Some Pop Culture Thoughts

by admin - September 24th, 2013

It is quite exciting that we are now talking about the music, the television, and the culture of the ‘50s. As much as the country was struggling with being in and out of wars, and having worries about foreign policy, we had an iconic pop culture forming. I believe this is what people are referencing when they reminisce about how wonderful the ‘50s were.

Elvis: the king of rock, Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett, are few of the amazing talents that came out of the ‘50s. America’s music scene was alive and appreciated; it was a changing atmosphere. The development of rock was a new look on music, much different from the big band/swing music that used to dominate the scene. People were taking their mind off of the country’s troubles with their love of music. They enjoyed shows such as American Bandstand, which showcased live music from people’s favorite acts of the time. It aired 3,000 episodes in its 31 seasons, displaying people’s great love and appreciation of music in the ‘50s.

TVs were also becoming more prevalent in this era. This made America a smaller, more connected place. Everyone could watch one show at the same time! The country was more connected also through the broadcast of news instead of reading it on magazines. We could all find out “today’s news today!” And for the first time, instead of listening to radio shows, people could watch their favorite sitcoms such as I Love Lucy, The Ed Sullivan Show, Father Knows Best, Leave It to Beaver, and The Twilight Zone. Families could bond over the comedic aspect of many of the sitcoms, but they could also learn how to live in the ‘50s and see what was expected of a “typical American family.” Television guided American life and provided a framework of how it was supposed to be. People relied more heavily on pop culture to dictate what society was expecting. This educational aspect made television an important part of life in the 1950s. It also took the country’s worries and soothed it with comedy, letting Americans relax, even if it was only for a mere thirty minutes.

Popularity with movies and movie theaters declined when the television was introduced. People enjoyed that they could watch multiple shows right in their living room with their families. To bring back the love for movies, Hollywood decided to be more risqué. They challenged the boundaries of what was socially acceptable to put on the silver screen. The movies were trying to appeal to the audience, to get people to come back out and watch cinema. Elizabeth Taylor was cast in multiple movies playing the part of a temptress. The stretched rules of what could and couldn’t be seen gave way to the most well-known symbol of the the fifties, Marilyn Monroe. She acted in twenty-three films, and everyone only truly focused on her appearance, objectifying her as a “sex symbol.” Movies such as Around the World in 80 Days, Moby Dick, and The King and I, allowed people to relax and enjoy a good story, forgetting about the world’s problems. The movie producers spent millions on making these films called “blockbusters.” The astounding amount of money used peaked curiosity and once the movies were seen, they reinstated the people’s love for going to the movies. This distracted people from the troubles of the era, and let them appreciate the nice things in life, such as beautiful women and good movies.

As important as the music, the movies, and the TV were to the shaping of the culture in the ‘50s, we learn much about the era and how it shaped the current world through these resources. The music business was forever changed because of the 1950s. Without acts such as Elvis, rock and roll wouldn’t have been a genre for future acts to find great success in. It introduced the sound of rock, paving the way for arguably, the most influential band in all of history: The Beatles. The emergence of rock and roll in the ‘50s gave The Beatles a platform to create their great success. More so, people still listen to and know many of the musical acts from the ‘50s; sixty-three years later, the stars of that time are still household names. That is astronomical success. People still love the actors and actresses of the era. Marilyn Monroe is still one of the most well known women of the ‘50s, and people idolize her to this day. The movies made then, are still loved today, so much so that many movies have been remade because the storyline was so well written. Classic ‘50s sitcoms are still watched and appreciated today. We appreciate them for the comedy aspect, but also for the (partially delusional) fact that we love the “typical” ‘50s family life that was depicted. We crave the quirky, loving nature that is displayed in our favorite sitcoms. Their simple lives with the strict gender roles that get them into trouble, we find funny, yet lovable.

People are in love with the culture and the idea of the era that was portrayed in the ‘50s pop culture. That’s what people remember when they talk about the ‘50s. All of the iconic music, movies, and sitcoms, we loved then and we still love today. Even though the era was ravaged with wars, atomic crises, and foreign relations, we turn a blind eye to that aspect. We do what the people did in the ‘50s, and pay more attention to the culture to take our minds off the looming threats that existed. Because we choose to overlook that side of the ‘50s, we can further appreciate and love the ‘50s for the happy-go-lucky side of the era.

-Sarah Y.

3 Responses to “Some Pop Culture Thoughts”

  1. Zach St. Amant says:

    I think this is a good post and you bring up a lot of good points. My one question is do you think TV really made America a small connected place or did it really separate Americans and turn them into the hide behind technology people we are today?

  2. Alex Derian says:

    The pop culture in the 50’s makes me wish I got to experience the decade. The music and dancing seemed so much more fun than it is today. The dancing today is very provocative and not as fun now as it was during that time. I would also enjoy watching the sitcoms week to week along with the rest of the world the way that most families did. The pop culture that they had was a good distraction to the negative things going on, I think it would be a good experience to live during the decade for that.

  3. Shawn Costa says:

    A very in-depth look into the culture of the 1950s. There are so many different facets that make up this culture, yet in such a short article so many of them are touched upon when the author could have easily only talked about a few. To a reader who knows little about the 1950s, this article is a good source for a detailed summary that can be read in a short amount of time. The fact that it draws in modern views also enables the reader to find a connection with the subject, making it a very effective essay.