Postwar Uncertainty 15.1

Setting the Stage Due to the horrors of WWI  The Enlightenment belief that progress + reason would always prevail was shattered ∴ ppl began questioning traditional beliefs + turned once again to science

A New Revolution in Science Albert Einstein + Sigmund Freud made some of the world’s more important advances in science and understanding…

Impact of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity German-born Jew who escaped from Hitler’s regime in the early years of Hitler’s rule Theory of Relativity: Speed of light is constant BUT, space and time can change when measured relative to an object moving near the speed of light 186,000 miles/second Newton’s absolute laws of motion + gravity replaced by uncertainty about science Gravitational waves?!

Influence of Freudian Psychology Sigmund Freud: Austrian physician who constructed a theory about the human mind Believed that much of human behavior is irrational Aka the unconscious: Pleasure-seeking drives exist beyond reason Decreased ppl’s faith in reason

Literature in the 1920s Due to the horrors of war ppl began to have doubts about religion + progress Writers illustrated this disillusionment w/ disturbing version about present + future Poet T.S. Elliot wrote about the “wasteland” of the postwar world Argued that the western world lost all spiritual values Drained of hope + faith

Writers Reflect Society’s Concerns Concerns about Freud’s idea of the unconscious: James Joyce used stream-of-consciousness in Ulysses (1922) To mirror the workings of the human mind Entire novel just covered one day through the minds of 3 ppl in Dublin, Ireland.

Thinkers React to Uncertainties Existentialism: Belief that there is no universal meaning to life Each person creates his/her own meaning through choices + actions Jean Paul Sartre: French leader in existential thinking Friedrich Nietzsche: German philosopher who wrote that Western ideas (democracy, reason, progress, etc) stifled creativity He urged ppl to return to ancient heroic ideas of pride, assertiveness, + strength

Revolution in the Arts

Artists Rebel Against Tradition Artists started illustrating emotion + imagination Rather than the earlier realistic representation of objects George Braque of France + Pablo Picasso of Spain founded cubism in 1907 Surrealism: art mvm’t that sought to link the world of dreams w/ real life Inspired by Freud, “surreal” = beyond/above reality

Composers Try New Styles Composers started using irregular rhythms + harsh combinations of sounds Jazz originated in the U.S. after WWI By African Americans in New Orleans, Memphis + Chicago Lively, loose beat

Society Challenges Convention WWI left many young ppl wanting to change from cultural values of the past

Women’s Roles Change War allowed women to work in roles they never had before 1919: Women in the U.S. receive the right to vote Britain, Germany, Sweden + Austria also gave women’s suffrage after the war 1920s flapper girl Margaret Sanger + Emma Goldman spoke out in favor of birth control

Technological Advances Improve Life Scientists developed new drugs/medical treatments Technological advances improved communication + transportation as well

The Automobile Alberts Society Wartime innovations helped to improve the automobile Electric starters, air-filled tires, more powerful engines Sleek + colorful Prewar Britain: only rich owned cars  34,000/year produced After the war: More affordable British produced 511,000/year in 1937 Ppl traveled more + new businesses opened to support the auto industry

Airplanes Transform Travel Most of the world’s passenger airlines established in the 1920s At first only rich able to afford air travel Charles Lindberg flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927 Amelia Earhart first women to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean (1932)

Radio and Movies Dominate Popular Entertainment 1920: World’s first radio station  KDKA in Pittsburg, PA Radio mania swept the U.S.! Music, plays, sports all over the radio Movies of the 20s: European movies were seen as a very highly regarded art form BUT Hollywood in LA = 90% of all movies in world in 1920s produced there