Katherine Mumm
Literature and Art during the 1920’s
The years after World War One were a vibrant, exuberant display of society’s crashing into the first modern age. Nicknamed the “Jazz Age”, or the “Roaring 20’s”, this is intense and fantastical age brought a plethora of new ideas of social class, and gave the “American Dream” its first fully formed thought. This time period’s most influential mark in history is its Literature and Art, where most of the new ways of life manifested themselves in impressive ways.
Art during this time started a new movement. Stemming from the frustration of the citizens subject to the desolation and terror of this war of attrition, artists created a movement which incorporated the fresh desire to experience joy. This movement was named Surrealism. Surrealism incorporated both incredible artistic talent and dreamlike subject matter in order to give birth to one of Art History’s more eccentric movements. Influenced by both society’s feelings during this time as well as the preceding Dadaism and Cubism, surrealism started a unique way of expressing ideas previously much less defined and accepted. Some of the most impressive specimens of this spurt of creativity were Frida Kahlo, Magritte, Dali, and Picasso. Each painter had their own specific style, and yet all were able to contribute to this rapidly spreading movement. Kahlo was one of the most influential painters of this time, both in this movement and in women’s history, portraying the upstart of modern society in this time. While not artists of the Surrealism movement were American, this movement as a whole did affect America. It influenced American art, and helped to document the clamor experienced in big cities such as New York and Chicago.
Music during this time was equally as contemporary. The 1920’s were host to one of the most unique shifts in musical history, being nicknamed the “Jazz Age” after its propagation of this style of music. Jazz was a new and exciting medium for musicians, being first condemned as the “devil's music” due to its unique ability to make people dance. Many citizens took advantage of its upbeat rhythm and seeming happiness in order to popularize this music and create a new type of entertainment. Many musicians contributed to the popularization of this genre of music, some of the most prominent being Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. This change in musical taste was just one way the shift between the older, collected age and the years of joyous celebration were manifested. This was an especially important shift in the history of music due to the fact that Jazz became popular during the prohibition era, and was seen as a way for citizens to relax and find comfort in music. During the 1920’s, Broadway also took center stage as an entertainment medium. This dazzling show of combined music and theatre served as another way for many people to relax at the shows. Combined with the incredibly moving Jazz era and Artistic changes, this showy business brought new life to the theatre and show business. There were a plethora of new shows each season, showing the excitement for many people to create and add to the growing scene.
Literature during the 1920s also expounded in new and interesting ways. Many novels took to documenting the uproarious time and portraying both the good and the bad aspects of society. One key movement was the discussion of the American Dream, and how this affected the people of this era. Arguably the most prominent commentator on this key facet of American personality was F. Scott Fitzgerald, and his novel The Great Gatsby. In this novel, we see the discussion of American social class and the perceived ability to achieve the “American Dream”. Many novels such as this sprung up during the 1920’s due to the growing popularity of literature and the number of literate people.
Overall, this era was an uprising of art and music like no other in American History. The prosperity of the people, coupled with the space created for new entertainment by the prohibition laws created a decade of creativity and unique artistic mediums.
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The original opposition to jazz, and the way it affected young people in the 1920's can be compared to the rise of rock and roll in the 50's. When rock was first introduced to America, older generations were shocked at the loud and fast-paced tempo, as well as how it affected younger generations. Teenagers rebelled against the music their parents loved, and rock was thus dubbed "Satan's Music" . The rise of rock and roll led to the rise of the "teenager", a defining moment between youth and adulthood. This is similar to how jazz divided the younger generation from their parents.
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http://www.ushistory.org/us/53d.asp
I think it is important to recognize the reasons behind such a drastic yet productive change in cultural focus. Was there any connection between the shifts in the styles of art and literature that were becoming increasingly popular at this time? For one thing, the change in popular music can be seen reflected in the racial and social prejudices at that time, as well as in the increasing freedom of expression and concept of the individual. For instance, improvisation was a key component of jazz that allowed the individual to express himself or herself freely. And, the change in the style of literature can be attributed to the increased prosperity of this era, prompting an optimistic outlook especially from the point of views of the wealthier citizens.
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