Roaring Twenties
In the 1920s, jazz music and dance became extremely popular. The birth of jazz music is often credited to African Americans. Jazz eventually became socially acceptable to middle-class white Americans. Cities like Chicago and New York were cultural centers for jazz and several African American artists. The spread of jazz was encouraged by large scale radio broadcasts in 1922 and eventually become mainstream. The 1920s youth used the influence of jazz to rebel against the traditional cultures in previous generations. This youth rebellion started bold fashion trends, dances, and new radio concerts.
Although it was the white performers who made jazz music popular for most Americans, African American traditions and ideals still greatly influenced the jazz movement.
A taste of jazz music during the 1920s. This video shows you some of the most popular songs song by the most famous artists of that period.
Flappers
After the 19th Amendement passed, women were officially allowed to vote in the U.S. In the 1920s, a new woman was born. She smoked, drank, danced, voted, wore makeup, cut her hair, and took risks. She was a flapper. During World War I, women were assuming the roles of men and were becoming accustomed to the more free life style and independency. When the war was over they didn't want to return to the roles of the Gibson Girl. The Gibson Girl was the older generations "girls" who had long, straight hair and wore long straight skirts. This girl was always feminine, proper, and well behaved. The younger generation was ready to break away from these older values. They weren't going to wait for their lives to change, they wanted to enjoy life now. In June 1922, G. Stanley Hall, published the definition of "flapper" in the Atlantic Monthly:
"The dictionary set me right by defining the word as a fledgling, yet in the nest, and vainly attempting to fly while its wings have only pinfeathers; and I recognized that the genius of 'slanguage' had made the squab the symbol of budding girlhood".
The flappers' image was considered drastic. Most articles of clothing were trimmed and lightened to make movement easier. Women got rid of their corsets, because the Jazz Age required women to move more freely. Women also tried to look more like a boy by wrapping their chests with strips of cloth. A flapper also wore clothes dropped at the waistline and artificial silk stockings.
Women were gaining freedom that they've never experienced and wanted to take every advantage of it.
"The dictionary set me right by defining the word as a fledgling, yet in the nest, and vainly attempting to fly while its wings have only pinfeathers; and I recognized that the genius of 'slanguage' had made the squab the symbol of budding girlhood".
The flappers' image was considered drastic. Most articles of clothing were trimmed and lightened to make movement easier. Women got rid of their corsets, because the Jazz Age required women to move more freely. Women also tried to look more like a boy by wrapping their chests with strips of cloth. A flapper also wore clothes dropped at the waistline and artificial silk stockings.
Women were gaining freedom that they've never experienced and wanted to take every advantage of it.