Ask Not What The World Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For The World

A look into the past and the present.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Comparison 1950's to 2007

The 1950s were times of social reconstruction. America had just come out of a war and Americans were ready to get to the happy times in life that they felt they deserved. Music within the 1950s were generally light melodies, sweet lyrics and wholesome singers. Innocent and inoffensive "feel-good" tunes was the feeling in which was expressed within music.

"Rock and Roll, characterized by it's pulsating drums, repetitive chord progressions, stepped up tempos, and loud guitars, provided. American teens of the 1950's the perfect excuse to dance crazy new dances, and wear wild new hairstyles. Thought only a fad, Rock and Roll continued on to become one of the world's most popular and recognizable music forms."

Now, within 2007 if we are to listen to the music we realize how different our culture is today. What was thought of as the most sinful nature of the world with jivi'n hips, and crazy beats is nothing in comparison to our rap, hip-hop, and rock and roll. Artists like Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Elvis, Little Richie, and Frank Sinatra dominated music charts.

Entertainment within the 50's was at first filled through the radio. Family time would not be spent sitting down and watching television all day, but instead would be spent sitting around, listening to the radio. It would be later in the 50's that the television came out and everyone was fascinated. The idea of our modern technology has put many in a place that appreciates the times before modern cell phones, and internet. In many cases the simple life was a better life.
Singer Val Doonican, 78, added, "It was a gentler, somehow less competitive world." The editor of Yours Magazine, which commissioned the research, Valery McConnell said it shows most people are happier when they have a simple life rather than a complicated one.

She said, "Everything about modern-day society is complex and stressful - automated answering machines, mind-boggling car parks and road systems, endless traffic, 50 different varieties of everything, bank managers you cannot talk to, high crime levels and aggression on the streets. More has been lost than gained. Material possessions designed to make our lives easier also have a downside. Modern communication means people speak on mobiles, not on the street corner or at the bus stop. Increased mobility means we no longer know our neighbours or live near our families."

In the 50s people seemed kinder and had more time for each other. People were neighbourly, public transport was good, music was better and housing more affordable. Those who lived the prime of their life within the 50's said they missed the slower pace of life, job security, and the way families had lived closer together and society valued housewives. With an average age of 69, 89% of those asked said they were glad they had been young in the 50s and not now, as children had been more innocent and allowed to remain child-like for longer.

The picture perfect idea people viewed about the 50's can very well be a misconception in that things seemed to be wonderful because everything corrupt was being kept under wraps. There was still just as much crime as there is today, it was just the fact that it was not spread all over the news and talked about for weeks at a time that the society did not know what was truly going on.

The average earnings one would have made during the 50's were as follows:
If you have $100 Converted from 1950 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $835.41 today. In 1950 a new house cost $8,450.00 and by 1959 was $12,400.00
In 1950 the average income per year was $3,210.00 and by 1959 was $5,010.00
In 1950 a gallon of gas was 18 cents and by 1959 was 25 cents
In 1950 the average cost of new car was $1,510.00 and by 1959 was $2,200.00

In my opinion, if I could choose a time which was either 1950 or 2007 that would be better to live in I beleive it is now. Yes, the 1950's seemed fun, new, and exciting with the flared skirts, and perfect little family and home, but the good was exposed while the bad stayed hidden. Women did not go and work in the business area, but instead stayed home to raise children and cook meals. The advances in technology, medicine, and music seemed very extraordinary, but look at what our culture is offered today. We have a world of knowledge and advances offered to us and every one in the society is treated with equal rights. Yes, there is still some segregation when it comes to different people, but our seperation of race is not the same as it used to be. As far as facshion and music I would enjoy living in the 1950's. As far as advances in technologies, and the way in which our society runs now I would choose to live in 2007.

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