Download Make a list of 10 things that make you happy How many items on

Make a list of 10 things that
make you happy
How many items on your list are
material things?
EQ: To what extent can an emphasis
on conformity and materialism
positively and negatively affect
American society?
Economic prosperity of the 1950s
• Contributing factors:
– Wartime economy
– Cheap energy
– GI Bill (1944) – provided
veterans with…
• Job priority
• Monthly allowance (most
spent on higher ed.)
• Low-interest loans
Growth of
suburbs!
• White flight from cities
• Levittowns
– Mass produced homes
Baby BOOM!
• Men home + $ to buy
homes + improved
medicine + good
economy (job stability)
= lots of babies
• Dr. Spock
– Common Sense Book of
Baby and Child Care
(1946)
Technological changes
• Auto industry
expanded
– Interstate
Highway Act of
1956
• SUNBELT!
• Transistors 
new appliances
• Computers
– ENIAC (1946)
Television!
• List positive and negative impacts of television
on society.
– Overall are these impacts more positive or negative?
Changes in Business
• More white-collar jobs
• Growth of Corporations
• Fast food!
– McDonalds (1955)
• Standardization of products &
services
Consumerism
• Emphasis on material culture
• Advertising – TV, magazines
• Credit card companies
• “Keeping up with the Joneses”
• Diner’s Club card
Discuss:
• EQ: To what extent can an emphasis on
conformity positively and negatively affect
American society?
• Is the U.S. a materialistic/conformist society
today? Is this harmful?
• Do non-conformists deserve to be labeled
rebels?
Non-conformists (“rebels”) of the 50s
•
•
•
•
Film – James Dean
Music – Elvis
Art – Jackson Pollock
“Beat Generation” writers:
– Jack Kerouac - On The Road (1957)
– J.D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
– Allan Ginsburg - “Howl” (1955)