Flapper: A “flapper” refers to a young woman, particularly in the 1920s, who embraced a free and unconventional lifestyle, often characterized by short dresses, bobbed hair, and a rebellious spirit.
US Prohibition 1920-1933: Constitutional prohibition in the U.S. took place from 1920 to 1933 and was enacted ostensibly as a response to pre-existing social issues like domestic violence and child abandonment whose presumed cause was alcohol.
Consumer debt: credit card - mass consumerism - the rise of celebrities - freedom of speech
The Lost Generation: The term was coined by Gertrude Stein to describe a group of American writers who lived in Paris in the 1920s. Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and T.S. Eliot are among the writers associated with the Lost Generation. Their work expressed their disillusionment with post-war society. Wilfred Owen, George Orwell and W.B. Yeats imagined a twentieth century with great devastation caused by nationalism and misplaced trust in political leaders.
The Harlem Renaissance: The Harlem Renaissance was a vibrant cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s, centred in Harlem, New York City, where African American art, literature, music, and intellectual life flourished, contributing to a new sense of identity and pride. The Harlem Renaissance played a crucial role in shaping a new sense of identity and pride among African Americans. Artists and writers such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Claude McKay explored themes of racial identity, social injustice, and the complexities of life in America through their works. Musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong brought jazz to mainstream audiences, further establishing its importance as a distinctly American art form. This period also witnessed an increased visibility of African American culture within broader society. The Harlem Renaissance laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements by challenging prevailing stereotypes and advocating for racial equality. As a result, it not only transformed the cultural landscape but also contributed to a growing awareness of African American contributions to American history and culture.