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Age of Anxiety
The "Age of Anxiety" marked a time of social and economic upheaval--mostly positive in the United States, but negative in Europe--that led to new creations of music like jazz. Because of its positive connotation in the US, it's more commonly referred to here as "The Roarin' Twenties." The United States left the war with few scratches (other than human casualties), and its industries at home were able to continue working, unlike those of Europe. -
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World War I
By 1917, the United States was fully invested in the "war to end all wars" in every area of society. Creative industries like design, music, and film took a backseat to the war effort. The destruction in Europe brought with it an early economic depression, one much earlier than the Great Depression of the United States. While Europe was suffering, the US employed protectionist trade policies to grow wealthy, and with that opulence grew new forms of music like jazz. -
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Radio Craze
Following WWI, radio stations began broadcasting news reports and music playlists again. In 1922, hundreds of new radio stations were forming in the United States, marking the beginning of the radio craze. This "craze" continued with the creation of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1926. Music was becoming more available to the general public. New disc jockeys made music easier to find, but with that came the issue of what makes a song popular, and how. -
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World War II
As history moves in cycles, the Second World War marked another era of "home front" mentality; though no fighting took place on US soil, the country was greatly involved in every area of the war effort. Cars were no longer being mass-produced in order to conserve rubber and steel, victory gardens started as a way to combat food rationing, and music was no longer a focus of the American people. -
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Consumerism and Consumption
Similar to the period after WWI, the decade that followed WWII marked an extreme increase in consumerism. Also like WWI, WWII fighting happened exclusively overseas (in Europe and in Japan). Industries in the United States were preserved, and our factories and purses helped refuel the world economy. Families were no longer only buying items of subsistence, but also items of want. During this period, more families were able to buy their own homes, cars, and television sets, among other items. -
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Growth of Television
In 1950, less than ten percent of US households own a television. By 1960, this number grew to over eighty percent. The transition from a world of entertainment dominated by radio to one dominated by television also transformed the music industry. No longer was music only represented by a voice; now artists could be seen on TV, as well as heard. Programs like the Ed Sullivan Show capitalized on Elvis's image, and the trend continues today. -
Rocket 88
Rock & roll originated most strongly in the blues. Gospel, blue, and jazz are all characteristic genres of the African American community, and rock & roll is no exception. Rocket 88 is the first song to be considered of this new genre, "rock & roll." It was recorded by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats in 1951. Rock & roll provided a rebellious outlet for white suburban teens in the 1950s. This "black" genre ran perpendicular to white rules of domesticity, which made it grow even more. -
9/11
The attack on the Wold Trade Center buildings spawned a new era of war for the United States. It partly prompted fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and began the transition towards a more powerful government. The Patriot Act of 2001 allows the government to search personal records in order to prevent terrorist attacks, an act that still warrants debate today over the right to privacy in a world that demands state protection. -
American Idiot
Quite possibly my favorite album of all time, American Idiot was released three years after the attacks on 9/11 and expresses our American struggle for creativity and freedom in a world that seems to be putting more controls on ambition. To me, this is another cycle of the post-war rebellion seen in the 1920s, 1950s, and late 1960s/early 1970s. Green Day capitalizes on an anxious and traumatic time in Americans' lives to deliver a rock opera that resonates with the public.