HIST 1378 TTh 2:30-4 PM Lecture 20Outline of Last Lecture American Life in the 1950so Consumption and Cultureo Economic Growth (Military Industrial-Complex)o Organization Men in Gray Flannel Suitso Education and Conformityo “Little Boxes”Outline of Current Lecture American Life in the 1950s (cont.)o Consumption and Cultureo Economic Growth (Military Industrial-Complex)o Organization Men in Gray Flannel Suitso Education and Conformityo “Little Boxes”o The “Other” ‘50s1960s: Questioning Authority and Commodifying an Erao Wright Millso SDSCurrent LectureThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.American Life in the 1950so Consumption and Cultureo Nowadays we define democracy as consumption. (Choice of products limitless)o Technologies advanced and economy boomed Start of electrical appliances, televisions Vision of American success (not about voting or education) Society becomes fairly conformisto Economic Growth (Military Industrial-Complex) Idea of success was to own and purchase thingso Organization Men in Gray Flannel Suits “Organization man” - worker who does his work for the good of the company he is involved with Men will dress the part as well (gray flannel suits were the norm) to fit the identityo Education and Conformity Formally based on ideas of John Dewey- Believed that education should be creative/ imaginative, despised standardized concepts Then changed to conforming ideas - made more focus in math and science because it was believed to be the most crucialo “Little Boxes” Song my Malvina Renolds talking about conformity in societyo The “Other” ‘50so “Birth of the Cool” Miles Davis released this album, created new culture in society Don’t conform, be “cool” Jazz genre createdo Hep Cats, Jazz, and Dope Jazz clubs createdo The Beat Life Beatnik - cool 50’s youth culture. Wore berets and polo necks. Hung out in coffee shops playing bongos, reciting poetry, and experimenting with marijuana. Pre-dates the hippie movement by about 10-15 years- Rejected dominant culture- Allen Ginsburg, “Howl”, describes idea that great minds “destroyed” by madness (creativity is being destroyed)o Mad Magazine - Satire magazine by Bill Gaines to make fun of pretty much everything Spy vs. Spy comics used to represent Cold Waro Playboy Magazine - Hugh Hefner Represented sexual reproduction Makes idea of sex public and accepted Also gave the idea that people who read Playboy were also educated1960s- Wright Mills - wrote “The Power Elite”, said that there are few people who are born into power and only a few that work up to their power. This is a prosperous country; Americans will do fine- SDS (students for a Democratic Society)- Port Huron Statement - We are students who are living in comfort, in university, and that are looking uncomfortably at what our society is about to inherit.o Wants a participatory democracy - go to different states to create this idea Tenance union for apartment dwellers under landlords Wanted an interactive form of making decisions for the community At whatever level, YOU have to be
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