Mechanization reduced demand for Mechanization reduced demand for farm jobsfarm jobs

Industrialization led to urbanizationIndustrialization led to urbanization Business flourished (“Big Boom”)Business flourished (“Big Boom”) Middle class increasedMiddle class increased Automobile transformed societyAutomobile transformed society

Between 1922 and 1929 dividends Between 1922 and 1929 dividends from stocks rose 108%from stocks rose 108%

Corporate profits increased 76%Corporate profits increased 76% Wages grew by 33%Wages grew by 33% Productivity increased, production Productivity increased, production

costs decreasedcosts decreased Result was rampant materialismResult was rampant materialism People spent money on consumer People spent money on consumer goods, recreation and travel, goods, recreation and travel, professional sportsprofessional sports

entertainment: movies, dance, entertainment: movies, dance, “touring,” radio“touring,” radio

Prohibition: “speakeasies,” Prohibition: “speakeasies,” bootlegged liquorbootlegged liquor

Women “liberated”: bobbed hair, Women “liberated”: bobbed hair, short flapper dresses, right to vote short flapper dresses, right to vote (1920)(1920)

Jazz AgeJazz Age

1914-1945 (including aftermath of WWI)1914-1945 (including aftermath of WWI) Rural Americans (especially soldiers) Rural Americans (especially soldiers)

experienced urban and European lifeexperienced urban and European life Optimism changed to disillusionment after Optimism changed to disillusionment after

warwar Civilization was “a vast edifice of sham, Civilization was “a vast edifice of sham,

and the war, instead of its crumbling, was and the war, instead of its crumbling, was its fullest and most ultimate expression.” its fullest and most ultimate expression.” (John Dos Passos)(John Dos Passos)

““Bohemians” and Expatriates Bohemians” and Expatriates Chicago, New York (Greenwich Village), Chicago, New York (Greenwich Village),

and Paris (West Bank)and Paris (West Bank)

Effects of WWI

They saw the breakdown of traditional values They saw the breakdown of traditional values and emergence of a “godless” world viewand emergence of a “godless” world view

Freud, Darwin, MarxFreud, Darwin, Marx Marked by rebellion and anger of younger Marked by rebellion and anger of younger

generation regarding wargeneration regarding war Fostered loss of familiar: family life, Fostered loss of familiar: family life,

community, religion, patriotismcommunity, religion, patriotism Western civilization symbolized as bleak Western civilization symbolized as bleak

desert in desperate need of rain (spiritual desert in desperate need of rain (spiritual renewal)renewal)

This is the rise of ModernismThis is the rise of Modernism

A disillusionment with old; a search for A disillusionment with old; a search for the new.the new.

Modernism encompasses the works of Modernism encompasses the works of thinkers who rebelled against nineteenth thinkers who rebelled against nineteenth century society, believing the "traditional" century society, believing the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization, and religious faith, social organization, and daily life were becoming outdated.daily life were becoming outdated.

Modernists directly confronted the new Modernists directly confronted the new economic, social and political conditions economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world. of an emerging fully industrialized world.

Expatriates in:Expatriates in: LondonLondon

Ezra PoundEzra Pound T. S. Eliot – T. S. Eliot – The Waste LandThe Waste Land

ParisParis Gertrude Stein – Known mainly because of her influence on other Gertrude Stein – Known mainly because of her influence on other

expatriatesexpatriatesSaid to Hemingway: “All of you young people who served in the Said to Hemingway: “All of you young people who served in the war, you are the lost generation.”war, you are the lost generation.”

Ernest Hemingway – Believer in “cult of experience”Ernest Hemingway – Believer in “cult of experience” Style: clean, simple, devoid of unnecessary words Style: clean, simple, devoid of unnecessary words

(short sentences)(short sentences) The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms For Whom the Bell TollsFor Whom the Bell Tolls The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea

F. Scott Fitzgerald – F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Post-impressionistsPost-impressionists ExpressionistsExpressionists PrimitivesPrimitives CubistsCubists