Roaring Twenties and Its Effect on the American Dream
... During the years of the Twenties, the economy was prosperous, there was widespread social reform, new aspects of culture were established, and people found better ways to improve their lifestyle and enjoy life. ... In the twenties, they wore short, tight dresses, and rolled their silk stockings down to their knees. ... It was up to this time period that women were not seen as an important aspect in American society. ... The similarities were no mere coincidence, but an attempt of the women in American society pushing towards equality. ... There were many famous authors, playwrights, musicians and artists that left their mark during the Twenties. ... Scott Fitzgeralds, The Great Gatsby, exemplified the American Dream. The story shows the often misconception of the American Dream being a life of prosperity, parties, happiness, and utopian places. The book uncovers the characters pursuit of this dream only to discover the American Dream as the American Tragedy. Many Americans who immigrated to the United States in the 20s were believing the same misconception, only to later find the hidden truth that the American Dream was not all what it was cracked up to be. One of the greatest American authors to emerge from the Twenties was Ernest Hemingway. Some of Hemingways most noted works in the Twenties included Across the River and Into the Trees, and In Our Time. ... " Americans had a hunger for news in the Twenties. ... In the Twenties, the expose of evil-doing in high places became the mark of a good newspaper: The St. ... Newspaper circulation boomed in the Twenties. The total for the nation was about 25 million when the decade started and about 40 million at its close (Peacock, 79). Tabloids and magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic, and the Literary Digest also became very big during the Twenties. One author noted for his work during the Twenties was H. ... In his witty magazine "The American Mercury", he ridiculed the antics of dim-witted politicians and prohibitionists. The artists and composers were inspired by both tradition and changes in American life. ... Two of his best known orchestral works "Rhapsody in Blue," and "An American in Paris," feature many elements of jazz. In the Twenties, Jazz was becoming very popular. ... The cheerful, light, easy feeling accompanied with jazz music was just an extension of American feelings during the Twenties; joyous and free spirited. ... When the Twenties rolled around, Americans found themselves engulfed in a bolstering economy. ... At some points, the American consumer could not buy the goods as fast as they were produced. ... Rascob, the vice-president of General Motors Corporation during the Twenties, declared that anyone that put $15 dollars a month in the stock market could make $80,000 dollars in twenty years (Peacock 38). ... The depression was the worst in the history of the United States and proved to be a terrible price to pay for the false sense of prosperity and national well being of the roaring Twenties.