| Papers [1-15] of 100 :: [Page 1 of 7] | | Go to page : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 —> | Search results on "1950S AMERICA": |
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1950s America, 2007.
An analysis of the politics, economics and changing social attitudes of 1950s America.
1,912 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 11 sources, APA, $ 61.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how the 1950s were a decade of political, economic and social change. It looks at how political suspicion of communism was rampant and how this suspicion created a culture of fear of the unfamiliar, which directly resulted in national economic growth due to the military build that was a response to the possibility of an international standoff. The paper also discusses how, as an offshoot of this economic growth, aided with favorable lending policies, Americans began to settle in suburbs and spend their disposable incomes luxury goods and services which were never as readily available as they were during the fifties. The paper also looks at how Hollywood and Madison Avenue advertising firms took full advantage of the changing social attitudes toward sex and sexuality effectively making 1950s America the optimal environment for a publication such as "Playboy Magazine".
From the Paper
"What made the political events of the late 1940's through the 1960's so interesting from an historic and sociologic point of view was what Whitfield (1996, 10) refers to as the 'politicizing culture'. Not since revolutionary times had the American public allowed foreign policy to become such an integral part of their lives in the way the cold war did. What began as a vocal government opposition to international communism and the threat of its spread quickly gained popular public endorsement in the form of rooting out domestic sympathizers within the US. This pursuit of domestic communist party members is in part due to Americas (and the United Nations) inability to persuade or force the Soviet Union from abandoning their national policy. "
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"Movie-Made America", 2002.
A review of Robert Sklar's "Movie-Made America", a critical history of film in America.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 1 source, $ 89.95
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Abstract
This essay is a book review of Robert Sklar's (1994) "Movie-Made America." Sklar's book is a critical history of film in America, and an analysis of larger socio-political influences in the development of the American film, including the role of war propaganda films of the 1930s, 1940s, and anti-Communist films of the 1950s. The author of this paper indicates Sklar's analysis is uneven and at times contradictory, particularly when discussing contemporary films of Lucas and Spielberg.
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North America, 2002.
This paper discusses living in North America during the 1940's and 1950's.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 2 sources, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper combines a personal interview and historical facts to give a sense of life in North America during the 1940s and 1950s.
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The 1950s, 2005.
This paper reviews an essay "What We Really Miss about the 1950s" by Stephanie Coontz, which analyzes the common myth that this decade was America's golden age of family life.
1,130 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 39.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, after the uncertain and unstable times periods of the Great Depression and World War II, the American people were ready to take advantage of the postwar economic boom of the 1950s and create a secure internally focused family. The author points out that the reason the 1950s are regarded as such a happy time is not the strictly defined gender roles, which limited people's options and decisions, but rather the generous veteran's benefits and welfare programs--the GI Bill, increased minimum wage and low cost housing developments although these reform programs were very selective, leaving minorities to fend for themselves. The paper relates that Coontz hopes that today's Americans will understand that what is really missed about the 1950s is the hope for a better tomorrow through a family-focused government, not the adherence to rigid family and gender roles.
From the Paper
"Television of the 1950s plays a significant role in people's misunderstanding of family life in the decade. The shows give people the impression that life was always simple and happy back then. People seem to think that the way families acted on television is how they acted in real life, but these TV families merely showed someone's idea of how families were supposed to live. Shows such as "Leave It to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best" offer the illusion that parents should always have a simple solution to all of life's problems. On the other hand, shows like "I Love Lucy" were aimed at showing women the troubles caused by independent women. Instead of viewing them as a suggestion, most people who watch these shows today feel inadequate, like they will never be able to have a family as wholesome as the Cleavers."
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Alcoholism in the 1950s, 2002.
This paper discusses life in the 1950s and the causes of alcohol abuse during that period.
3,400 words (approx. 13.6 pages), 17 sources, MLA, $ 96.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that life during the decade of the 1950s was not as tranquil as it appears to have been on the surface. The author identifies four causes of alcoholism: Conformity in a society that glamorized drinking, the post WWII fears of the Cold War and the H-Bomb, the turmoil of the ?Red? scare created by McCarthyism and the isolation created by the relocation to the suburbs. The author concludes that the nostalgia for the 1950s must be balanced by an understanding of both the good as well as the bad of that era.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Cocktails & Cocktail Parties
Hollywood and Alcohol
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Alcohol - A Serious Business
The Causes
Societal Conformity
The Cold War/Fear of Nuclear War
Red Scare
Relocation from City to Suburbs
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The 1950's witnessed a renewal of interest in the cocktail party as such. "The most popular decade was probably the 1950's for cocktail parties with the help of Hollywood's glamorization." Proof of this can be seen in the renewal of interest in the cocktail shaker that had gone in and out of style over the course of history. These shakers could now be found in the new suburban homes that had been built with finished basements (called rec rooms) which were complete with bars. Of course these old fashioned shakers had been modernized 1950's style by coming equipped "with battery-powered stirring devices ... electric blenders [also] became popular; drop in some ice, add the alcohol of your choice, a package of 'redi-mix,' [and] flick a switch....". But simple drinks were also acceptable - consider the fact that the screwdriver (orange juice and vodka mixed) was invented in the 1950s."
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The 1950s: A Time of Divergence, 2007.
This paper examines the factors that contributed towards the political climate of the 1950s.
1,362 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at the political climate of the 1950s and discusses McCarthyism, the Eisenhower presidency, dynamic conservatism, politics of consensus and civil rights. The paper shows how the 1950s were not perfect and not totally peaceful, but explains that this era laid the foundation for a post-war America conscious of its place in the new global community.
From the Paper
"The 1950s were a time of great happiness for some. For middle-class white America things could not have been better. The economy was booming and jobs were plentiful; the American Dream of a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence was now a reality for many. Under the surface, however, trouble was brewing. Racial tensions were coming to a head and the middle of the road policies of Eisenhower were beginning to show the wear of time. Globally, the spread of communism in Southeast Asia was leading to the possibility of another world war in the not-so-distant future and at home some citizens where finding the government testing their loyalty to America."
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The 1950s, 2005.
This paper discusses the lifestyle of the 1950s after the soldiers returned from WWII.
1,375 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, in the 1950s, escapism was the norm with everyone wanted to be part of the middle-class, economically independent and not to worry about anything serious and intellectual beyond what was for dinner. The author describes the growth of suburban housing as built by real estate developer William Levitt, of the corporate executive and his helpmate and of the Western macho movies. The paper stresses that the reason for this attitude was that people needed to "chill-out" because not everything was right in the world: There was the USSR, the possibility of Nuclear War and the growing unrest of the African-America population and Civil Rights legislation.
From the Paper
"This does not mean that everyone in the U.S. were interested in "never-never land". The Beatniks, some U.S. scholars and intellectuals were following the more serious Europeans in thinking about profound issues such as existentialism and the reason for living. The idea behind existentialism, advocated by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus among others in the 1940s and 1950s, was to determine the value of life. Bottom line: if life did not have value, then what was the reason for existing?"
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1950s Advertisements, 2003.
Explores the different techniques used in various ads from the 1950s, with a strong focus on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
1,086 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
Maslow's hierarchy of needs, an important concept in the fields of both psychology and advertising, is explained and applied to ads from the 1950s. The resulting efficiency of these ads is also explored. The paper examines the Dodge advertisement of 1955 as a case study.
From the Paper
"Advertisements throughout the fifties were notorious for combining the fear and bandwagon techniques with images and ideas reflective of the American culture of the fifties. The convergence of these two different approaches was aimed at making the consumer spend all of his or her money on items they did not necessarily need or even want. However, these ads, which became embedded in the mind of the consumers, sought to make the consumer believe that buying that particular product would satisfy the needs and desires set forth by Abraham Maslow. After Maslow created his hierarchy of needs in 1954, advertisements throughout the fifties began to experiment with this hierarchy as a guide for what areas to appeal to in order to compel consumers to buy their products."
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"Paradise Lost: California's Experience, America's Future"., 2002.
This paper examines the book, "Paradise Lost: California's Experience, America's Future" by Peter Schrag.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This book finds that the idealism that was put forth by the original founders of the modern California "populism" in the 1950s has since been struck down by the realities of limited resources and inherent social and political corruption, especially Proposition 13. This paper examines three specific questions in order to limit the scope of this essay.
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Understanding Crime and Drug Addiction in the 1950s, 2005.
A review of 'The Man with the Golden Arm' (1955) by Otto Preminger in order to gain a better understanding of crime and the level of drug addiction in the 1950s.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper brings forth the elements of psychological and cultural significance in Preminger's film, which was an important aspect of crime cinema being created in the 1950s. This paper reports that understanding the basis of the film in relation to drug addiction, it is clear that Preminger offers an insightful and modern interpretation of drug use in the post World War II period. This is how 'The Man with the Golden Arm' became a new form of film making through the French New Wave movement, and through the opening new psychological portrayals of criminals through drug addiction.
From the Paper
"This film study will examine the nature of the crime genre and the French "New Wave" as depicted in the 1950s era of filmmaking in Otto Preminger's The Man with the Golden Arm. Through this aspect of Hollywood filmmaking, one can realize the aspects of innovation that create a movie based on deviant acts through the drug induced behaviors of its central characters. By exploring this genre of filmmaking that gave license to the horrors of drug addiction in the 50s, one can realize the impact on culture and society this "French New Wave" styled film created."
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Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s, 2007.
An analysis of the problems and reactions to the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
791 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 28.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses issues that related to African-American civil rights in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s such as segregation and Jim Crow laws. The paper then considers the freedom riders, famous writers (such as Langston Hughes) or speakers and other reactions toward civil rights. The paper finally looks at how these affected the fight to win civil rights for African-Americans.
From the Paper
"Another important part of studying this period of time is looking at African Americans who made a difference. While many famous African Americans existed during this time, Langston Hughes was an inspiration to the poor, black people during this time and continues to be an inspiration to his people today.
Langston use humor and his love to touch the lives of others. "Langston Hughes was one of the dominant voices in American literature of this century and perhaps the single most influential black poet." Langston Hughes was only one of many famous authors that made a difference on struggling African Americans during the 1950's and 1960's. Another important figure during this time period was Martin Luther King Jr. that fought for freedom for his people. King inspired both African Americans and whites. Today, his speech, "I Have a Dream" continues to inspire people."
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Japanese-Americans and America in Literature, 2008.
This paper discusses the relationship of Japanese-Americans to America
as portrayed in 'No-No Boy' by John Okada and 'Nisei Daughter' by Monica Sone.
1,900 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that on February 19, 1942, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese troops, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, setting into motion the mass internment of over 110,000 Japanese-Americans in camps throughout the continental U.S. without trial or charge. Long the victims of racial discrimination, these Japanese-Americans found themselves the targets of an entire nation's hostilities during the war. The writer points out that this act of mass exclusion by the United States prompted very different reactions among the Japanese-American community, key examples of which are found in Monica Sone's 'Nisei Daughter' and John Okada's 'No-no Boy'. The writer discusses that these books, written in the 1950s, after the Japanese internment had ended, present two diametrically opposite responses to the internment of Japanese-American citizens, and explore the newly emerging relationship between Japanese-Americans and the United States in the post-war era.
From the Paper
"Continuing where Nisei Daughter left off, but diverging sharply in its portrayal of the Japanese-American experience in the United States, No-No Boy traces the attempts made by Ichiro Yamada, a Japanese American internee who declined to serve in the U.S. army, and the novels central character, to integrate into American society following his internment and consequential imprisonment. The book explores the failure of Japanese American integration in the racially charged aftermath of the Second World War, and is unique in that it develops almost exclusively within the confines of Japanese American culture, where discrimination manifests itself even within the same race."
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The Depiction of Women in 1950s Television Sitcoms, 2000.
A look at the extent to which the role of women in 1950s TV sitcoms is a parallel of popular culture of the time.
2,440 words (approx. 9.8 pages), 10 sources, $ 74.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at the images of women that were portrayed in 1950s TV sitcoms and examines to what extent these images give us an insight into popular culture of the time.
From the Paper
"The most stereotypical portrayals of gender are spread through communication media, especially television. Often, trends in television give us insight into the shifting meanings of gender in popular culture. For example, television in the fifties portrayed a wonderful world of perfect homes in a perfect America. In this world the mothers never worked, the families were happy, and problems were always solved within a half hour. Women had a clearly defined, fixed role, says Spigel, ?The essential function of women was that of caretaker, mother, and sexual partner. The domestic woman needed to save her energy for housekeeping, childrearing, and an active (monogamous) sex life with her husband?
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Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, 2008.
A discussion on the US Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.
941 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper deals with the US Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s - described by this author as the most important domestic social movement of the twentieth century. The writer then goes on to describe the ideas of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and looks at how the Civil Rights Movement successfully adopted the ideas of these two American philosophers.
From the Paper
"The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was, arguably, the most important domestic social movement of the twentieth century; at the very least, it was the most important social phenomenon to grip America since the close of the Civil War. Under the skillful leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr., the movement became famous for civil disobedience or the non-violent resistance to laws that perpetuated racial inequality and segregation. Civil rights activists, with the blessing of Dr. King, organized peaceful demonstrations, boycotts, voter-registration drives, marches, strikes and simply refused to obey laws they saw as wrong and unjust. Of course, an approach of this sort requires extraordinary courage and brings with it many risks - but, at the same time, the Civil Rights Movement acquired a moral grandeur and authority that made it very formidable (Brunner, sec.2). The next few pages will argue that, by pursuing civil disobedience, the Civil Rights Movement captured the essence of Henry David Thoreau's understanding of the concept. At the same time, by speaking the truth about the American condition, and by embracing a non-conformist approach designed to uproot institutionalized bigotry in the United States, the Civil Rights Movement echoed some of the principles laid down by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his famous essay, "Self-Reliance". With that in mind, the following paper will describe the ideas of Thoreau and Emerson, the Civil Rights Movement, and how the Civil Rights Movement successfully adopted the ideas of these two American philosophers. In the end, the movement benefited greatly from following the intellectual example of Henry David Thoreau and from following the demand of Emerson that people act as non-conformists in the pursuit of a great cause."
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Sex in America During the 1950s, 2005.
An analysis of the perspectives of Americans during the 1950s and how the oppressive nature during this decade led to the sexual revolutions that occurred during the 1960s.
2,768 words (approx. 11.1 pages), 12 sources, MLA, $ 82.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the paranoia of the U.S. govt. in regards to homosexuals and the effects of the Cold War on American sexuality. It includes statistics from government documents and the Kinsey reports. It looks at the development of "Playboy" magazine, the beat literature and its dynamic rebellion against social mores, rock-n-roll music and teenage rebellion. This paper also discusses the impact television had on the American family and shows that set the standard for what it meant to be a normal family.
From the Paper
" The conservative attitudes of the government soon became reflected in the homes of middle class America. Hoping to recapture the ideals of the Victorian Era, women were encouraged to become housewives. The ideal female roles during the 1950s included raising a family and housekeeping. Although many women maintained jobs during this time, the baby boom that began in the 1940s proliferated during the 1950s. In 1945 the Second World War had ended and thousands of men returned home to girlfriends and wives and began to start a family. "
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