Cherie Fanelle Introduction to Pop Culture 27 November 2013 Television Shows of the 1950’s and Mass Culture During the 1950s‚ the average American was an optimistic reflection of the traditional values of the times. Then as the world around them began to change‚ so did the types of television programming they were exposed to. The era of the 1950s was an extremely confusing time as America was trying to adjust to its new role as a competing superpower and still trying to maintain the strong foundation
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of World War II (1939–45)‚ many people considered the 1950s to be the beginning of a modern world‚ full of new products that would make their lives easier. The bright‚ the shiny‚ and the new were valued above all‚ and fashions reflected this. Hair spray‚ made of liquid plastics and vinyl that harden when they are sprayed on the hair to form a kind of shell that keeps the hair from falling out of its style‚ became very popular during the 1950s and early 1960s. Styles were crisp and clean‚ and hairstyles
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D.H. Lawrence’s 1926 short story‚ The Rocking Horse Winner‚ can be seen as an exemplum of love and materialism to coexist. The various family members in the story expose the greedy and materialistic obsession. The mother in the story‚ Hester‚ portrays an unsatisfiable desire for a luxurious lifestyle. Although Hester was born beautiful and “started with all the advantages”1(436)‚ Hester believes she has become unlucky after marrying. In an attempt to satisfy his mother’s desires‚ Paul‚ “went off
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In The Great Gatsby‚ every character is consumed by materialism. Everyone’s main concern is attending the biggest party‚ having the sharpest clothes and the buying fastest cars. The cars are a very important symbol used by Fitzgerald in the novel. Gatsby’s car specifically‚ is bright yellow which is meant to represent his wealth. “ It was a rich cream colour‚ bright with nickel...and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns.” (Fitzgerald 63) Just like him‚ his car is extravagant
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We are persuaded through different types of media that the 1950s was a period of economic development‚ a period social change and awareness‚ and a period where women were fulfilled coming back to their pace in the home after the Second World War. Encompassing women with materialistic “necessities” to improve the home and the emphasis on family life and gender roles in the 1950s showed women their place in society. However‚ the expectation of society to fit in with gender roles has consequences. There
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Fitzgerald further represents the Materialistic nature of people in society. He reveals the corruption of the “New money” through the crimes Myer Wolfshiem commits‚ who satirically characterizes real life gang member of 1920s. In the novel‚ Wolfshiem is a friend of Gatsby who not only is the “New money”‚ but also acquire wealth through illegal businesses. Fitzgerald creates him as a crucial character to reveals the greedy nature of the Americans. He also uses him to indicate the fact that Gatsby
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The Great Gatsby was written by American Author in 1925 one of the literature’s most read book. Moreover‚ we see the lives of Nick Caraway a young man from Minnesota who moves to New York City to learn the bond business. Then meets Gatsby the man whose name is in the title a fabulously wealthy young man living in a Gothic mansion in West Egg. Tom‚ Daisy‚ George‚ Myrtle‚ and many more characters are introduced. In the book‚ the author glamorizes the American dream by writing about Gatsby and how he
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Computers in the 1950 ’s People have been in awe of computers since they were first invented. At first scientist said that computers would only be for government usage only. "Then when the scientists saw the potential computers had‚ scientist then predicted that by 1990 computers may one day invade the home of just about ever citizen in the world" ("History" Internet)‚ the scientists were slightly wrong‚ because by 1990 computers were just beginning to catch on. Then a few years later when scientists
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Throughout history the roles of women have changed dramatically. Since the 1950’s‚ women have slowly but surely evolved into the individuals one sees today in public offices‚ law firms or even the five o’ clock news. However‚ this evolution did not occur over night. Although women in the 1950’s and today have dealt with similar stereotypes‚ today life has greatly improved because women aren’t as pressured to get married‚ are taken more seriously in the business world‚ and are even making as much
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Anti-Communism in the 1950s In 1950‚ fewer than 50‚000 Americans out of a total US population of 150 million were members of the Communist Party. Yet in the late 1940s and early 1950s‚ American fears of internal communist subversion reached a nearly hysterical pitch. Government loyalty boards investigated millions of federal employees‚ asking what books and magazines they read‚ what unions and civic organizations they belonged to‚ and whether they went to church. Hundreds of screenwriters‚ actors
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