The 1920’s were a very wild year for the United States of America. 1920’s were the year where World War I ended; women gained the rights to vote in elections, the League of Nations was established, etc. but the 1920’s were also a time where the music, dance, and fashion industries had dramatically changed. This was a time where a new genre of music was sweeping the nation, men and women were more daring with their fashion, and dance played a major role in 1920's entertainment. This essay will in detail outline the different genres of music that were popular along with popular artists, the change in fashion that includes things like clothing and hairstyles, and how dance was very important to entertainment and some popular dance moves of this …show more content…
There where three main genres that were very popular in the 1920’s. The three genres included Jazz, Blues, and Broadway. Jazz was by far the most popular out of the three options as it had an impact on many other industries rather than music only. Jazz began in the early 1900’s and it originated from the black community in New Orleans. By the mid 1920’s Jazz became so popular that is was being played in dance halls across the nation. Jazz was so popular that it also impacted the fashion and dance industry. Popular Jazz artist from the 1920’s include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke. Blues began to appear in the early 1900’s to the late 1910’s. Blues consist of the artist singing about their personal hardships. Some of these hardships include relationships and, due to the extreme racism back in the 1920’s, racial problems. Blues were particularly popular with the black community and was manly sung by black artist. Some of the popular Blues singers from the 1920’s were Mamie Smith, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Lemon Jefferson. Broadway was very popular and people loved to hear the musical numbers in the Broadway. Broadway was also heavily influenced by Jazz by the late 1920’s as many people enjoyed to hear this type of music. George Gershwin, Fanny Brice, and Al Johnson …show more content…
Unlike today they didn’t have videos games or next gen technology to keep them entertained. People would do things like enter dance contest or go to a dance to keep busy. Also the great depression contributed the popularity of dance as people just danced to get their mind of the depressing times. Sometimes these dance contests would contain prize money, which could ease the pain of the great depression. Popular dances throughout the decade were the foxtrot, waltz, and American tango but popular dances of the 1920’s include the Breakaway, Charleston, and Lindy Hop. The Charleston became popular after being performed in two Broadway musicals. According to the website 1920-30.com the Charleston can be defined as “outwards heel kicks combined with an up and down movement achieved by bending and straightening the knees in time to the music.” (Intext citation here). But by 1927 the Charleston was replaced by another dance called Lindy Hop. People would also get these new dance movies by watching Hollywood movies. But never the less after these dance crazes would die down people would go back to doing basic dance moves of foxtrot, waltz, and American tango.
Fashion in the 1920’s was very different from previous years and is when fashion officially entered the modern era. Men and Women started to be more daring with their fashion and both men and women
the character of its development, its immense and continuous popular appeal, the amount of interest and debate it has aroused, I certainly believe it to be a genuine musical force, a trend, an influence; perhaps a form that is bound ultimately to affect, in one respect or another, the music of the future.” (“Jazz Music”). In the 1920ś, jazz music impacted American culture of ethnicity, the arts, and everyday activities. In the early 1900’s, Jazz music originated in New Orleans and spread throughout
Britta Peterson Dance History May 4 ,2016 . Swing Dance Influences History is constant . The universe is forever creating history that effects the present and the future . I would like to focus on one aspect of history that has and will forever influence America today . Swing dance is a crucial element in the develop-ment of American culture . Swing dance is a style that could only have developed in America during the 1920 's and have the impact that it did . Without swing dance in America ,
What comes to mind when thinking of the 1920’s? Most people think of the freedom the United States felt after World War I and that is exactly what jazz and the Charleston symbolize (Boundless.com par. 1). Jazz and the Charleston were extremely controversial in the 1920’s because they promoted a new way of thinking, which outraged the older generations (Knowles 160). Older generations did not like the fact that young people were becoming more and more daring with their actions just by playing music
advances in the entertainment industry. Businesses were booming and Americans were developing a fondness for a new, faster type of lifestyle. It was a time for stepping out of the line and defying the social norms of previous times, especially for women and African Americans. Women were becoming more independent and gaining rights while African Americans were expressing a strong sense of their cultural individuality through music. The 1920’s were booming with new jazz music, dance styles, and Broadway musicals
After the first world war there were many changes to the way Americans lived their lives. During this time industry boomed and unemployed people now held jobs. The economy was growing, people were making money which allowed more time for leisure. In the 1920’s came a new era of music called jazz. Jazz changed writing, fashion, the way people spent their free time, it changed peoples thoughts and attitudes towards life and towards racial discrimination. The Great Gatsby portrays the wealth and prosperity
Music, technology, sports, movies, and radio. All of these interests were a huge part of American life in the 1920’s. New advancements in these leisure activities made their popularity grow rapidly and obtain much more attention. The 1920’s, also called the “Roaring Twenties”, was a period of many changes in entertainment including music, sports, and leisure. The 1920’s began the modern music era, and many advancements were made to make it easier to enjoy it (Pearson). The spread of music improved
The 1920's was a time of major change in every area of life for people in the United States. America's once conservative society started to become more and more liberal as political and economic changes were being made. The dramatic switch from one way of living to another caused most people to experience what felt like culture shock, while some people celebrated the new ways. The types of music, dancing, and other forms of entertainment were much different than what they had ever been. The major
York and Chicago During the 1920's The 1920's was a huge decade for the phenomena known as "Jazz". Due to the closing of the seaport in New Orleans, musicians were forced to travel up the Mississippi to find work. Two of the cities most affected by this move were Chicago and New York. Chicago was home primarily for New Orleans traditional music during the 1920's. From this New Orleans style
The 1920’s was a time of the first youthful rebellion. As we well know new music is fueled by the incoming generation. I listen to the radio today and wonder what my kids will be listening to ten years from now. When I was a kid bands such as Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, and early Red Hot Chili Peppers filled the airwaves. The grunge scene was reaching its peak. As I went through my teen years Korn, Eminem, and Master P took over. You could see the change in attitudes as well as attire
was booming in America. Dance was changing rapidly and new styles of dances were being created. Women began to wear shorter clothes, cut their hair, and some even had jobs, while the Flapper girls gave other young women an outlook of freedom. People began to go see films and movie stars became famous worldwide. During the Jazz Age, American culture was changing and Americans were becoming more finically affluent. Dancing skyrocketed during the 1920s. Many styles of dance that were created before
What Is ‘Dance Theatre’? To define ‘Dance Theatre’ can be impossible, is it dance or is it theatre? To fully understand this we must know the key elements of each genre and understand the routes, inspirations and dynamics of each. Where does dance become ‘Dance Theatre’ and at what point is movement choreographed so specifically that it becomes dance? Although the term ‘Dance Theatre’ was not introduced until the 20th century, Dance itself has been a theatrical technique used, dating back as old
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 522-524. Print. Howard, L. "1920s Pop Culture." 1920s Pop Culture. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. Mohler, Robert. Personal Interview. 23 Feb. 2014. "Movies Become Big Business in the 1920's." VOA. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. Scott, Robert."1920s Womens Fashions." 1920's Womens Fashions. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. "The Roaring Twenties." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. Trueman, C. "America in the 1920's." America in the 1920's. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
The 1920’s The 1920's were a decade of enjoyment, employment, and for some disappointment. It was a decade classified as the "roaring twenties." Men returning from World War I had to deal with unemployment, wheat farmers and oil companies were striking it rich, new modern conveniences were being thought up, and fashion was a major issue among the rich. During the twenties the economy had a definite impact on the society. It benefited some, but hurt others. The people that benefited were the prairie
did the same dances. In addition, the 1920s marked the growth of movies as Canadians packed theatres to watch their favourite stars. The 1920s were one of the most important and revolutionary times for the film industry. During this decade, the film industry went through massive changes that would completely change what movies were or stood for. After the Great War, more people began considering movies as a form of entertainment. This increased attention caused change in the industry, allowing the
War I, the 1920s twinkled on the horizon with the promise of hope. Bookended by the epidemic of 1920 and the The Wall Street crash of 1929, the decade was a time of decadence, frivolity, and escape. Rich or poor, people lived in the moment, loved anything new and the young partied like there was no tomorrow. A readers look into the decade can be found in the era's greatest memoir: The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald. F. Scott Fitzgerald applied the social and political issues of the 1920's and its