Pop Culture in the Roaring Twenties

Introduction

Designed by Katie Sprayberry

Popular Culture, or Pop Culture, is everything that everyday people are interested in or talking about. This can be movies, music, apps, television shows, clothing, books, or even people. When you think about Pop Culture that is relevant to today's world, what comes to mind? What are some of the biggest trends you see around you?  Some of the most important elements of Pop Culture today are TikTok, Instagram, K POP music, Netflix, social media influencers, and celebrities. Our society today is constantly surrounded popular entertainment and clothing trends. Try to imagine what our lives would be like without Pop Culture, would our world be completely different? Throughout time there have always been trends in different societies, but when did Popular Culture really begin to grow? In this WebQuest you will be examining when Pop Culture really began to grow during the Roaring Twenties by learning about their music, clothes, entertainment, automobiles, appliances, and the Harlem Renaissance. 

Task

Pop Culture really began growing during the "Roaring Twenties". The 1920s in the Unites States was "roaring" due to the surging economy created by the new popular culture of consumerism and redefined culture. 

You will explore the growth of popular culture during the Roaring Twenties by examining the development of music, clothing, entertainment, automobiles, appliances, and the Harlem Renaissance. 

You will write an essay describing how these things contributed to the growth of Pop Culture in the 1920s. 

Process

  1. Click on the links below to examine how music, clothing, entertainment, automobiles, appliances, and the Harlem Renaissance all contributed to the growth of popular culture. As you are looking through the different sources take notes that will help you write your essay by filling in the graphic organizer below.
    1.  
       

      Why was it popular?

      How did it contribute to the growth of Pop Culture?

      Music

      		    

      Entertainment

      		    

      Clothes

      		    

      Appliances

      		    

      Automobiles

      		    

      Harlem Renaissance

      		  

       
  2. Use these links to explore the different elements of Pop Culture during the 1920s. As you read through the different sources use the graphic organizer above to organize your thoughts. This will help you write your essay later. 
    1. Music: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=13&smtID=6
    2. Music: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/a-culture-of-change/
    3. Entertainment (scroll down page to cinema and dance): https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/a-culture-of-change/
    4. Clothing: https://www.retrowaste.com/1920s/1920s-fashion/
    5. Clothing (scroll down to flappers): https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/a-culture-of-change/
    6. Appliances: http://1920newtechnologyhanyoung.weebly.com/appliances.html
    7. Automobiles: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsggdxs/revision/3
    8. Harlem Renaissance: https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/new-african-american-identity-harlem-renaissance
  3. Write an essay describing the growth of popular culture in the Roaring Twenties and how music, clothing, entertainment, automobiles, appliances, and the Harlem Renaissance all contributed to that growth.

Evaluation

 

Inadequate

1

Needs Improvement 

2

Meets Expectations

3

Exceeds Expectations

4
Graphic Organizer The graphic organizer is blank and is not filled out. The graphic organizer is partially filled out but not fully completed. OR the graphic organizer is only filled out with a few words.  The graphic organizer is completed and full sentences are used to organize thoughts.  The graphic organizer is completed with full sentences that are detailed. 
Essay Organization The essay shows no organization and is difficult to follow.  The essay shows little organization and is hard to follow.  The essay is organized and is easy to follow.  The essay shows strong organization and flows well.
Quality of Information The information in the essay is not well-thought out and is not supported by the sources.  Some of the information in the essay is not supported by the sources and not all of it is well-thought out.  The information in the essay is well-thought out and supported by the sources.  The information in the essay is thought-provoking and the students uses the sources to prove their ideas. 
Mechanics There are more than 5 punctuation errors.  There are 5 or less grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.  There are 3 or less grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.  There are 1 or less grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. 

 

Conclusion

Congratulations, you just finished examining the growth of Popular Culture during the Roaring Twenties! To finish this task I want you to reflect on how the growth of Pop Culture in the 1920s has impacted our lives today. Think about how different our society and values would be without the influences of Popular Culture. As you are going through your everyday life think about how your personal life is impacted by Pop Culture. 

Credits