Changes in Culture and Entertainment (Post-War America)

Created by: SatintheLabrador2007
Created on: 08-04-24 15:47

Teenagers

• Before the war, graduating from high school or college was uncommon
• With a booming economy, many teenagers could be supported by their families and complete their education
• The term 'teenager' became more common and they had more time and money than

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Rock'n'roll

• White teenagers were increasingly buying R&B music by African-American artists
• Strong rhythm + easy to dance to- appealed to them

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Rock'n'roll contd

• DJ Alan Freed wanted to develop this new trend, so he began playing R&B records but labelled the music rock’n’roll to bridge the gap between white and black audiences.
• African American artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, and the Hispanic perf

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Rock'n'roll contd

• African American artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, and the Hispanic performer Ritchie Valens, now became more appealing to white audiences.
• 1956- Elvis released his first song, Heartbreak Hotel. Became the most popular music artist in Ame

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Television

• 1960- ~50% of American homes owned a TV set
• As the prices became more affordable, TV replaced radio as the key source of home entertainment and news

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TV contd.

• Popular shows like the 1950s sitcoms I Love Lucy and Leave It to Beaver shaped American ideals of family life
• Viewing TV often helped break down regional differences as most people watched the same TV shows. Contributed to new national popular culture

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Films

The film industry saw television as a threat and so tried to make the movie-going experience different and more exciting.
• In contrast to watching a small black-and-white screen at home, when people went to the cinema, they saw films in colour and in a w

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Films contd.

• There were also gimmicks like 3D.
• Film stars at the time were perceived as either glamorous, like Marilyn Monroe, or rebellious, like James Dean and Marlon Brando.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Rock'n'roll

Back

• White teenagers were increasingly buying R&B music by African-American artists
• Strong rhythm + easy to dance to- appealed to them

Card 3

Front

Rock'n'roll contd

Back

Card 4

Front

Rock'n'roll contd

Back

Card 5

Front

Television

Back

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Changes in Culture and Entertainment (Post-War America)