Popular+Music+G+Susan+Annie

=Essays= = = = = Julia Ryoo

Among the most striking social developments of the immediate postwar era was the rapid extension of a middle-class lifestyle. This lifestyle was characterized by economic abundance and prosperity that quickly brought leisure and entertainment into American society. Music, one of the most important American cultures, portrayed the realities of American society and reflected the social voice during each decade. Although popular music during the 1950s and the 1960s shared some similarities in terms of representing the social norm and publicizing their values, the music from the fifties and the sixties established different characteristics: fifties’ music reflected American prosperity while the sixties’ music depicted rebellious response toward American regimes.

The 1950s in America experienced the growing absorption of consumerism due to increased prosperity, variety and availability of products, and growth of consumer credit. Such affluent American society was well portrayed in newly growing entertainment, the popular music. The birth of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s was the new revolution in music that represented the young and growing American population. Among many famous musicians, Elvis Presley became a symbol of a youthful determination to push at the borders of the conventional and acceptable. Presley’s sultry good looks, his self-conscious effort to dress in the vaguely rebellious style of urban guns and most of all, the open sexuality of his music and his public performances all made him widely popular among young American. Furthermore, famous black artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino depicted the growing black influence in American societies. Rock ‘n’ Roll genre and the artists from the 50s successfully demonstrated the optimistic prospering aspects of America through the popular music.

Unlike the 50s music which portrayed the positive affluent culture, 60s music illustrated the criticism of American conformity. Americans started to reflect their past lives as conformity, and they also started to voice against Vietnam War. The music became more aggressive and rebellious as the result of such social trend. Especially the younger generations started to voice their opinions against traditional thoughts and beliefs and eventually led the Cultural Revolution. The most prominent movement that symbolizes this Cultural Revolution was Woodstock Festival in 1969. During the festival, famous artists like The Who and Santana performed to represent the revolutionary youth movement. Compare to the 50s music, the 60 music portrayed more opposing views toward American society, and past conformity due to materialism.

Music, one of the most important cultural developments in 1950s and 1960s, well depicted different characteristic of each decade. It played the same role in both 50s and 60s in terms of representing the public and voicing their values; however, different concerns in each decade led the artists to create contrasting music. If the 50s music was more about American affluence, the 60s music was more about the rebellious public that pursued peace and individual freedom.

Julia - Nice, strong thesis All the paragraphs connect back to the thesis and I can see that you clearly understood the topic well. You captured the idea of the difference between the 50s and 60s. The facts were not just listed. Good :) Nice summing up your whole answer Total: 25/27
 * Introduction paragraph & Thesis statement:**
 * Body paragraphs:**
 * Facts and Analysis:**
 * Conclusion paragraph:**

Da Bin Lee   With post-war affluence and long economic boom, the leisure and entertainment industries of the United States experienced an unprecedented prosperity. Popular music encountered dramatic transformation in the fifties and the sixties, becoming a significant portion of the United States’ culture. Popular music of the era reflected the social trend, philosophy, and changes that prevailed each decade. Despite some overlapping values with certain similarities, music of the fifties and the sixties demonstrated different traits: the fifties’ music was a product of post-war prosperity, while the sixties’ music was more of a response against the Vietnam War and the previous decade’s conformity.

During the 1950’s, the nation witnessed a huge expansion of the middle class and the blossoming of a consumer culture. With the widespread of TV sets, popular new mass medium flourished. One of the astonishing products of the newly growing entertainment was popular music. With the chief revolution of Elvis Presley, a white singer born in 1935, a new musical idiom known as rock and roll was born. This new genre of music reflected the “crossover” atmosphere, carrying its heavy beat and driving rhythms across the cultural division that separated black and white musical traditions. The presence of famous black artists such as Chuck Berry and Fats Domino portrayed the growing cultural influence of African Americans. Fusing black rhythm and blues with white bluegrass and country styles, the artists of 50’s and the rock and roll genre demonstrated the blissful atmosphere of the American public during the decade with expanding economy and the opening of growing-consumer culture.  On the other hand, what the music of the 60’s portrayed were little different. With the apparent evidence of conformity in the US and the growing public opinions unsatisfied with the US involvement in the Vietnam War, music forms evolved to exhibit rebellious response. Younger generation began to oppose traditional beliefs, thoughts, and social norm. With such phenomenon known as the Cultural Revolution, the Beatles and the Beach Boys rose into fame. They experimented with psychedelic music, a revolutionary music influenced by drugs such as LSD. Such music was admired by the supporters of the counterculture and hippies. The 1969 Woodstock Festival was the ultimate symbol of a youth movement, and during the festival famous artists like The Who, Hendrix, and Santana participated and performed. Unlike the 50’s music, the 60’s music demonstrated more rebellious nature and reactive attitude toward social norm, political figures, and the majority conformity mingled with materialism.

Popular music of the mid twentieth century was not just a mere form of entertainment. It represented the American culture, the public minds, and attitudes toward new changes that the nation faced. Although both 50’s and 60’s music represented each decade, the latter was more responsive and louder with its rebellious nature, while the earlier one showed the effects of economic prosperity and relatively peaceful domestic atmosphere of the time period.

**Thesis:** -nice and clear, about both the 50s and the 60s -i can see that you understand the FRQ

-good job incorporating the information we gave you -i can see that you understood our presentation / wiki page
 * Facts:**

-good organization of paragraphs -nice flow between paragraphs
 * Body paragraphs**:

-good job analyzing the information we gave you -good job creating a clear contrast between the 50s and the 60s
 * Analysis:**

-good restatement of thesis -good recap of all body paragraphs
 * Conclusion:**

Soo Suh

Post-war era became the beginning of America’s economical growth. Encountering great money circulation in a middle class, America could possibly earn more of a spare time with leisure activities. Music was the most significant factor that brought America into a solid field that portrays what America was a like in the fifties and the sixties. Although popular music in the 50’s and the 60’s had myriad similarities, music itself unavoidably had different ideologies behind. While the fifties music portrayed American prosperity, the sixties music represented seditious against American traditional beliefs.

The 1950s was a time of “alteration” in America following World War II. With post-war era, the nation itself perceived a growth of the middle class, which eventually led the expansion of a consumer culture. As media became the biggest factor to spread idea of sharing much more culture, Music started to flourish among the nation. With the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, racial tensions were also being strained. Famous musicians like Elvis Presley, a white musician, supported to solve the racial issue (uniting two race), popularized “black” music. The music of the 1950s expanded, the 50s saw the emergence and growth of what would come to be known as Rock ‘n Roll. But not only that it was also witnessed the popularity of country and western music in a variety forms. The musicians in the 50s greatly portrayed America as blissful nation.

However, the music of the 60’s was different compare to what the music of the 50’s was alike. The music of the 60’s portrayed negativity against America’s traditional beliefs, as the nations against Vietnam War grew bigger. The music was written based on Cultural Revolution and rebellious idea against traditions. The younger generations began to raise their voice to share their belief ultimately led cultural revolution. Woodstock Festival in 1969 was the biggest movement that represented Cultural Revolution. For instance, in its time period, numbers of drug usage grew and encountered hippies. Music was the main factor that people used to rebel against society, politics, and materialism.

Popular music in 50’s and 60’s portrayed what America was a like in the time period and how the nation itself grew. While the music of 50’s represented the America’s economic prosperity and blissful ambience, the music of 60’s strongly showed how people were against wars like Vietnam War and wanted the “change” which eventually led to happen Cultural Revolution.

-good, clear thesis statement -introductory paragraph is a little bit confusing, but thoughts are listed
 * Thesis:**

-not many facts, but good usage of given information
 * Facts:**

-overall good organization of body paragraphs -would've been good to see more connections back to the thesis
 * Body paragraphs:**

-good analysis upon facts
 * Analysis:**

-good, clear restatement of thesis -conclusion not so strong; doesn't sum up the entire essay
 * Conclusion:**

=How did music evolve during the 1950s and 1960s and how did it reflect what was happening at that time? Analyze the changes and effect of music on society during the time period.=

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 * Introduction paragraph & Thesis statement:**

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 * Facts and Analysis:**

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 * Conclusion paragraph:**

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**__1950's__**
Elvis Presley - 1956 Bobby Lewis Beatles Rolling Stones Dean Martin Rosemary Clooney Bing Crosby Pat Boone Nat King Cole Tony Bennet Frankie Laine
 * Popular Artists:**

Chuck Berry Fats Domino
 * Black Recording Artists:**

Rock'n Roll Rhythm and Blues Love Songs Jazz Calypso
 * Popular Genres:**

Guys and Dolls The King and I Pajama Game Singin' in the Rain Bye Bye Birdie My Fair Lady West Side Story Gigi The Sound of Music
 * Musicals (Broadway):**


 * Records became commonly used in the 50's**


 * The growing popularity of color TV affected the rapid spread of music**


 * Stereos were popular on sale**


 * First Grammy Awards - 1959**

-first aired in 1952, hosted by Bob Horn -showed teenagers dancing to live records playing -Dick Clark became host in 1957 after Bob Horn was fired -helped solidify the growing youth culture that centered around rock 'n' roll music -Dick Clark insisted on racially integrating the show, since much of the music was performed by black recording artists -provided American television brodcasting with its ongoing image of ethnic diversity -very popular among teenagers
 * Dick Clark's American Bandstand**

__1960s MUSIC__ Rebellion and counter culture

- Younger generation started to oppose traditional beliefs, thoughts, etc.
 * Cultural Revolution**

- The Supremes - Stevie Wonder - The Jackson 5
 * Motown** - A record label owned by an African American. A new style of soul music with pop influence was created. - Marvin Gaye

- The Beatles //Elvis Presley and The Beatles// - Elvis had asked President Nixon if The Beatles could be banned from entering USA b/c they were of bad influence to young generation and triggered drug use
 * British influence**

- Monterery Pop Fesitval → intoruced Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin - As psychedelic revolution went on, rules were alleviated: - songs longer than 3 minutes - singing did not have to be attractive (could be gruff, rough etc) - lyrics focused more on political and social issues of the time rather than love - ⇒ Woodstock: http://www.woodstock69.com/graphics.htm - 3 day long festival (1969) Performers such as The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Santana (The Who performed 24 songs..) It was an event centered around peace, love, rock (and drugs like LSD)
 * Psychedelic music** - revolutionary music influenced by drugs (LSD) - Jefferson Airplane

- many were unable to adjust to this psychedelic revolution - while some were able to abandon their original gospel like sounds completely & start anew - mixture of psychedelia and soul
 * Black music of the 1960s**

- Jimi Hendrix - Rolling Stones - The Beach Boys - The Beatles - Elvis Presley - Aretha Franklin - Stevie Wonder - Jackson 5 - Marvin Gaye - (several are British bands) - Bob Dylan - Johnny Cash - Simon and Garfunkel (SG WannaBe) - The Bee Gees
 * FAMOUS PEOPLE**

ex) **Bob Dylan** - folk artist - spokesperson for counter culture movement - wrote anti-war anthems