Tag: 19-A2

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American Culture in the 1920s

A group of “Flapperette” girls in 1924; uploaded from inherited family photos. Source.
Notice some of the fashion choices of these women. For example, all but one of these women have chosen to wear pants rather than skirts. Do you think this was a normal clothing choice for women in the 1920s? Could their outfits be related to the social statement they are making?
Another thing that is common among these women is their choice of haircut. If you notice, all the women have very short hair. This is something that was common for the flapper style of the 1920s. What sort of message do you think these women were trying to send to the public with these short, blunt haircuts?
This is a combination of printed ads used in the May 1920 issue of National Geographic. Source. Courtesy of Don O’Brien.
Notice the tag line that the cigarette ad at the top of the page uses. What do you think is the significance of using words like “culture” and “refinement” in order to sell their product? Do you think this is a successful tactic?
Take a minute to process the illustration that accompanies the Deities cigarette ad. What is accurate about the image (if anything)? What is inaccurate? What does this sort of representation of a culture say about the social climate in America in the 1920s?
This photo captures an American couple on vacation in 1927; uploaded from inherited family photos. Source.
Notice this man behind the couple in the carriage. Judging by his position, it seems like he was tasked with pushing the couple around in the carriage. How might his opinion of the time this photo was taken differ from the couple on vacation?
Considering this photo was taken around the same time as the “Flapperettes” photo at the top of the post, how does this woman’s outfit compare to the women in the first picture? Do you think that this woman would be in favor of the Flapper social movement that was taking place during this decade?

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Civil War and Reconstruction

Photo #1

Manifest Destiny Source

What is the reason behind why Manifest Destiny was depicted by an angelic looking woman?
Including the railroad shows that technology is also coming out west, contrasted with the horse drawn carriages typically thought of when thinking about westward migration. When were the rails being laid for trains to continue out west?

Photo #2

Propoganda promoting Reconstruction Source
Do these women represent the North and South getting along after the Civil War ended?
Does the fire represent the country trying to come back together? By the time this advertisement was circulating, had the southern states that had seceded rejoined the United States?

Photo #3

Siege of Charleston Source
Was creating bunkers in the Civil War a tactic that was used often? Is this a precursor to Trench Warfare in World War 1?
Were these ships used to help completely siege Charleston?
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History In Focus

Let us make Peace source
When did this take place? It’s a black and white photo, and the soldiers are fighting each-other on horseback. Perhaps it takes place some time after the invention of the camera, but still in an age where people fought on horseback?
Above the figurines reads “Let Us Make Peace”. The work seems to be a persuasive piece arguing pacifism during a time of conflict.
Woman Suffrage source
While the title explains, the photo verifies that the subject of this photo is suffrage. Because it is a black and white photo, and due to the dress of the woman, perhaps it is taken during the woman’s suffrage movement in the late 1910s?
What is the meaning of the sashes that the women are wearing? Why is the woman on the left wearing her sash across her right shoulder as opposed to her left shoulder like the others?
Negro Going in Colored Entrance of Movie House source
This word at the top of the building suggest that this building is a movie theater. Even during this time it seems people got special deals for going to movie theaters at certain times in the day.
There is a separate entrance, and a set price of 10 cents for people of color at this movie theater. I know that African Americans were separated from white Americans during beginning half of the 20th century in America, but did they not benefit from deals like matinee prices like other Americans?
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Exploring Constantinople 1880-1922

Haghia Sophia (1910). Source
An interesting juxtaposition of a simple structure in the foreground of this massive, historic mosque (originally built as a church in AD 537).
This half crescent moon is a traditional Islamic symbol. Were these street posts located throughout the city, or just adjacent to the mosque (converted in the 15th century)?
This photo of a bakery is taken in 1922. Source
The languages include Armenian, Ladino, English, Greek and Russian.
Loaves are on display on the exterior of the building as well as in what appears to be a large, open window.
Late 19th Century on the Grand Rue de Pera. Source
One of the only women walking down the avenue. Is she local, or a traveler?
Window washing above the boulevard. Do the passersby notice?