Changes in Society Following WWI 15.1 Postwar Uncertainty

Revolutions in Science - Einstein Revolutions in Science – Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Ideas on space, time, energy, and matter – Light travels at exactly the same speed no matter what direction it moves in relation to Earth E=MC 2 Now uncertainty and relativity replaced Isaac Newton’s comforting belief of a world operating according to absolute laws of motion and gravity _tennant_explains_einstein_s_theory_of_relativity_on_its _100th_anniversary.html _tennant_explains_einstein_s_theory_of_relativity_on_its _100th_anniversary.html

Created a way to treat patients with psychological problems Constructed a theory of the human mind – Believed humans were irrational, beyond reason Unconscious Mind drove this – Included pleasure-seeking drives and motivation – Things not understood in the conscious mind psychoanalytic-theory-on-instincts-motivation- personality-development.html Revolutions in Science - Freud

Literature Brutality of WWI caused philosophers and writers to question accepted ideas about reason and progress – William Butler Yeats “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” Existentialism – Influence of Friedrich Nietzsche Said Western ideas such as reason, democracy, and progress kept down people’s creativity and actions

Revolution in the Arts Rebellion against tradition – Surrealism Arts wanted to show the inner world of emotion and imagination rather than show realistic representation of objects – George Braque and Pablo Picasso founded Cubism in 1907 which transformed natural shapes into geometric forms Objects were broken down into different parts with sharp angles and edges

Change of Women’s Roles fight-for-womens-suffrage fight-for-womens-suffrage Roles for women had begun to change after World War I because of the role they had played in the war The push for suffrage would give them voting rights in many countries including Britain (1918), the United States (1920), and Germany (1918) Women began to change their appearance: – Less restrictive clothing – Hair was “bobbed” – cut short – Wore make-up – Drove cars – Drank and smoked in public

Technological Advances Radio and Movies – 1920 – first commercial music station – KDKA in Pittsburgh begins transmitting First broadcast: – Movies Many countries begin producing movies Japan and Cuba were both known for their movies Film was an art form in Europe But the United States did it best – Charlie Chapman was the king of Hollywood – Born in England – Charlie Chapman movie: