Teenage Culture

Students: Fredrikke Held, Katrine Hellesen, Christian Winther,Christine Ertbøll, Katrine Hoff og Maria

Before the 50’s teenage boys were told that when they grew up they had to support their family while girls were told that when they grew up they had to stay at home to take care of their family. But in the 50’s that mentality changed and teenagers was encouraged to attend college and get a career. During the 50’s teenagers became more rebellious and independent.

http://www.slideshare.net/guesta93588/teenagers-of-the-1950s

Music and television

Music became revolutionized in the 50’s when the vinyl LP was released early in the decade. This allowed people to play continuous music for a much longer time than before. this new technology was a stepping stone for Rock n’ Roll to become a new American lifestyle. Artists like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and the King of Rock, as he was referred to as, Elvis Presley. These artists formed a new lifestyle and ways of rebellion for the young Americans that was essential for the roaring 50’s.

http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-189_t-506_c-1872/nsw/history/australia%27s-social-and-cultural-history-in-the-post-war-period/social-and-cultural-features-of-the-1950s/music-and-entertainment

Television

The television became a very dominant form of communication and in 1954 colour TV was invented. Teenagers prefered to go to movie theaters or drive-in movies because they liked the privacy. When they watched TV they mostly watched sitcoms where the most popular was “I Love Lucy” and“The Honeymooners”.

http://www.slideshare.net/guesta93588/teenagers-of-the-1950s

Teenage icons

In the 50’s young people read magazines about actors, models and musicians. Also because of television and rock’n’roll a whole new rage of icons were introduced.

One of the teenage icons in the 50’s was Marilyn Monroe. Her looks such as her narrow waist, blond hair and red lips made her an icon for a lot of young woman around the world. Because of her looks she did not only become an icon, but also a sex symbol.

Another icon of the 50’s was Elvis Presley. He was cool and different with his rock’n’roll style. This appalled a lot to the teenagers of the 50’s. On stage the girls loved him because of his sex appeal and sexy moves.

http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-189_t-506_c-1872/nsw/history/australia%27s-social-and-cultural-history-in-the-post-war-period/social-and-cultural-features-of-the-1950s/music-and-entertainment

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50smusic.html#rocknroll

Spare time

In their spare time they played with cards, dice games, board games and they went to drive-in movies or went to bowling alleys. After/in school many teenagers played football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, and swimming. Sometimes they also went on dates. With rock and roll came partying. Teenagers in the 50’s loved to dance which they did to the so called “sock hops” which was a kind of teenage dance/club.

http://www.slideshare.net/guesta93588/teenagers-of-the-1950s

Dating rituals

Dating in the 1950’s was completely different than dating and relationships in modern life. Back then the economics dictated men’s and women's roles on a date. This meant that the man had responsibility first of all to ask out his date, but also to pay all expenses. This was due because of the idea that the men were the ones with steady jobs and the ones who payed the bills. This is an indicator that there were very specific gender roles in the 1950’s and that it didn’t only apply to married couples but also to teenagers and youngsters.

The men’s responsibility was present all the time, but especially during the dates. This is called etiquette, and was an expressions of the mans common courtesies. It was his job to ask the girls parents about curfew, helping her with her coat, opening doors and pulling out her chair for her. This was also called courting the women, and it was all about being the one who could court the woman best, so that she would choose him.

After a while of dating a couple would finally “go steady”, as they said back then. That meant that they weren’t allowed to date anyone else, and that they were exclusive. Pinning is also worth mentioning, and the boy would give his pin to the girl that he wished to date. Again the gender roles are very clear, and it was the man’s responsibility to take the first step and ask out the girl he wanted, by using his pin.

There were certain expectations for the young couples dating, and after awhile of being steady and exclusive the boy would ask for the girls hand in marriage. Of course he would ask the girls father permission to marry his daughter, and hopefully the answer would be yes. A couple would be engaged for a year or more, and using this time to save up for a wedding. Of course this would result in a happy marriage, 3 kids, a working husband and a stay-at-home mom.

http://www.ehow.com/info_7965893_dating-rituals-1950s.html

Teenagers as consumers

In the 1950’s the economy started booming in the US, which meant that families became wealthier. This resulted in an increased freedom and independence also for the teeangers. The invention of the TV made the medias more important and increased the influence on teenagers. As a result of that the medias began focusing more on young people as consumers and products directed to teenagers became a bigger market. The new focus on teenagers as consumers contributed to making the new youth culture that began in the 1950’s.

http://www.loti.com/fifties_history/Teenage_Life_in_the_1950s.htm

Quiz:

Link til Jeopardy: https://jeopardylabs.com/play/teenage-culture-in-the-50s

Link til redigering af Jeopardy: https://jeopardylabs.com/edit/teenage-culture-in-the-50s Kodeord: chriserendulle