1950s+Teenagers+MTAB

=__1950s Teenagers MTAB__=
 * During the 1950's, crimes, rebellion, and sexual experimentation of teenagers unexpectedly increased. Many new cultural phenomena’s have been the blame of the teenager’s new way of life. One of the reasons was the easy accessibility of automobiles. Teens began to save up their pocket money to buy a new car which gave them freedom and an escape from their parents control. This also opened doors to new music, dance and fashion.


 * Music changed drastically during the 50s. The old- fashioned music was pushed aside as a new form of music was made known as Rock n’ Roll. Elvis Presley was the most popular performer during the time and became a hero to the younger generation. With inappropriate lyrics, the older generations saw rock n’ roll as repulsive and dangerous to teens values. They thought it could influence them to smoke, drink, and be disrespectful.


 * With the new music of the 50s came a whole new world of dance. Teens didn’t want to dance like their parents and just do the swing anymore. The new rock n roll music needed a new style of rebellious dance. The swing-based steps were soon replaced with all kinds of different styles. From the jitterbug, the rock'n'roll, boogie-woogie or Bop, some just danced in place by themselves. These new dances offended the older generation, but gave just another way for the younger generation to express themselves.


 * The new generation also brought a new kind of fashion that spread quickly. There were two extremely different kinds of looks; there were the preppies, and the greasers. The preps were very neat, tidy and groomed. Long skirts and dresses were the new trend  worn by the teen preps. The greasers were a completely different look. Black leather and denim jeans became very popular after the movie “The Wild One” a movie about a biker gang. These teens were known as wild and rough. These styles were a way for teens to express who they wanted to be.


 * If one thing could be the blame of all the new “horrible” phenomena’s, it would have been television. When the TV came out, teens were glued to them for hours a day. What parents didn’t expect, was that TV was going to become the source of all the teenage troubles. TV introduced teens to all the new clothes, dance moves, and music. It showed movies like “The Wild One” or “Rebel without a Cause” witch portrayed the young generation as wild and reckless. These movies gave youth ideas of how they should act, dress and dance.

This is a picture of the musical "Grease" that came out in 1978. It is about two teenage lovers and their friends in the 50s. The movie is a good example of the new clothing in the 50s, it showed many preps in long poodle skirts and greasers in black leather and tight pants. There were never any parents showed in the movie, showing how independent the teens became.

This is a picture of Elvis Presley, the most famous rock n' roll performers of the time. His inappropriate lyrics and dancing angered many parents, but made him a hero to teenagers everywhere. This picture is a concert of his and it shows how he danced with his hips.

An understanding between the older and younger generation was tremendously lost in the 50s. The more conservative generation thought that these new things will ruin their kids, and in some ways, it has. While the teens became more and more independent, the music, movie and shows they were exposed to took their innocents without them knowing. They stopped reading the Bible, and instead were picking up magazines. They began learning things they shouldn’t have until they were adults! While some thought they were losing there innocents, the teens thought of it of finding themselves and getting an identity. They would use the clothes and dance to express themselves and become unique. They found themselves in the music instead of worrying on who they are going to grow up to be. The 50s were a time for teens to really start to experiment to find themselves instead of being told who you were.

"1950s Teenager Fashion History - Teddy Boys, Fashion Idols 50's." //Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute Couture//. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. [era.com/1950s/1950s_4_teenagers_teddy_boys.htm|http://www.fashion- era.com/1950s/1950s_4_teenagers_teddy_boys.htm].

Goldberg, David E. "Teenagers, Post–World War II." //Facts On File History Online//. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. [].

"Teen Dances of the 1950s." //Social Dance at Stanford//. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. [].