Intro American Culture

THIS BOYS LIFE

These pictures are of
the places spoken about
in This Boys Life and
provide a visual
framework for the
memoir.
FASHION
Before the 1950s clothing was very reserved and did not have
much to distinguish adults from teenagers. Then, teenagers began to
establish their own individual identities, and one of the biggest ways
they did that, was through fashion. Compare it to these days
theres a big difference between teenage and adult fashion.

Guys
Hair longer w/ sideburns and slicked back with grease. (greaser
style)
Jeans
Leather jackets (collar turned up to be cool)

Girls
Ponytails
Pedal pushers (high-waist calf length pants), Scarves.
Poodle Skirts popular because:
1) Easier dancing, being spun around letting the skirt twirled.
2) skirt was loose and free, a sign of freedom.
Also, they didnt always have poodles on them.
Disillusionment, frustration and social
unrest?
Quiet, peaceful and happy post-war lives?


OR
Dun dun dun
The American Dream Post War morality and fear
While weve studied Death of a Salesman and Twelve Angry Men, we sort of still see the
1950s as a relatively peaceful decade despite the conflicts that occur within these texts.
However, Americans spent these years moving, searching and attempting to find the
happiness and tranquillity that was supposed to be for everyone after a victorious WWII.
They moved from rural areas to cities and from cities to suburbs. By 1960, a third of the
country's population lived in the suburbs. Similar patterns could be seen in many Western
countries, including Australia.
While many people were content, and this was espoused by the media, many others felt ill
at ease because of the speed at which the world was changing.
Searching for new ways of coping, they embraced religion, leading to a rise in branches of
new religions that took America by storm. The rise in fear of a Cold War erupting sent
shockwaves of fear through the population and people needed something that would
provide salvation if they were to come under attack.
The American Dream Post War morality and fear
The major part about American society during this time is that you did NOT reveal that there was
anything wrong with you, or your family, in terms of your moral choices or any particular
psychological issues. After all the trauma that the Depression inflicted upon society, and the
incredible amounts of loss suffered as a result of WWII, Americans desperately sought to paper
over any cracks and hide potential blemishes from each other.
Adults sought an age of innocence, and suburbia, with its flat, quiet, tree-lined streets, chain-link
fences and perfect families would help to hide the last 20-30 years of damage done by economic
and political conflict.
As a result of this desire for peace and happiness, people craved rules and boundaries, with a rise
in religious fervour, and, through TV, the dissemination of gender roles and the need for
conformity and order. All of these values were linked with American lifestyles and patriotism,
and anything against this was considered to be a part of a Communist life style.
Put yourself in the teenagers and young adults of the 1950s shoes. Youve been to war, or youve
grown up with war around you, and after spending your life hearing nothing of death and
destruction, you start hearing about peace and love and Hooray for America. But the American
Government doesnt seem to represent the things you love or care about, they want everyone to
be the same while youre trying to fight for the rights of the coloured kids who youve grown up
with, or youre a girl who wants to be more than just a housewife. So yeah, you get angry, and you
find ways to rebel, and so starts the rebellious teenager and the ideal of teenage angst.
Morality
Fairly Strict Society monitored by society itself

Rebellion was not acceptable

Surge in Religion felt good indicator of Anti-Communist
Added Under God to the Pledge of Allegiance

Gender Roles strongly held

Divorce? No way. A divorce meant that there was something wrong in your
family. You stuck it out to keep up appearances, no matter what the
circumstances.


SOCIAL CONFORMITY
American workers found themselves
becoming standardised
Called the Organisation Man, the
modern worker struggled with a loss of
individualism
Businesses did not want creative
thinkers, rebels or anyone that would
rock the boat


Despite their success, some workers questioned whether pursuing the American
dream exacted too high a price, as conformity replaced individuality
Pretty much
describes how trends
work in high school.