The American Dream in the Fifties
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Transcript of The American Dream in the Fifties
The American Dream in the Fifties
The American Dream in the FiftiesThe OrganizationChanges in BusinessMore white collar jobsConglomerates Franchises Social Conformity No creativity or rebellion The Organization Man
Suburban LifestyleRepresented American Dream
Baby BoomLargest generation in history (1947-1960) Changes in childcare and advertisements
Automobile CultureCar Ownership Interstate Highway System
White FlightBusinesses move to suburbs Leaves cities Black, Brown, and BrokeIncreasedSuburban growth Noise, Pollution, Traffic JamsVacation and TravelGap between rich and poor
Decreased Public transportation Railroad use
Consumerism UnboundPlanned Obsolescence Goods designed to be replacedEx: New car models each year
Credit Cards Emerge
Keeping up with the Joneses
Popular Culture of the 1950sNew Era of Mass MediaMass MediaCommunication that reaches large audiencesRise of Television FCC regulated television broadcastsGolden Age of Television changes cultureCriticismsStereotypes of women and minoritiesOnly portrays ideal, white America
New Era of Mass MediaRadio and MoviesRadio covers more local issuesMovies use 3-D and wide screens to compete with TV
Subculture EmergesThe Beat MovementCentered on non-conformity Very little structure on artistic works
Rock N RollArtists usually black, listeners white
Parents objected
African Americans had separate stationsHound Dog by Elvis Presley: originally by Willie Mae Thornton
The Other AmericaThe Urban PoorBy 1962, 1 in every 4 Americans below the poverty lineInner citiesStricken by poverty, especially minority groupsWhite flightSuburbs largely unaware of povertyUrban Renewal National Housing ActFamilies displaced
Was the American Dream actually accomplished?