The Jazz Age Overview

Cultural Explosion:

• Jazz music emerged from African American communities in New Orleans, Chicago, and Harlem, becoming the soundtrack of the decade
• The Harlem Renaissance flourished—a golden age of Black art, literature, and music
• Icons like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, and Cab Calloway defined the sound

Social Revolution:

• Flappers: Women challenged traditional norms with shorter hemlines, bobbed hair, smoking, and dancing
• Speakeasies became underground social hubs where people danced, drank illegal alcohol, and socialized across class lines
• The Charleston, Lindy Hop, and other dances became wildly popular

Prohibition & Rebellion:

• The 18th Amendment banned alcohol, leading to bootlegging, organized crime (Al Capone, etc.), and a thriving underground nightlife
• Speakeasies required passwords and secret entrances—creating an air of mystery and exclusivity
• The era represented a push-pull between traditional values and modern freedom

Economic Boom (until 1929):

• Post-WWI prosperity led to consumerism, technological advances (radio, automobiles), and urbanization
• The stock market crash of 1929 ended the era, leading into the Great Depression

• Rich visual/sensory elements: Period costumes, art deco design, vintage cocktails, jazz bands
• Dance: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Foxtrot—highly social and accessible
• Storytelling: Speakeasy culture, rebellion, glamour, and mystery
• Authenticity: Historical research into real venues, music, and cultural movements
  

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  The Roaring Twenties (1920s)

  

Economic Boom & Consumerism

• Post-WWI economic expansion in the U.S. and parts of Europe
• Mass production (automobiles, radios, appliances) fueled consumer culture
• Stock market speculation and credit-driven spending
• Urbanization accelerated; cities became centers of modernity

Cultural Revolution

• Jazz Age: Jazz music exploded (Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington); became the soundtrack of the era
• Prohibition (1920-1933): 18th Amendment banned alcohol in the U.S., leading to speakeasies, bootlegging, and organized crime (Al Capone)
• Flappers: Young women challenged traditional norms with bobbed hair, short skirts, smoking, and dancing
• Harlem Renaissance: African American cultural movement celebrating Black art, literature, and music (Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston)
• Art Deco: Sleek, geometric design aesthetic in architecture, fashion, and visual arts

Social Changes

• Women gained the right to vote (19th Amendment, 1920 in U.S.)
• Rise of cinema and Hollywood’s Golden Age (silent films → “talkies” in 1927)
• Dance crazes: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Foxtrot
• Radio broadcasting connected the nation

Global Context

• • League of Nations formed (1920) to prevent future wars
  • Rise of fascism in Italy (Mussolini, 1922) and Germany (Nazi Party growing)
  • Soviet Union established (1922) under Lenin, then Stalin