Movies:
With the capitalist economy thriving in the US, people wanted to enjoy the income they had earned. Their outlet was entertainment in multiple forms, and one of the most popular was going to the movies. By 1920 there were 20 film studios due to the high demand. Along with movies, radios increased in popularity. By the 1920's over 50 million people had radio sets. And in 1929 studio systems evolved, creating long-term contracts for stars. In total, during the roaring 20's the capital investments totaled at over 2 billion dollars showing how important the industry was to the economy and to the health of society.
Music:
The "roaring 20's" were the era of the Harlem Renaissance. A re-birth of the entertainment industry. In many ways, the emergence of jazz to the national stage brought African American culture to the white middle class. People would socialize, dance etc... at bars and clubs to jazz music showing the growth of the middle class. Names like Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith became the first African American stars of the music industry.
Impacts on social norms:
Although if you look at the larger scale of things it may not look like much changed regarding social and racial norms, this is where a lot of the first small steps that sparked larger changes happened. The roaring 20's provided an era where African Americans could express their culture more freely. Like Oscar Mashceux who was the first African American to produce a movie with a predominantly black cast to be played in a movie theatre. Or Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong, who became famous Jazz artists. But racism was still present, white superiority ideologies were still passed on to the masses in the movies by playing African American characters horribly, or not having African Americans play as African Americans. The biggest example is the African American character of Jim Crow which became the face and name of the segregation movement that shortly followed the Harlem Renaissance. Similarly, on the female front, women were beginning to become more independent. They were more revealing clothing, went out to clubs and danced. This new culture for women became known as a flapper. Overall the Harlem Renaissance created huge entertainment industry which spurred social ideas both conservative and progressive creating the first steps for larger social changes that are still present today.
The "roaring 20's" were the era of the Harlem Renaissance. A re-birth of the entertainment industry. In many ways, the emergence of jazz to the national stage brought African American culture to the white middle class. People would socialize, dance etc... at bars and clubs to jazz music showing the growth of the middle class. Names like Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith became the first African American stars of the music industry.
Impacts on social norms:
Although if you look at the larger scale of things it may not look like much changed regarding social and racial norms, this is where a lot of the first small steps that sparked larger changes happened. The roaring 20's provided an era where African Americans could express their culture more freely. Like Oscar Mashceux who was the first African American to produce a movie with a predominantly black cast to be played in a movie theatre. Or Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong, who became famous Jazz artists. But racism was still present, white superiority ideologies were still passed on to the masses in the movies by playing African American characters horribly, or not having African Americans play as African Americans. The biggest example is the African American character of Jim Crow which became the face and name of the segregation movement that shortly followed the Harlem Renaissance. Similarly, on the female front, women were beginning to become more independent. They were more revealing clothing, went out to clubs and danced. This new culture for women became known as a flapper. Overall the Harlem Renaissance created huge entertainment industry which spurred social ideas both conservative and progressive creating the first steps for larger social changes that are still present today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/tch_wjec/usa19101929/3culturesocietychanges3.shtml
https://prezi.com/rh4nlq106eas/1920s-popular-entertainment/
http://www.filmsite.org/20sintro.html
http://www.ushistory.org/us/46d.asp
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