A Change in Perception: The Evolution of Entertainment, 1920-1962

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A Change in Perception: The Evolution of Entertainment Between 1920-1962

In the last century, America and its inhabitants underwent many changes. From the "Roaring Twenties" to the Great Depression, and from the Dust Bowl to the ideal 50's, entertainment evolved to suit an ever changing nation. In D.W. Griffith's film, Way Down East, a young woman seeks out financial assistance from her wealthier family members. In this film in particular an ever widening separation between the classes is evident. In John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath, and The Salt of the Earth, a change has occurred within the sexes, and within the struggles of working class American's. In Leave it to Beaver, American is life depicted as worry free and ideal. It is through movies and television shows of these eras that people of today are able to witness the evolution of a culture first hand. Between 1920 and 1962, movies and television experienced a vast amount of progress. During this century, as is displayed in these films, woman's roles were drastically transformed. The struggles that families faced during the Great Depression and the overwhelming Dust Bowl called on women, especially mother's, to become just as much the backbone of the American family as the father had always been. Another great change that is apparent from the viewing of these films is the ever changing fashion and the prominent emphasis placed on appearances. Perhaps the most momentous change apparent in the comparing of American life in these films is the substantial emphasis placed on the appearance of the home. Within the fifty years between 1920 and 1962 American's and their perceptions of the world changed substantially. By taking an in depth look at women's roles, the e...

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...nd examining the portrayal of women's roles, fashion and clothing, and the home in Way Down East, The Grapes of Wrath, The Salt of the Earth, and Leave it to Beaver, clearly, there were deeper meanings behind everyday images. All of these images in each of these films and in this television show have symbolic and purposeful meanings. Through the evolution of America and the culture of America, those who make movies and television shows have also changed their subjects and how they are portrayed over the course of a century. Whether representing class, poverty, or consumerism, all of these images within these films serve a bigger purpose than to just simply be seen. By viewing these films and analyzing the underlying meanings of symbols within them, we can gain a greater understanding of history, and what was important to each of the eras these films represent.

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