2: 1920’s Culture, Modernity

Zora Neale Hurston

• Black woman writer one of the most important voices of the Harlem Renaissance

• Collected real stories from black communities and used them in her writing

• Most famous novel “Their Eyes Were God Watching” about a Black Woman’s journey to independence

Harlem Renaissance

• Cultural explosion for Black creativity centered in Harlem, NY

• Gave Black women a platform to speak about their lives, challenged racist and sexist stereotypes

1920’s Consumer Culture

• Way of life where people— especially women, were encouraged to buy more products, beauty items, fashion

• Mass media and movies created beauty standards

• Ads linked women’s sexual appeal to buying products

• Cosmetic sales increases 400%

Impact of the Car 1920’s

• Gave women personal independence and mobility

• Allowed the youth dating, socializing, and nightlife w/o supervision

• Supported women working farther than home

• Boosted consumer culture, helped normalize lifestyle built around buying products

The Flapper

• New kind of young woman in the 1920’s seen as rebellious, modern, fun, independant

• Short hair, short skirts, makeup, dancing, dating

• Showed how consumer culture shaped women

Miss America Pageant 1921

• A contest that judged women’s beauty

• Shows women’s bodies became commercialized

• Growing consumer culture and beauty industry

• Reflected “new woman” image