Teenage Life and Counter Culture in the 1950s

Before World War II

Teenagers expected to take life seriously Males joined the military or go and get a job Females taught to take care of the house and prepare

to be a dutiful wife and mother Marriage seen as more important than education or a

career

Teens had little economic freedom, independence, or input into decision making

Things Change

Families experienced a great deal of economic power

New medians for entertainment created Teenagers now more inclined to:

Attend college Find a skill Seek a successful career

Parents now wanted more for their children

Teenage Entertainment

Television shows

AM Radio

Rock ‘n’ Roll

High school dances

Clothing trends

Dance fads

Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Generation Gap

Teens now have spending money Buying rock ‘n’ roll

records Parents despised rock

music Corrupting their children

Blamed rock music for youth rebellion Parents didn’t

understand independence and freedom

How to be a Beatnik

The Beatnik The Beat Generation

Media stereotypeDepicted superficial

aspects of Beat Generation

Black turtle neck sweaters

Bongos, dark glasses, berets

Post-WWII writersRejection of

received standards and materialism

Interest in Eastern religion

Celebrated non-conformity

Counter Culture

The Beat Generation

Jack Kerouac coined the term in 1948Fore-runners for 1960s hippie culture“Beat” – beaten down/suppressed; upbeat/on

the beatLiterary movement from the 1950s

Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs Helped liberalize American publishing

Original Beat Generation members met in New York City, but then all found their way to San Francisco