1. Chapter 10 Section 4 US History
CULTURAL INNOVATIONS
Chapter 10 Section 4
US History

2. CULTURAL INNOVATIONS ART AND LITERATURE Main Idea
New York City’s Greenwich Village and Chicago’s South Side became known as centers for new artistic work

3. ART AND LITERATURE
During the 1920s, American artists and writers challenged traditional ideas.
Explored what it meant to be “modern”
Writers, artists and intellectuals moved to Greenwich Village in New York and Chicago’s South side due to a “bohemian” lifestyle in these areas

4. ART AND LITERATURE Modern American Art
European Movements influenced American Modern Art
Diverse range of styles to express individual views
John Marin drew nature AND urban dynamics for inspiration
Charles Scheeler influenced by photography and Cubism
Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings admired in museums throughout life

5. ART AND LITERATURE Poets and Writers
Varied greatly in their styles and subject matter
“Carl Sandburg” Chicago poet, folklorist and novelist used common speech to glorify Midwest
“Willa Cather” Pulitzer Prize-winner, wrote about life on Great Plains
Edna St. Vincent Millay also won Pulitzer prize, expressed idea of women’s equality

6. ART AND LITERATURE
Poets like Gertrude Stein were important because they influenced other writers like Ernest Hemingway
Some poets (Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell etc) used clear images to express moments in time
Others (like T.S. Elliot) portrayed what they thought were negative effects of modernism
One of the most influential playwright was Eugene O’Neill
Realistic characters and situations with modern themes

7. ART AND LITERATURE Poets and Writers
Many also wrote about their disillusionment with World War I
Called “lost generation” and moved to Europe (especially Paris)…wrote about “heroic antiheros”
“Ernest Hemingway” was one of these writers
Sinclair Lewis, Main Street
“F. Scott Fitzgerald” The Great Gatsby criticized superficial society
“Edith Wharton” The Age of Innocence used irony and humor to criticized upper-middle class ignorance

8. CULTURAL INNOVATIONS POPULAR CULTURE Main Idea
Broadcast radio and “talking” pictures were new forms of popular entertainment.

9. POPULAR CULTURE
Economic prosperity made it possible for more leisure time and spending money in 1920s
Sports, music, theatre and other forms of entertainment became more popular
“fell in love” with motion pictures and radio programs

10. POPULAR CULTURE Movies and Radio Shows
Motion pictures very popular in 1920s.
Before sound technology, piano players provided music and subtitles explained plot.
Stars of silent movies included Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Tom Mix
First “talking” picture , The Jazz Singer
Irving Berlin one of most famous song writers in 1920s
Worked in area of New York called Tin Pan Alley
Wrote “White Christmas” among others
People able to listen to music and more on radio programs
“Mass Media” did more than entertain
Easy availability broke down class barriers and narrowed local interests
Helped unify nation and spread new ideas

11. POPULAR CULTURE Sports
Due to motion pictures and radio, Baseball and Boxing became even more popular
Babe Ruth became national hero for hitting home runs
Boxer Jack Dempsey was also popular when he tried to win back world heavyweight championship in 1927
All of these could be followed in radio broadcasts and newspaper coverage
Other sports also became more popular like college football (athlete Red Grange)
Golf (Bobby Jones)
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle swam English Channel in a little over 14 hours (new record) in 1927 and enchanted Americans

12. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
Why did many creative people flock to Greenwich Village during the 1920s?
Explain how did the economy of the 1920s affect popular culture?
What is Mass Media?