Organization man- 1956 -William Hyte – Between 1947-57- the number of salaried
1955-63 Suburban Conformity Suburban America life promoted getting middle class workers rose by 61%
along and belonging, - threatened Eisenhower popularity and general lack of
Film individualism. General motors – had to get passion for social reform suggested a self
along with thousands of wo co workers He satisfied population
TV also spoke about the pressure to conform “American way of life”
started off young- high schools had courses “life magazine” – ideal woman - mother o
Advertising on socially acceptable behaviors, California four children , married at 16
vocational schools championed that it can Blue denim- although a play based off the
Beatniks turn graduates into “custom built men” Also abortion, the movie kept the baby and the
use of personality tests in big corporations. word abortion was never mentioned
Music + teenage Stanley Rowland – who wrote in 1956- Until 1956 interracial marriages were
everyone in the suburbs “ buys the right car, forbidden from being shown
culture keeps his lawn clean like his neighbors, eats Suburbia and Levittown’s best illustrated
crunchy breakfast cereal and votes blandness and conformity
republicans”
Escapism films- west side story, Lawrence
Arabia, around the world in 80 days, The
1957- interracial marriages- Island in the Sun Bridge on the River Kwai
1957- paths of glory- anti war film- did not do Father knows best and The adventures of
well at box office- challenges consensus Ozzie and Harriet- mc perfect families
1958- defiant ones- black and whites were I remember Mama- immigrant family teac
chained together and had to work together to their mother immigration is good.
escape Vick Van Dyke Show
1958- South Pacific – two interracial Black actors had minor roles- The Jack Ben
relationships- although a box office hit was Show- Butler Rochester
not well received in the south and nearly
caused a race riot in long island
US tv was financed holly through advertisi
1959- Imitation of life-the black mother is the
Tv companies advertising revenue grew by
hero
1000
Challenge to female roles
Advertisers spent aprox 10 billion a year
1955- all that heaven allows- she marries a
during 1950 and 60
young Gardner Hudson rejects materialism
Yale historian David Potter argued that
BUT IN THE END SHE REMARRIES
advertising was as socially influential as
1957- Crime of Passion- suffocated by
education, religion as it dominated the me
suburban life- husband has affair and refuses
and shaped popular standards