- Chapter 2 -

The U.S. Between World Wars:(1918-1941)

The Roaring Twenties, Black Tuesday, and Beyond

The “Roaring Twenties”- A New Mass Culture -

Today’s Lecture Focus:Understand the images of 1920s culture

Main vocabulary:“roaring twenties”“mass culture”“celebrity”“economic boom”“economic crash”

Do NOT memorize names of people!

• to roar (v.) = to make a loud sound

• roaring (adj) = loud, fast, hot, exciting, wild, dangerous

“Roaring Twenties”

a roaring lion a roaring engine a roaring fire

The Roaring Twenties• Prosperous • Glamorous• Optimistic

a.k.a. “Prohibition Era”a.k.a. “The Jazz Age”

Beginning of modern American culture!

A New “Mass Culture”

mass (adj) = shared by many people, affecting many people,covering a large area

Usage Examples:– mass culture– mass media– mass transit– mass unemployment– weapons of mass destruction

Why did “Mass Culture” develop?• Urbanization / Industrialization

• leisure time – (for people in cities!)

• disposable income – (for people in cities!)

• Automobiles• travel• connected towns / cities

• New mass media technology reached more people• radios• phonographs• cinema

Media Technology: RadioHelped to “standardize” the culture.

1920: First radio station 1923: 600 stations!All Americans could listen to the same…• news• music• dramas• sports• speeches• commercials

Media Technology: Phonographs

– allowed people to listen to music at home

– Musical styles spread across the country

Mass Culture: Music

Dance Crazes!• The Charleston

Mass Culture: Music

Jazz• African American music• Began in New Orleans• Dance!

Media Technology: Cinema• Hollywood Studios• Silent Films– Good for immigrants!• (No English needed)

Media Technology: Cinema“Talkies”– First film with sound (1927) The Jazz Singer

Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer (A white man in blackface = controversial now)