Roaring 20s Video

Good morning, and welcome to "A 1920s Extravaganza." Today, we will be delving into the spectacle that is the 1920s. During this time period, also known as the "Roaring Twenties" there was a significant cultural and technological boom, which was generated by its new mass-consumption economy and development of modern technologies. While the Roaring Twenties was a major aspect in the United States, this cultural boom also began to occur in Europe. Even though the 1920s is marked by the rise of communism and development of Fascism, there were new cultural developments, such as the emergence of Weimar Culture. This cultural boom was mostly associated with certain parts of Europe such as Paris, Berlin, and London. I hope you enjoy this enlightening presentation, so sit back, relax, and join us as we journey through the 1920s. The Roaring Twenties is more well known in the United States, but this spur of culture had a wide influence on European society. The new inventions, cultural ideas, and intellectual thought spread to Europe, and both areas were connected to each other in many different ways throughout this time period. Some of the major events included the emergence of radio, the increased role of women, emergence of jazz, increased popularity in sports, and progress in aviation. We will now explore what happened in Europe during the Roaring Twenties, as well as how the U.S. had some influence on Europe in terms of cultural and technological development. We will venture into the heart of France, where this cultural boom was most prominent. Here we will explore what made Paris the poster child of the Roaring 20s. From its extravagant parties to its eloquent dances all the way to its showy fashion elegant and dresses, Paris moved toward a more modern way of life as it entered a period known as Annees Folles. In Paris in the 1920s, people knew how to have fun, especially since the middle class had the same access to leisure activities as the wealthy people. Parisians went out often, such as to music-hall shows, operettas, theatre, the circus, and eventually the cinema. There was also high consumption in Paris, such as in the successful department stores and the institution of correspondence catalogues. Many became rich due to the fallouts of post-war inflation, which was known as "nouveaux riches." Just like in the United States, there was the full development of the car industry in Paris, and cars in Paris were a symbol of modernity and elegance. The culture itself was marked by the introduction of surrealism , a literary movement which attracted many writers, by Andre Breton. Music during this time period many consisted of jazz, which was played in luxurious parties of the Parisian upper class (which is often why they also call this time period, "the Jazz Age.") Aestheticism emerged, which impacted all art and fashion and still remains a part of artwork today. Feminine fashion went through a real revolution during this time, and the fashion itself represented the changing attitude of the women. After the war, a woman was no longer regarded as a housewife, but as an independent and active person. Women developed an attitude of free will, and showed it in various ways, such as cutting their hair, wearing makeup and perfume, or smoking in public. Thus, was born the flapper. The wind of change that swept through society was nowhere more evident than in this emergence of the so called 'new woman'. She who was defined by her shingled hair, flattened chest, and art deco dress were characterized as such. These women often presented themselves with confidence in their appearance as well as their speech.They often wore heavy makeup, especially around the eyes and lips, to express their sexuality. Overall the woman was redefined by her independence and importance in society. Along with her social advancement, the woman experienced a rise in political status. This was seen as women gained the right to vote. Women would never be seen the same in society and politics. The fashion at the time was short dresses, high heels, and bare legs, which moved away from the pre-war fashion of corsets and big hats. Paris was and still is the center of women's fashion today. During the 1920s, the changing fashion styles were important because they reflected the social changes taking place. A more active, involved, equal woman deserved clothing to suit that lifestyle, and the fashion designers of Paris rightly responded. Marked by joyful expression and cultural arts Paris became the ultimate representation of the 1920s. The economic crisis of 1929 put an end to this festive period in Paris, as the French feared the growing tensions between the states leading to another gruesome war. The culture in Germany experienced a flourishing of the arts and sciences during the 1920s. This culture was called Weimar culture, since Germany had established the Weimar Republic during this time. This period is often looked at as one of the highest intellectual periods of Germany in terms of production, and the heart of Germany, Berlin, experienced this the most. In science, Heisenberg formed the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which was fundamental to man's understanding of particle physics. Max Born and Pascual Jordan also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. This period also saw the emergence of Albert Einstein, who would also make important contributions to German science and mathematics. Leading scientists during this time period associated with one another in a group called the Berlin Circle. Interestingly, nine German citizens were awarded Nobel prizes during the Weimar Republic, five of whom were Jewish scientists, including two in medicine. Jewish intellectuals and creative professionals were among the leading figures in many areas of Weimar culture. New schools were constantly being established to encourage experimental learning. Some schools were part of the popular trend that combined research into physical movement and overall health. Art also flourished in Germany. Paul Klee revolutionized painting and his lectures on Modern art at the Bauhaus have been compared for importance to Leonardo's Treatise on Painting. The Bauhausschool by Walter Gropius founded modern architecture. In philosophy, Husserl and Heidigger posed the basis for the later Derrida's Deconstruction of the 1960s; the neo-Marxist sociology developed by Theodor Adorno and the Frankfurt School dominated the field in much of Europe. The avant-garde theater of Bertoldt Brecht and Max Reinhardt in Berlin was the most advanced in Europe, being rivaled only by Paris. German visual art, music, and literature were influenced by German Expressionism, and the "New Objectivity" outlook. The development of the motion picture added a whole new world to art, as silent films and movies became very popular. Rudolf von Laban and Mary Wigman laid the foundations for the development of contemporary Dance. Architecture also flourished in Germany. New Architectural designs brought on by the cultural and societal ideas, like modernism. The new buildings challenged the traditions of the old. In 1919 Walter Gropius, a leading architect, founded the Bauhaus School for Architecture. At this new school, Gropius taught that art should work with the new technology and placed emphasis on buildings having functionality. Silent films continued to be made throughout the 1920s, in parallel with the early years of sound films during the final years of the Weimar Republic. Silent films had certain advantages for filmmakers, such as the ability to hire an international cast, since spoken accents were irrelevant. Thus, American and British actors were easily able to collaborate with German directors and cast-members on films made in Germany (for example, the collaborations of Georg Pabst and Louise Brooks). When sound films started being produced in Germany, some filmmakers experimented with versions in more than one language, filmed simultaneously. Rounak: Because of the rise of Hitler and his Nazist regime in 1933, many of the German intellectuals and cultural figures fled Germany, Turkey, England, and even the United States. Those who had stated were mostly arrested, or put in concentration camps (especially Jewish). This brought a halt to the cultural boom happening in Germany. England Although the rest of Europe was enjoying the wealth and prosperity as well as the cultural and technological growth brought by the decade, England suffered post war depression and inflation. The minds of the young men and women returning from the Great War were tainted by images of trench warfare, horrific injuries, and the mental suffering experienced by soldiers. England, however, did reap some of the benefits from the Roaring Twenties. The new economy of Europe provided consumer goods for the masses and began to market entertainment as leisure increased. Distributive trades in England began to thrive as the demand for products like cereals, household goods and ready made clothing grew. Dancing had also changed In the 1920s. Ragtime developed into jazz and young people flocked to dance halls and jazz clubs. Inventions such as the gramophone and the crystal radio began to be mass marketed and instant music helped to popularize dance worldwide. Young people danced at home, at afternoon tea dances and in evening dance palaces and even later at night clubs. Evening dresses of the 1920s perfectly suited fashionable dance such as the Shimmy, the Charleston and the Black Bottom. The lack of corsetry helped the dancers move easily and the often sleeveless clothes were unrestrictive. The Rumba, Samba and Conga were all popular dances in this period. Both Dada and Surrealism were artistic, literary and intellectual movements of the early 20th century that were instrumental in defining Modernism. The Dada movement, launched in 1916 in Zurich by poets and artists such as Tristan Tzara and Hans Arp, was a direct reaction to the slaughter and bloodshed of World War I. Independent groups linked by common ideas sprung up soon afterwards in New York, Berlin, Paris and elsewhere. These various groups did not share a universal style, but rather were connected by their rejection of idealism, artistic and intellectual conventions and modern society's unchecked embrace of 'rationalism' and 'progress.' Dadaism tried to convey the idea of life, which was considered nothing. Surrealists searched for the reality beyond the physical world, and thought that it was found in dreams or in the unconsciousness. After the war, many of the artists who had participated in the Dada movement began to practice in a Surrealist mindset. Surrealism was officially inaugurated in 1924 when writer André Breton published the Manifesto of Surrealism. Similar to Dada, Surrealism was characterized as going against the Western emphasis on logic and reason. However, Breton wanted to create something more programmatic out of Dada's nonsensical and seemingly unfocused activities. Surrealist artists attempted to tap into the dream-world of the regular mind, visualizing its secrets and mysteries. Some of these artists include René Magritte, Man Ray, Max Ernst and Salvador Dali. In its intention to criticize established values, the opposing stance of both Dada and Surrealism served as an important precursor to late 20th century artistic developments such as Neo-Dada, Nouveau Réalisme and Institutional Critique while still inspiring artists today. As European culture flourished during this roaring decade, so did technology. Major technological advancements were seen throughout this period especially in the area of transportation. Trams, airships, and luxury cars were all characteristic of this time period. The first electrical trams made their appearance on London's streets in 1903.Soon, Britain was transformed, as miles of new track were laid. The clatter and jangle of points and overhead webs of criss-crossing wires quickly became a feature of city life.Trams quickly became the people's mode of transport, running to a timetable for a set price. But trams had one fatal drawback: their routes were fixed. This very rigidity meant that they would be overtaken by free-ranging buses. After the war, the large airships that were once used for raids became a commercial means of long distance transportation. The comfort that extended beyond just legroom and into an open area of free movement would not be imaginable even in today's jumbo jets. Smoking rooms, dining rooms, lounges, and even bedrooms often defined these massive airships. Unfortunately the hydrogen used to power these airliners turned out to be unsafe and caused crashes leaving them as an unviable means of transport. Luxurious cars also became a part of the 1920s society. Although for most, a car meant a ford, there were also a few luxurious brands that cruised around Europe such as the Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Daimler.