The United States emerged from World War II as a technological, economic and military superpower with a dominant voice on the world stage. What happened? Arguably, most would say that the United States still holds these positions in the world, but the news media and academic alarm is that the country is slipping in to an abyss and will loose its dominance. If you believe some comments in the media concerning the changes in the United States, our troubles are due to prevalence of drugs, unfettered sex (and its variations), and even music – specifically, Rock and Roll. What is the real story? Just prior to World War II, the United States had become a very strong nation economically and with a vast store of food stuffs which prompted a vigorous world trade. At this point in time, the United States was a fairly conservative nation – individuals felt more in control of their lives, food stuffs were produced by a large number of family owned farms, and the biggest abused drugs were alcohol and tobacco. Things change. Is there a decline in the United States’ ability to lead, innovate, or produce? Or have other nations just caught up with the United States in production capability? Leading Economists suggest that taxes and a high national debt are restricting innovation and production, among other issues. Whatever the real reason, the United States has moved from a self-reliant nation to a debtor nation with the highest national private and public debt load than any other nation (CIA). In fact, the United States exports are primarily commodities if you do not count weapons and computer chips, not producible goods – those come from other countries. America buys from everyone else and is producing less – the Roman Empire ended the same way. In the 2009 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Administration), use of illicit drugs has remained relatively stable as a percentage of the population; however, use of legal drugs has soared. PBS aired a series (Foundation), concerning America’s War on Drugs – and we are not winning. The series notes that it is easy to obtain drugs legal or illegal if you are looking for them. Recent commercials citing ‘parents’ as the ‘anti-drug’ demonstrate how easy it is to obtain legal drugs from a families medicine cabinet (TheAntiDrug).
Woodstock: A Peaceful Rock Revolution To some, the 60s were a decade of discovery as Americans first journeyed to the moon. Others remember the time as a decade of America’s moral decline with the advent of rock and roll and its representation of "sinful", inappropriate ideals. Yet for many people, the 60s symbolized a decade of love and harmony. Hippies exemplified these beliefs, and in 1969 they gathered at a music festival known as Woodstock to celebrate their music, their love, and their
come. This documentary covers a three day festival that was held in August of 1969. The festival symbolized the ideas of the late 1960’s in terms of music, politics, and society in general. The documentary depicted the event as a major love and drug fest. Woodstock was a historic event that was the idea of four men by the names of Michael Lang, John Roberts, Joel Roseman, and Artie Kornfeld. Two of the men, Roberts and Roseman, placed an ad in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal stating
Bob Dylan "When I was fifteen and I heard 'Like a Rolling Stone,' I heard a guy like I've never heard before or since. A guy that had the guts to take on the whole world and make me feel like I had 'em too..." - Bruce Springsteen The Grammy Awards ceremony in 1991 was not all that different from those which preceded it. A crowded auditorium littered with the beautiful people of Hollywood and the music industry once again gathered in Los Angeles to honor the year's most popular recording
they felt in the 1950’s. His music gives a 1950’s vibe set in his 1970's albums. The 1950s, was the first full decade after the end of World War II. It was a time of recovery from the Great Depression of the 1930s and the war years of the 1940s. America was at the summit of the world with a string military power, economy booming and many new inventions. On the other hand, the British society was still quite affected by the war. Most young man were called up for at least two
and the Catholic faith of his childhood, he developed a spiritual tendency in his character that would last throughout his life. The fact that Kerouac was a spiritual "seeker," may be the most vital aspect of his life. In post WWII, Eisenhower America, Jack Kerouac came from a poor rustic industrial community to change the face of American Culture forever. He chronicled the wild rebellious culture of "the Beats" in the late 50's and early 60's, paving the way for a more accepting American Society
American Musicals From the ‘American Dream’ to the ‘Rock-Opera’. 1950 to 1978 were the hopeless years for the musical. American musical theatre had been showing signs of exhaustion. This most seemingly illogical of genres carries its own ‘ideological project’. Before this, musicals not only demonstrated singing and dancing; they were about singing and dancing, explaining the importance of that experience. Not only did musicals give the most intense pleasure to their audience but also supplied
popular culture. In particular, rap and rock music have come under increasing attack from various sides representing the entire left and right political spectrum, purportedly for their explicit sexual and violent lyrical contents. In this paper is investigated which moral codes underlie these claims against popular music, how social movements mobilize actions around these claims, and the way in which they are manifested in mechanisms of control targeted at rap and rock music. Moreover, I explore how the
Introduction to this Paper The No Child Left Behind Act has stacked the deck against schools with special needs. At this point in time with the 2004 elections right around the corner, it seems that this Act is taking a lot of criticism for it’s rigid approach to the educational progress of our children today. No Child Left Behind has some wonderful goals and aspirations: to “close the student achievement gap, make public schools accountable, set standards of excellence for every child, and put
Life after the War: Analysis of the 20’s and 50’s What does jazz legend Duke Ellington and rock star heartthrob Elvis Presley have in common? For a moment it might seem as if they are completely different but they both reside in eras where new movements and values were created, some positive and others more negative. The 20’s and 50’s were similar with regards to new musical discoveries, rebellious youth, prosperously booming economies and striving towards peaceful living after a sanguinary war.
their unapologetic and brutally honest lack of virtue. And the art world provided as many counter culture messiahs as was needed to "Damn the Man". The Beats, hippies, and punks are evidence that behind the white picket fence of suburbia lay an America that wanted more out of life than the sugar coated portrayals of domesticity and patriotism it received from pop culture. The unfortunate side of authenticity often lead to the conclusion that autonomy was an impossible dream and that just mere existence