People begin to question traditional beliefs Postwar Uncertainty People begin to question traditional beliefs

New Revolution in Science Albert Einstein offered startling new ideas on space, time, energy, and matter Theory of Relativity: ideas about the interrelationships between time and space and between energy and matter Sigmund Freud treated patients with psychological problems He constructed theories about the human mind and believed that much of human behavior is irrational or beyond reason This is called the unconscious

Literature in 1920’s In search for meaning in an uncertain world some thinkers turned to the philosophy known as existentialism Existentialists believed that there is no universal meaning to life and each person creates his or her own meaning in life through choices made and actions taken Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that Western ideas such as reason, democracy, and progress had muted people’s creativity and actions #1 Mustache Award Friedrich Nietzsche

Revolution in the Arts Artists rebelled against earlier realistic styles of painting and wanted to depict the inner world of emotion and imagination rather than show realistic things Surrealism: art movement that sought to link the world of dreams with real life, inspired by Freud Jazz emerged in the U.S.

Society Challenges Convention Before WWI (restricting clothing) WWI disrupted our traditional views and new ideas and ways of life led toa new kind of individual freedom during the 1920’s War had allowed women to take on new role led and this helped them win the right to vote Women abandoned restrictive clothing and hairstyles and began to take new careers in medicine, education, journalism, and other professions 1920’s ready to dance the night away

Technological Advances Improve Life Automobile benefited from a host of wartime innovations and improvements– electric starters, air-filled tires, and more powerful engines Prewar cars were only owned by the rich but after the war the prices drop and the middle class could afford these cars More people are traveling for pleasure Most of the world’s major passenger airlines were established during the 1920s

Radio and Movies Dominate Popular Entertainment World’s first commercial radio station—KDKA in Pittsburgh begins broadcasting Every major city then begins to have its own station for news, plays, and even live sporting events and most families begin to own radios Motion pictures were huge and in LA 90% of movies were filmed there Charlie Chaplin a comic genius transformed movies Steam Boat Willie introduced