Cultural and Lifestyle Trends: 1970s-2000s

Cultural Trends and Rock & Roll's Evolution (Late 1970s - 2000s)

  • Rock & Roll's Evolution: Rock & Roll transformed into a significant musical trend. A key example is the album "Slippery When Wet," which was the #1 selling music album in 1987 and had sold 25 million copies by 2014 (Source: www.Billboard.com).

Concerns, Censorship, and Music Television

  • Concerns and Censorship: The early 1980s saw concerns around music content, exemplified by bands like Motley Crue (Vince Neal, "Live Wire" video).
  • MTV Launch: Music Television (MTV) was launched in 1981, marking a new era for music and visual media.

Senator Paula Hawkins and Censorship Hearings

  • Senator Paula Hawkins's Views: Senator Paula Hawkins (R-Florida, 1981-1987) expressed concerns during the 1985 hearings on music censorship. She believed that music had shifted from subtle innuendo to overt expressions of violent sexual acts, drug use, and flirtations with the occult.

Sexuality and Rock & Roll (Keene, Cornell, & O'Donnell Quotes)

  • Elvis Presley's Impact: Elvis Presley transformed rock and roll, a genre named after a rhythm and blues slang term for sexual intercourse, into a phenomenon. Presley blended sounds from African American rhythm and blues, gospel, and country music with pop lyrics, creating an "eroticized dancing style."

Parental Concerns and Elvis Presley's Performances

  • Parents' Reactions to Elvis: When Ron Kovic's family watched Presley on TV, reactions varied from enthusiastic dancing from his sister to his mother's prayerful demeanor and his father's condemnation of Elvis as leading to sin.
  • Ed Sullivan Show Controversy: To avoid controversy, Ed Sullivan ordered camera crews to only show Presley's head and chest, censoring his pelvic thrusts and gyrations.

PMRC and Parental Control (1985)

  • PMRC Formation: The Parent Music Resource Center (PMRC) was an independent committee formed in 1985 to increase parental control over children’s access to music deemed too violent, or mentioning drug use or sex.
  • Key Figures: The PMRC was organized by “The Washington Wives” (Tipper Gore, Susan Baker, Sally Nevius & Pam Howar), with participation from Senators Al Gore (D-Ten.) and Paula Hawkins (R-Fl.).

Explicit Content and Warning Labels

  • Warnings and Lyrics: The PMRC advocated for warning labels and lyrics on album covers.
  • Government Pressure: They lobbied for government actions such as forcing music stores to keep explicit albums under counters and pressuring TV stations to block explicit videos and contracts of certain musicians.

PMRC's "Filthy 15"

The PMRC released its “Filthy 15,” which included songs deemed to have offensive lyrical content:

  • Prince - "Darling Nikki" (Sex)
  • Sheena Easton - "Sugar Walls" (Sex)
  • Judas Priest - "Eat Me Alive" (Sex)
  • Vanity - "Strap on Robbie Baby" (Sex)
  • Mötley Crüe - "Bastard" (Violence)
  • AC/DC - "My Love into You" (Sex)
  • Twisted Sister - "Not Gonna Take It" (Violence)
  • Madonna - "Dress You Up" (Sex)
  • W.A.S.P. - "Animal" (Sex/Language)
  • Def Leppard - "High 'n' Dry" (Drug and alcohol use)
  • Mercyful Fate - "Into the Coven" (Occult)
  • Black Sabbath - "Trashed" (Drug and alcohol use)
  • Mary Jane Girls - "In My House" (Sex)
  • Venom - "Possessed" (Occult)
  • Cyndi Lauper - "She Bop" (Sex)

First Amendment and Freedom of Speech

  • First Amendment: The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the press, preventing Congress from making laws that abridge these freedoms.

Twisted Sister and "Under the Blade" Controversy

  • "Under the Blade" Lyrics: Tipper Gore accused Twisted Sister's song "Under the Blade" (1982) of encouraging sadomasochism, bondage, and rape. Lyrics detail a violent scenario.
  • Character Assassination: Dee Snider accused the PMRC of “character assassination.” This potentially threatened his income.

"Tipper Stickers" and Record Labeling

  • "Tipper Stickers": Starting in 1990, major recording companies (EMI, Sony, Universal, Warner) applied “Tipper stickers” to certain albums, warning of explicit content.

Social and Cultural Transformations (1970s - 1990s)

  • Significant Transformations: The 1970s-1990s were marked by significant social and cultural transformations, altering American society and lifestyles.
  • Demographic Developments: Demographic shifts rapidly changed the landscape of American society and how Americans lived and worked.

Substance Use in the 1970s

  • Marijuana Use: Surveys indicated that 50% of college students smoked marijuana in the 1970s.
  • Cigarette Use: 30% of adults smoked cigarettes, the lowest rate since the 1920s.

Alcohol and Car Accidents in the Late 1970s

  • Alcohol Ads and Consumption: Cigarette ads were reduced while alcohol ads increased. Per capita drinking increased from 22 to 27 gallons.
  • Car Accident Deaths: There were 45,000 car accident deaths, with 50% being alcohol-related, often reported on television.

National Minimum Drinking Age Act (1984)

  • Federal Mandate: The National Minimum Drinking Age Act (1984) reduced federal highway funding by 10% to any U.S. state that allowed individuals under 21 to purchase or possess alcohol.

New Attitudes and Consumer Culture (1980s - 2000s)

  • Changing Attitudes: New attitudes toward sex, fashion, music, art, and lifestyles altered American institutions.
  • Contemporary Culture: Cultural historians link these trends to the origins of contemporary consumer-driven, media-dominated, and celebrity-centric popular culture.

Voter Turnout Rates

  • Historical Data: Voter turnout rates vary. The 2020 presidential election saw nearly 70% turnout.
  • 26th Amendment: The 26th Amendment (1971) granted citizens 18 years or older the right to vote.
  • Age-Based Turnout: Voter turnout generally increases with age. The URL is http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics

Cable Television and Media Revolution

  • Rise of Cable: The rise of cable television marked a “Living Room Revolution.”
  • Reduced Censorship: Censorship regulations within the media industry were reduced in 1972.
  • HBO and WTBS: HBO (premium cable) launched in 1975, and WTBS (basic cable) launched in 1976.

VCRs and Home Entertainment

  • VCR Development: VCRs allowed people to record and watch television at their convenience.
    • Phillips N1500: The first video recorder with a 1-hour recording capacity.
    • Square cassettes: Early VCRs used square cassettes.
    • High Cost: Initially priced at $2000/unit in England.
  • First Modern VCR: The first modern-style VCR was introduced in 1975, with Philips V2000 following in 1978.
  • Price Reduction: Philips models later sold for $50/unit in the late 1990s.

Microwave Ovens and Household Technology

  • Microwave Oven History:
    • 1947: Raytheon Company sold large, expensive microwaves.
    • 1967: First countertop models became available.
    • 1970: 40,000 models were sold.
    • 1975: Sales reached 1 million models.
    • 1986: 25% of U.S. homes had a microwave oven.
    • 2000s: Over 90% of U.S. homes had a microwave oven.

Video Game Consoles and Evolution of Entertainment

  • PlayStation 2 (PS2): By 2011, PS2 was the highest-selling console ever, with 154.4 million units sold.

Lifestyle Reforms and "Yuppies"

  • "Yuppies" Defined: “Yuppies” were upwardly mobile, affluent young Americans with few or no children and high-paying jobs.
  • Baby Boomers and Income:
    • 1970s: 78 million Baby Boomers.
    • 5% of Baby Boomers earned 40,00040,000/year.
  • National Income:
    • 1970: 11 = about 6.606.60 (in 2020).
    • 1980: 12,00012,000/year.
    • 1980: 11 = about 3.103.10 (in 2020).

Inflation and Purchasing Power

  • Inflation Calculator Example:
    • If you purchased an item for 1.001.00 in 1970, it would cost 6.636.63 in 2019 (cumulative inflation rate: 563.3%).
    • If you purchased an item for 1.001.00 in 1980, it would cost 3.123.12 in 2019 (cumulative inflation rate: 212.3%).
    • If you purchased an item for 1.001.00 in 1990, it would cost 1.971.97 in 2019 (cumulative inflation rate: 96.9%).
    • If you purchased an item for 1.001.00 in 2000, it would cost 1.491.49 in 2019 (cumulative inflation rate: 49.4%).
    • If you purchased an item for 1.001.00 in 2010, it would cost 1.181.18 in 2019 (cumulative inflation rate: 18.0%).
  • Income Reduction: Average inflation-adjusted income was reduced in the 1970s.

Changes in Households (1960s-2000s)

  • Family Revolution: The rise of D.I.N.K.s (Double Income No Kids) and financial stagnation.
  • Married Couples with Children:
    • 1960: 59% of married-couple households included at least 1 child under age 18.
    • 1990 and 2000: 46% of married-couple households included at least 1 child under age 18. This signifies a 25% decrease between 1960 and 1990.

Wage Stagnation and Effects on Family Dynamics

  • Wage Stagnation: Wage stagnation refers to the lack of real wage growth over a period of time, impacting household incomes.

Effects on U.S. Households

  • Household Composition:
    • 1970s: 30% of households contained married couples with children.
    • 2000: 23% of households contained married couples with children.

U.S. Birthrates (20th Century)

  • Generations: Baby Boomers (born 1945-1965) gave birth to Millennials/Echo Boomers (born 1980-2000).

Real Average Household Income

  • Income Disparities: Incomes shown in the advisorperspectives.com graph are not adjusted for wage increases by decade, revealing significant income disparities.
    • Top 5%: $$451,122

D.I.N.K.s (Double Income No Kids)

  • Definition: D.I.N.K. stands for Double Income No Kids, describing couples with two incomes and no children.
  • Family Dynamics: Being married is great, but being married with kids is tougher in today's society with spouses working different jobs and the high cost of day care and schools.

Divorce Rate Increases

  • Divorce Trends:
    • 1960s-1970s: Divorces doubled nationally since the 1950s.
    • 1980s: 4/5 two-parent homes had dual employment.
    • 1980s & 1990s: 50% chance of divorce.

The Coolidge Effect

  • Definition: The Coolidge Effect refers to the decrease in sexual arousal after repeated exposure to the same sexual stimulus.

Age at Marriage and Divorce Rates (1990-2010)

  • Age at Marriage: The age at which people marry can influence divorce rates.
    • Women marrying at 20 or less: 27.6% divorce rate.
    • Men marrying at 20 or less: 11.7% divorce rate.

Divorce rate

  • The divorce rate decreased to about 40% with first marriages in the 2010s.