The 1950s POP CULTURE

Conformity

• Why did people in the 1950s conform?– Need for Stability after WW2 and

G.D.– Did not want to be “Un-American” –

Era of Communist Hunt

Morality

• Fairly Strict Society

• 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

FASHION• Prior to the 1950’s, teen clothing

very reserved/ proper but to some extent that changed in the 50’s.

• Guys – Hair longer w/ sideburns and slicked back

with grease. – Jeans– Leather jackets (collar turned up to be

“cool”)

• Girls– Ponytails– Pedal pushers, 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.

Youth Culture• EMPHASIS ON YOUTH IN 1950s!• Drive-in movies – Good for dates• Sock Hops – informal HS dance

• Fast food restaurants • TV in 90% of homes by 1959

The Music• ROCK N’ Roll

– evolved in the 1950's from rhythm and blues,

• Electric Guitars• strong rhythm• youth-oriented lyrics.

– Allowed Teenagers to break out of the mainstream conservative American middle class mold.

Rise of Television

• Before 1952 – freeze on any new TV stations so industry had time to plan for expansion and problems

• 1952-56, station #s jumped from 108 to 500

• Programs usually broadcasted live

• Favorites: Mickey Mouse Club, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver

Changes in TV• On-The Scene Reporting

• Game Shows – offered large cash prizes

• Businesses spent $$$ on TV Advertising– $170 million in 1950– $1 billion by 1955– $2 billion by 1960

• TV Guide = HUGE magazine, TV Dinners created so did not have to miss favorite show

The Beatniks

• Sought a higher consciousness – Zen Buddhism, music, sometimes drugs

• Went against the dress/mentality of the 1950s… attracted Media attention and imaginations of college students.

• Subculture that expressed the social and literary nonconformity of artists and poets

• non-materialistic lives

•Shunned regular work