The 1930s - American Popular Culture Through History by William H Young Hardcover

About the Book

Most historical studies bury us in wars and politics, paying scant attention to the everyday effects of pop culture. Welcome to America's other history--the arts, activities, common items, and popular opinions that profoundly impacted our national way of life. The twelve narrative chapters in this volume provide a textured look at everyday life, youth, and the many different sides of American culture during the 1930s. Additional resources include a cost comparison of common goods and services, a timeline of important events, notes arranged by chapter, an extensive bibliography for further reading, and a subject index.

The dark cloud of the Depression shadowed most Americans' lives during the 1930s. Books, movies, songs, and stories of the 1930s gave Americans something to hope for by depicting a world of luxury and money. Major figures of the age included Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Irving Berlin, Amelia Earhart, Duke Ellington, the Marx Brothers, Margaret Mitchell, Cole Porter, Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, Shirley Temple, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Innovations in technology and travel hinted at a Utopian society just off the horizon, group sports and activities gave the unemployed masses ways to spend their days, and a powerful new demographic--the American teenager--suddenly found itself courted by advertisers and entertainers.

Book Synopsis

Most historical studies bury us in wars and politics, paying scant attention to the everyday effects of pop culture. Welcome to America's other history--the arts, activities, common items, and popular opinions that profoundly impacted our national way of life. The twelve narrative chapters in this volume provide a textured look at everyday life, youth, and the many different sides of American culture during the 1930s. Additional resources include a cost comparison of common goods and services, a timeline of important events, notes arranged by chapter, an extensive bibliography for further reading, and a subject index.

The dark cloud of the Depression shadowed most Americans' lives during the 1930s. Books, movies, songs, and stories of the 1930s gave Americans something to hope for by depicting a world of luxury and money. Major figures of the age included Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Irving Berlin, Amelia Earhart, Duke Ellington, the Marx Brothers, Margaret Mitchell, Cole Porter, Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, Shirley Temple, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Innovations in technology and travel hinted at a Utopian society just off the horizon, group sports and activities gave the unemployed masses ways to spend their days, and a powerful new demographic--the American teenager--suddenly found itself courted by advertisers and entertainers.

Review Quotes

?[o]ffers a detailed and highly readable exposition of the decade's most prominent crazes and phenomena. They are interested on their own terms, and, perhaps even more importantly, well deserve to be studied closely and reflex to the Depression. Americans gladly turned to, among other things, papers, cartoons, radio, and movies in search of entertainment, minutes or hours of laughter, and optimism in times....Readers taking up this book can (re)discover these and many more interpretations and presentations of popular culture in the 1930s. If it may be put in the style of advertisers: those interested in the Depression years and populuar culture are well advised not "to think about it tomorrow but to "just do it."?-H-Net Reviews

?[s]tudents will undoubtedly find this history of popular culture to their liking....schools whose history teachers encourage library use and research will benefit from its addition to the collection. Recommended.?-Library Media Connection

?[I]ncludes a short time line and an eye-opening four page summary noting the cost of various products, along with a formula to translate these costs into current economic values....will provide students with a head start for further research.?-School Library Journal

"Ýo¨ffers a detailed and highly readable exposition of the decade's most prominent crazes and phenomena. They are interested on their own terms, and, perhaps even more importantly, well deserve to be studied closely and reflex to the Depression. Americans gladly turned to, among other things, papers, cartoons, radio, and movies in search of entertainment, minutes or hours of laughter, and optimism in times....Readers taking up this book can (re)discover these and many more interpretations and presentations of popular culture in the 1930s. If it may be put in the style of advertisers: those interested in the Depression years and populuar culture are well advised not "to think about it tomorrow but to "just do it.""-H-Net Reviews

"Ýs¨tudents will undoubtedly find this history of popular culture to their liking....schools whose history teachers encourage library use and research will benefit from its addition to the collection. Recommended."-Library Media Connection

"ÝI¨ncludes a short time line and an eye-opening four page summary noting the cost of various products, along with a formula to translate these costs into current economic values....will provide students with a head start for further research."-School Library Journal

"[s]tudents will undoubtedly find this history of popular culture to their liking....schools whose history teachers encourage library use and research will benefit from its addition to the collection. Recommended."-Library Media Connection

"[I]ncludes a short time line and an eye-opening four page summary noting the cost of various products, along with a formula to translate these costs into current economic values....will provide students with a head start for further research."-School Library Journal

"[o]ffers a detailed and highly readable exposition of the decade's most prominent crazes and phenomena. They are interested on their own terms, and, perhaps even more importantly, well deserve to be studied closely and reflex to the Depression. Americans gladly turned to, among other things, papers, cartoons, radio, and movies in search of entertainment, minutes or hours of laughter, and optimism in times....Readers taking up this book can (re)discover these and many more interpretations and presentations of popular culture in the 1930s. If it may be put in the style of advertisers: those interested in the Depression years and populuar culture are well advised not "to think about it tomorrow but to "just do it.""-H-Net Reviews

About the Author

WILLIAM H. YOUNG is a freelance writer and independent scholar. He has recently retired from teaching English, American Studies, and popular culture at Lynchburg College in Virginia for 36 years. Young has published books and articles on various subjects of popular culture.