The lost generation
The lost generation was a group of young men and woman who had just came out of WWI, and they were unsure about what the world was. Many members of the lost generation were American writers who lived in Paris. The most famous members of the group were Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. These authors wrote books in Paris that expressed their views of the world.
social criticism
In the Roaring Twenties Americans began to enjoy the luxuries of life more, and many writers began hating the greed that they saw. Sinclair Lewis' "Main Street" put down the new way of American life. He was trying to make American's live like they did before the Roaring Twenties, by showing them how much greed that they had. Other writers who disliked the greed that Americans had were Sherwoods Anderson, Edith Wharton, and H.L. Mencken. These people did writer books as well, although Wharton wrote many articles in newspapers about the issue.
Art deco style
The art deco style was the trend of design in the Roaring Twenties. This style started in Europe and it reached the US in 1924. The Chrysler Building, which was the tallest building at the time of the Roaring Twenties, was the epitome of the art deco style. The art deco style was very geometric, although designers said that they were inspired from nature. From about 1924 - 1926 the art deco style was very circular, although by 1927, it began to use more geometric shapes.
Harlem renaissance
During this decade of great change, African American culture was revolutionized. Black Swan Records opened up in 1921, and within a year, it was making ten records every month. The Harlem Renaissance Basketball Club was founded in 1923 by Bob Douglas. This basketball team was known as the best in the world at this time. The first issue of the African American academic journal "Opportunity" was published, and African American musicals started to play. African American authors such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston began to rise to international fame during the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance contributed mostly to the rise of jazz music.
Dance
Dance clubs became very popular in the Roaring Twenties, and many new dances were created. In 1927 the popularity peaked, and it slowly declined from there. Dance music in the Roaring Twenties came from classical music that was reworked into popular dance melodies. It is said that dance craze in the 1920's was as big as the disco dance craze in the 1970's. Isadora Duncan, the apparent founder of modern dance, passed away during the Roaring Twenties.
Dance clubs would host dance contests, where dancers would come from across the country to hone their skills. Tap dance was revolutionized through these competitions. Although, the most popular dances in the Roaring Twenties were the foxtrot, waltz, and American Tango. Many other dances were created in the Roaring Twenties. The first two of these novelty dances were the Breakaway and the Charleston. The Charleston exploded in popularity after it was featured in a Broadway Show, although in 1926, it became less common in dance clubs. The Black Bottom dance, which replaced the Charleston, was popular in dance halls between 1926 - 1927. Although, by 1927, the Lindy Hop, which had elements from the Charleston and was done in tap shoes, was the most popular dance. These dances were never mainstreamed though, and many people just danced the foxtot, waltz, and the American Tango.
Dance clubs would host dance contests, where dancers would come from across the country to hone their skills. Tap dance was revolutionized through these competitions. Although, the most popular dances in the Roaring Twenties were the foxtrot, waltz, and American Tango. Many other dances were created in the Roaring Twenties. The first two of these novelty dances were the Breakaway and the Charleston. The Charleston exploded in popularity after it was featured in a Broadway Show, although in 1926, it became less common in dance clubs. The Black Bottom dance, which replaced the Charleston, was popular in dance halls between 1926 - 1927. Although, by 1927, the Lindy Hop, which had elements from the Charleston and was done in tap shoes, was the most popular dance. These dances were never mainstreamed though, and many people just danced the foxtot, waltz, and the American Tango.
changes in women
Fashions for women in the Roaring Twenties was a breakaway from the old, rigid, Victorian clothing. These middle class women, known as "flappers" by the older generation, got rid of knee length dresses, and they wore low cut, revealing clothing. A chin - length bob was the most popular haircut, and make - up became very popular.
With the addition of the 19th amendment, women were given the right to vote for the first time. Women also began to want to have a job, and not just be a house keeper. Due to WWI, many woman got to work outside of the house, and after the war was over, many woman still wanted to work in different industries. The minimum wage that was passed through legislation in the early 20th century, allowed lower - class women to work in factories during the Roaring Twenties as well. Women were given the right to vote for the first time ever in the US during the Roaring Twenties.
Women also fought for rights in the Roaring Twenties that would not allow men to discriminate against them. Co-education colleges and universities became much more popular, although women mainly took Home Economics classes. Women would also go to college just so they could find a suitable husband.
In the Roaring Twenties, women started to believe that they owned their own bodies, and that they could pleasure themselves when ever they saw fit. They believed that the act of doing this was central to the human experience, and not listening to these impulses was very bad. Despite all of these new feelings, the stereotypical wife greatly evolved in the Roaring Twenties.
With the addition of the 19th amendment, women were given the right to vote for the first time. Women also began to want to have a job, and not just be a house keeper. Due to WWI, many woman got to work outside of the house, and after the war was over, many woman still wanted to work in different industries. The minimum wage that was passed through legislation in the early 20th century, allowed lower - class women to work in factories during the Roaring Twenties as well. Women were given the right to vote for the first time ever in the US during the Roaring Twenties.
Women also fought for rights in the Roaring Twenties that would not allow men to discriminate against them. Co-education colleges and universities became much more popular, although women mainly took Home Economics classes. Women would also go to college just so they could find a suitable husband.
In the Roaring Twenties, women started to believe that they owned their own bodies, and that they could pleasure themselves when ever they saw fit. They believed that the act of doing this was central to the human experience, and not listening to these impulses was very bad. Despite all of these new feelings, the stereotypical wife greatly evolved in the Roaring Twenties.
Tolerance towards other groups
In urban areas, groups of people who were not white were treated with more respect. This was shown in some of the films of the Roaring Twenties. For example, white and blacks were allowed to be on the screen for the first time. Whites began to accept Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans into their culture. You would also see white people dancing with people of a different race in nightclubs. Gay and lesbian people also became much more visible in the Roaring Twenties, and it became a bit more accepted.
MUSIC
The Roaring Twenties brought new styles of music into the mainstream culture of the US. Jazz music, which orginnated in Harlem, was the most popular style of music among young people, and the flapper community. The development of blues music also began in the Roaring Twenties, and it became popular very quickly. Toward 1927, early forms of country music were pioneered by rising stars.
Literature
The Roaring Twenties was a time of extreme literary creativity. Several famous authors wrote some of their best works during the Roaring Twenties. The following four books were some of the most popular books written in the Roaring Twenties.
1. "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1922
2. "All Quiet on the Western Front", Erich Maria Remarque, 1929
3. "The Side of Paradise", F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1920
4. "The Sun Also Rises", Ernest Hemingway, 1926
D.H. Lawrence's book, "Lady Chatterly's Lover" was a very controversial book at the time, because of its explicit description of love.
1. "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1922
2. "All Quiet on the Western Front", Erich Maria Remarque, 1929
3. "The Side of Paradise", F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1920
4. "The Sun Also Rises", Ernest Hemingway, 1926
D.H. Lawrence's book, "Lady Chatterly's Lover" was a very controversial book at the time, because of its explicit description of love.
Sports
The Roaring Twenties was also a great time of advancement in sports in the US. Citizens began to cheer for their home team, and they also went to big stadiums to watch athletes compete. Sports Journalism became much more popular in the Roaring Twenties, and sports literature became extremely popular through the writings of Grantland Rice and Damon Runyon. College Football became much more prominent in the 1920's. High and middle school students were given more opportunities to play sports in school, and many sports that only rich people played in the past, such as golf, were now open to middle class families. Motor sports also became more popular in the Roaring Twenties. Babe Ruth, was by far, the most popular sports player in the US during the Roaring Twenties.