. A generation that had lived through the privations of the Depression and the horrors of world war was now presented with large suburban homes, convenient and impressive appliances, and pre-packaged entertainment. Such wonders so soon after extended hard times were greeted enthusiastically and even treated with a sense of awe. They may have encouraged few distinctions among the middle class -- the houses in a suburb were generally as identical as hamburgers at McDonald's -- but they represented a wealth to which few had before enjoyed access. Life became automated, with dishwashers cleaning up after dinner and air conditioning easing mid-summer heat. The new conveniences left more time for families to absorb the new mass culture presented through television, records, and Spillane novels. Excitement over the new conveniences and entertainment led America to increasingly become an acquiring society. To my parents' generation, childhood in the 50s was a time when people were generally pleased with themselves and with the...
America symbolized struggles between traditionalists and those who echoed conformity and intolerance, which resulted in strong feelings against opposing races. Everyone in the 1920s wanted all the glitters and gold as the famous and rich stars. Because of this, most people resorted to conformity in order to pretend that they were ...
The massive amount of consumerism and materalistic ideology came from the decade of the 1980s and proved to be the time of wanting to have luxrious items throughout the daily routine of being an American citizen. The American culture of massive consumerism of the 1980s was influenced by the elements of the American Dream, the iconic pop stars and events, the deep recession troubling the lives of many, and the nationalistic pride that was shown through the actions of recreations and sports. Not only was the 1980s influenced by the culture of consumerism, but it impacted the future generations to only want to become a bigger and better version of the 1980s.
After WWII Americans wanted to boost the economy. One of the ways of doing this was by propaganda. Pinocchio is a prime example of such propaganda. The economy was ghastly, buildings were flattened in Europe, and the process of "rebuilding" was daunting because Europe was demolished. In 1946 Pinocchio was playing in Europe but “no revenue was coming in due to the damaged economy,”(). The ideal was to be white, heterosexual, masculine, Protestant, bourgeois, young, and American as listed in the "Text Book" on page 186. To drive society into this ideal mass media was utilized. In Classical Marxist terms, "The mass media are a 'means of production', which in capitalist society are in ownership of the ruling class. According to this stance, the mass media functioned to produce 'false consciousness' in the working-classes," (
In 1918 when World War I ended, American society and culture changed immediately after. World War I resulted in the death of nine million soldiers and twenty one million wounded. Families were left mourning the loss of their relatives and people titled World War I as a “war to end all war.” With the nation going through such tragedy, change was bound to happen. During the 1920s there was a change in consumer culture, art, music and literature. So much changed happened during the 1920s that it’s referred to as the roaring twenties. Entertainment was on a rise and the way that Americans were used to living started to change. Along with that came immigration laws that changed American culture as well.
The period following World War One was a very exciting time in American history. It was a time to finally let loose, have fun, celebrate, and enjoy all the wonderful things and “modern conveniences” that had become accessible to a wider variety of people. Since there were so many changes in life style, women’s rights, movies, automobiles, radio and fashion, America was transformed after World War One.
Before the 20th century, individual progress was the definition of the American identity. Success was zero-sum; the people that did progress had authority over the people that didn’t, and people had this overwhelming desire to strive to the fullest as an individual. Several developments throughout American history demonstrated the desire to succeed and progress in America before the 20th century. Slavery, industrialization, and the great depression are events that had an immense impacted the American identity in the 1920s by transforming it from an identity built on a greedy desire to strive and progress as an individual to one that strives to progress as a nation in whole.
During the Progressive Era, America experienced a shift from the production of capital goods, such as railroad equipment or steel, to consumer goods. As a way of subliminally enforcing the belief that mass consumption was a freedom, many companies began to name their products with the word “liberty” or “…used an image of the Statue of Liberty” (Foner 686). This devious method of advertising made consumers associate products with freedom, which sparked the belief that consumerism was associated with their rights and freedoms as an American citizen. Because of this, there was also a shift in political activism, urging the United States to indulge in the world of consumerism. Much like voting, the ability to take part in mass consumerism was beginning
Arguably the most recognizable illustrator of the 20th century, Norman Rockwell created the images and set of tone of Americana idealism. These illustrations graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for five decades, reaching 4 million homes and viewers . For Rockwell’s work had enormous widespread appeal due to its sentimental, untroubled reflection of American culture represented in stunning technical realism and humours depictions of children, young love and the mishaps of everyday life. Rockwell’s work during WWII is some of his most recognizable and played a significant contribution to propaganda for enlistment, war bonds and over all war efforts . His work from this period includes the famous Rosie the Riveter, the Four Freedoms
The post World War II period had an enormous impact on American society and literature. Many important events occurred and affected directly to the movement of American literature. During this period, American Literature reflected the movement of disillusionment, and portrayed the lost generation. Many WWII writers adapted new approaches and philosophies in writing their novels. They portrayed the lost generation, anti-war perspective and explored the true meaning of “war hero”. Among them, the pioneers are Bernard Malamud, Ken Kesey and Joseph Heller, who wrote the Natural, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Catch-22.