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Culture and Lifestyles of the 1920’s. Background to the Roaring Twenties. Economic prosperity by the mid-1920’s. Growth of the secondary and tertiary economic sectors – no longer just primary industry. Wage increases in manufacturing by the mid-1920’s. Massive increase of consumerism.
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Background to the Roaring Twenties • Economic prosperity by the mid-1920’s. • Growth of the secondary and tertiary economic sectors – no longer just primary industry. • Wage increases in manufacturing by the mid-1920’s. • Massive increase of consumerism. • Urbanization – people moving closer to the cities (1921-47.4%, 1931 52.5% in Canada and 63.1% in Ontario)
Fashion - Women • The new style of women’s dress, known as the “Flapper” was characterized by knee high skirts (dresses), high socks, and open shoes/boots. • Women also cut their hair short, consumed alcohol and smoked in public; very revolutionary for the time.
Technological Developments • The radio (Crystal set receiver developed 1906) burst on to the scene by the 1920’s, providing cheap entertainment for millions. • The telephone (developed 1876) became widely available • The airplane was being used for commercial flying by mid-decade.
Tech. Developments cont… Convenience appliances: • electric stoves • vacuum cleaners • toasters • sewing machines • washing machines • etc… • These gadgets helped create “free or leisure time” for men and women in the 1920’s • Mass advertising takes effect to encourage consumers to BUY BUYBUY!
The Model ‘T’ Ford • Henry Ford set out to build a car which everyone could afford to buy. • The motor car became incredibly popular during the 1920’s. • It was slow, ugly and difficult to drive, and was nick named the ‘Tin Lizzie’ by the American people.
Key Quote – Henry Ford ‘A customer can have any colour he likes for his car so long as it's black’ How would this have helped to cut production costs?
Mass Production • Ford was able to sell cars cheaply because they were mass-produced and every part was standardized (only one colour and one engine size were available). • By producing large numbers of cars on an assembly line, Ford needed fewer skilled workers, and that cut the cost of paying wages.
The Car (cont’d) • The increasing popularity of the car created a far more mobile culture during the 1920’s. • Day trips to far distances were now a reality. • Helped open-up Canada, ending the isolation experienced by those living in remote areas.
Let’s go to the movies! • The 1920’s were dominated by a general increase in “leisure time” • By the end of the decade “talkies” replaced silent films, providing Canadians with some cheap (albeit American) entertainment. • Popular movie stars of the decade included Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, and Douglas Fairbanks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNzVEy_mnE&feature=fvst
Entertainment cont’d • Jazz music and jazz clubs were highly popular. • “The Charleston” was the most popular ragtime jazz dance. • Dance contests were widely popular, often lasting for many hours, to the point of complete exhaustion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNAOHtmy4j0&feature=related
Canadian Art • Canadian art flourished during the 1920’s • Artists such as the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, and Paraskeva Clark are most notable. • This period was characterized by landscape art, as the Group of Seven in particular sought to paint Canada’s most defining images. • Helped to balance the American influence…
A final salute to the Roaring Twenties. . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3svvCj4yhYc
