Chapter 15 Section 2 Cultural Innovations Click on a hyperlink to view the corresponding slides.
Guide to Reading Main Idea An era of exciting and innovative cultural trends, the 1920s witnessed changes in art and literature. This period also saw a dramatic increase in the country s interest in sports and other forms of popular culture. Key Terms and Names Bohemian Carl Sandburg Eugene O Neill Ernest Hemingway F. Scott Fitzgerald mass media
Art and Literature During the 1920s, American artists, writers, and intellectuals began challenging traditional ideas as they searched for meaning in the modern world. The artistic and unconventional, or Bohemian, lifestyle of Manhattan s Greenwich Village and Chicago s South Side attracted artists and writers. (pages 492 494)
Art and Literature (cont.) These areas were considered centers of creativity, enlightenment, and freedom from conformity to old ideas. The European art movement influenced American modernist artists. The range in which the artists chose to express the modern experience was very diverse. (pages 492 494)
Art and Literature (cont.) Writing styles and subject matter varied. Chicago poet Carl Sandburg used common speech to glorify the Midwest and the expansive nature of American life. Playwright Eugene O Neill s work focused on the search for meaning in modern society. (pages 492 494)
Art and Literature (cont.) How did F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby portray modern society? The book exposed the emptiness and superficiality of modern society as the characters spent much of their lives chasing futile dreams. Space Bar to display the answer. (pages 492 494)
Popular Culture The economic prosperity of the 1920s afforded many Americans leisure time for enjoying sports, music, theater, and entertainment. Radio, motion pictures, and newspapers gave rise to a new interest in sports. Sports figures, such as Babe Ruth and heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, were famous for their sports abilities but became celebrities as well. (pages 494 495)
Popular Culture (cont.) Motion pictures became increasingly popular. The first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, was made in 1927. The golden age of Hollywood began. The mass media radio, movies, newspapers, and magazines helped break down the focus on local interests. Mass media helped unify the nation and spread new ideas and attitudes. (pages 494 495)
Popular Culture (cont.) How did popular culture in the United States change during the 1920s? (pages 494 495) Space Bar to display the answer.
Popular Culture (cont.) The economic prosperity of the 1920s afforded many Americans leisure time for enjoying sports, music, theater, and entertainment. Radio, motion pictures, and newspapers gave rise to a new interest in sports. Sports figures became celebrities. Motion pictures became increasingly popular. The first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, was made in 1927. The golden age of Hollywood began. The mass media radio, movies, newspapers, and magazines broke down the focus on local interests. Mass media helped unify the nation and spread new ideas and attitudes. (pages 494 495)
Checking for Understanding Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left. A 1. a person (as an artist or writer) leading an unconventional lifestyle B 2. a medium of communication (as in television and radio) intended to reach a wide audience A. Bohemian B. mass media Space Bar to display the answers.