It is noticeable, however, that despite illustrating the image of 'good life' among American consumers, it seemed that these ads were catered only to white Americans, which are often depicted as belonging to the elite to middle social classes. Further analysis also showed that apart from the under representation of minorities in these ads, white American women were the 'staple' elements contained in an ad. Although some of the ads appropriately use a woman -- that is, usage of a woman to advertise a food product -- there were also instances in some ads, specifically car ads, wherein women seemed to be objectified. Car ads are classic examples of the objectification of women in advertisements, wherein oftentimes, association between the cars advertised and woman depicted are inevitably linked together, creating the impression that a car is a want that needs to be achieved, in the same way that the consumer would want a woman. In these ads, the under representation of minorities and inappropriateness of using female models in the ads were highlighted as their salient features.
Despite the inappropriate representation of females and under representation of minorities in popular print ads in American magazines during the 1920s, they were very much a part of the new mass culture. In fact, all Americans, whatever their gender, race and social class, became part of the new mass culture, as each American contributed to the increased consumerism and materialism, responding to his/her need to consumer a specific product or brand, whether it is a need or just a want.
And because pop culture has advertising and the mass media to promote its products and goods, the new mass culture further widened, while at the same time, new "groupings" emerged, which were also economically-motivated. Products and brands were created and developed to cater to a specific target market. For each socio-economically determined target market (i.e., the elite, middle class or working class), there is a product and brand that satisfies the individual's needs and financial capability to...
In 1838 there were 200 locomotives in the United States, by 1880 that number had risen to 1,962 and to 3,153 by 1900. (Rogers, 2009, p. 21) The expansion of the railroad system helped to increase American industrialization, and industrial output, which increased American overseas trade. But there could not be overseas trade without American ships to carry American products to foreign nations. While primitive iron ships had come
American Expansion Post-Reconstruction America gave rise to an incredibly transformative society and culture. Modernism was beginning to sweep the land with the industrial revolution, urbanization and westward expansion. How did the underprivileged fare in this new America? What were the experiences and problems of the Native Americans, women, African-Americans, and various immigrant groups at this time? Be specific. Was there a gap between the rhetoric of hope and democracy peddled by
American History, 1820-1920 Five positive events that influenced the history of the United States between 1820 and 1920. One of the most important processes that influenced the development of the United States is the process of industrialization that took place after the end of the Civil War. The United States had to undergo an increased process of modernization after the Civil War largely due to the fact that the country was divided
American Civil Liberties Union (Friend or Foe) America was founded on the astute principles of democracy and the potential benefits of freedom it derives. America, unlike many of its foreign counterparts has long recognized the benefits of individual rights, freedoms and privileges and has fought to the death to protect them. Currently, America aims to spread these principles of democracy around the globe in an effort to create a better quality of
1920s / Automobile & Modern Advertising Perhaps the most famous American novel of the 1920s, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, contains two memorable images. One is the vast billboard by a car repair shop, with a pair of "blue and gigantic" eyes looking through eyeglasses -- it is an advertisement for a professional optometrist, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. The other is the yellow car that leads to the novel's tragic
American Political Culture and Values In Hellfire Nation (2003) James Morone described U.S. history as cyclical, with alternating generational cycles of reform and conservatism that can be traced back to the colonial period. In the 20th Century, the reform periods were the Progressive Era, the New Deal and the Great Society of the 1960s, while the 1920s, 1950s and 1980s were eras of conservatism. Religion, culture and sexual morality also follow
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