What made the teenager a source of anxiety during the 1950s?
After World War II, America experienced unparalleled growth and prosperity. The children born during the early years of the postwar “baby boom” were becoming teenagers by the late 1950s. Because of the burgeoning economy, many middle-class teens had more leisure time and more spending power than previous generations of young people. As examined in the Birth of American Teenager lesson, teenagers of the 1950s began exerting a growing influence on American life and commerce. But the rapid rise of this growing demographic also unleashed a wave of anxiety among adults. It was a fear both real and imagined. The number of crimes committed by teenagers was, in fact, rising throughout the nation. But there was also a
level of intense anxiety that seemed unwarranted concerning the new power of the emerging teen demographic. Teenagers seemed to be challenging the social fabric of America. Many questioned, and even blamed, movies, comic books, and Rock and Roll for its influence on the rising misbehavior of youth. According to a lengthy report on juvenile delinquency in the 1955 Saturday Evening Post, crime committed by teenagers increased by a drastic 45% between
1950 and 1955. There were more extreme cases of teenage violence as well, like that of Charlie Starkweather, a white teenager from a working class family in Lincoln, Nebraska. When Starkweather went on a two-month murder spree in 1958, killing eleven people in the Midwest, his gruesome actions challenged the notion that teenage crime was relegated to poor, urban areas. Starkweather, and the sensibility that he embodied, seemed to ignite fear among Americans everywhere. In
a public opinion poll referenced by the United States Children’s Bureau in 1960, juvenile delinquency ranked third behind national defense and world peace as the American public’s greatest concern. As the journalist Bill Davis wrote in a 1957 issue of Colliers magazine, “Never in our 180-year history has the United States been so aware of – or so confused about – our teenagers.” The release of the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle tapped into this general fear
and anxiety. The movie included the first instance of Rock and Roll being used in a Hollywood feature film with “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets. The opening credits rolled to Bill Haley’s voice calling out “1, 2, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock rock,” all punctuated by heavy drums. Although the track features a familiar foundation of Country swing, it is steeped in Rhythm and Blues. Midway though the song, kicking and careening out of the
chorus, is a frenetic and now famous electric guitar solo that seems to shake the very bars of the song, igniting and exciting the listener. This was Rock and Roll. And blasting through the speakers of the movie theaters, it was Rock and Roll the way it was intended to be heard: loudly. Teenagers took to the aisles of the movie theaters dancing. The film was banned in some Southern cities like Atlanta and Memphis. It is rumored that a few theaters even the
opening credits without sound. It was clear that some believed music and movies marketed towards teenagers were a direct threat to the moral fiber of society, challenging the strength of the family unit. As one staff writer for the Vancouver Sun wrote in 1957 when Elvis was slated to perform in his town, “If any daughter of mine broke out of the woodshed tonight to see Elvis Presley … I’d kick her teeth in.” This was the tense backdrop that
colored the reception of early Rock and Roll. Who was responsible for this rise in lawlessness and how could the “wild” teenagers be tamed? There was a consensus that something had to be done. In 1954, the Senate created a special subcommittee on juvenile delinquency. The subcommittee held hearings to investigate the effects of “crime and horror” comic books on the psychology and misbehavior of youth. In addition to comic books, it was the subcommittee’s intention
to study the influence of music, movies, and other media upon teenagers as well. This lesson will investigate the role of the media, its influence on young people, and the growing anxiety about teenagers’ newfound independence in the 1950s. Students will explore primary source materials related to movies, music, and comic books that impacted teenage culture. Learning about the 1954 Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency, students will read and form opinions on
actual congressional testimony. Additional resources will include the trailer for Blackboard Jungle and a 1956 performance of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers’ “I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent.” View More
Upon completion of this lesson students will: Video Images Activities
Motivational Activity:1. Distribute Handout 1 – “Juvenile Delinquent” Lyrics, Facts, and Figures. Play the song, “I’m not a Juvenile Delinquent” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (1956) and discuss as a class:
2. As a class, work to define the term juvenile delinquent. Brainstorm some examples of what might constitute juvenile delinquency. Have the students write down the class definition. As a reference, the Meriam-Webster definition is: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile or conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control. 3. Review the facts and figures concerning juvenile delinquency in the 1950s. Ask the students, if teenage crime is increasing, who is responsible for curbing its rise? Some examples might be parents, community leaders, teachers, mass media, or law enforcement. Procedure:1. Explain to the students that in the 1950s, early Rock and Roll was achieving dominance on the airwaves, with artists such as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry releasing their first singles. Parents and community leaders were very suspicious of this powerful new form of music that seemed to excite teenagers. Using student volunteers, alternate reading the first six paragraphs of the 1957 Vancouver Sun article “Daughter Wants to See Elvis? Kick Her In The Teeth!”
2. Remind students that as late as 1955, miscegenation laws existed in more than half of the 48 states and outlawed marriage between Blacks and Whites. Rock and Roll seemed to directly challenge the system of segregation at the time. It encouraged white middle-class teenagers to dance and mix with other races and socio-economic levels. Alan Freed, (who introduces Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers in the “I’m not a Juvenile Delinquent“ video clip), had a prime-time music show in 1957 called The Big Beat. It was canceled after four episodes because the show had broadcast footage of Frankie Lymon dancing with a white girl from the studio audience. Reportedly, this incident had offended network affiliates in Southern states. Play the clip of the DJ Smashing Rock and Roll Records. As a class discuss:
3. As a class, watch the first minute of the trailer for the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle. Ask students to write down any key words or actions describing teenagers in the trailer (e.g. “teenage terror,” “savagery,” dancing, smoking, fighting). Tell the students, the opening credits include the first instance of a Rock and Roll song being used in a Hollywood feature film. When teenagers across the nation heard “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets, many of them took to the aisles of the movie theaters to dance. The movie was a smash hit; the song spent eight weeks as number one on the Billboard charts and became an anthem for Rock and Roll. 4. Explain to the students that in the 1950s the nation was concerned with the rising crime rate among youth. In 1954, the government launched a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency to examine the influence of movies, music, and comic books on teenagers. Distribute Handout 2 – Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency. Ask student volunteers to read aloud “1. Introduction: What Is A Subcommittee?” by alternating paragraphs. 5. Break students up into small groups. Explain that they will be serving on a mock Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. Please note, to encourage debate within the subcommittee groups, assign roles to each student. Half of the group should be “for” controlling and regulating media, and the other half of the group should be “against” the idea. At the end of class, each subcommittee will be making their recommendations on the best method to curb juvenile delinquency in the United States. 6. Distribute Handout 3 – 1950s Movie Posters to the subcommittee groups. Have them complete the handout together, with the voice of their assigned “roles” as needed. Poll the class for their answers and reactions to movie posters. Do the subcommittees believe that movies can influence the actions of teenagers? Why or why not? 7. Refer back to Handout 2 – Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency. In their subcommittee groups, students will review “Part 2: Comic Book Examples Submitted As Evidence” and “Part 3: Congressional Testimony.” Taking turns, students will read aloud the actual testimony from the subcommittee hearings. Students should discuss the following questions using their “for” or “against” roles to encourage debate:
Summary Activity:1. In their subcommittee groups, students will address the following question: How should media such as Rock and Roll, movies, and “crime and horror” comic books be regulated, if at all? Label four areas of the room with the following phrases:
Using the four options, students will come up with at least one recommendation that their subcommittee would like to make to the Senate (e.g., “As a subcommittee, we recommend that parents play a larger role in monitoring what their children read). Subcommittee groups will stand up and go to the area of the room that aligns with their recommendation. Each subcommittee will then share their recommendation with the class. 2. To end the class, the teacher or student volunteers will refer back to the Handout 2 – Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency and read aloud “Part 4: Senate Recommendations and the Comics Code Authority.” This includes the actual recommendations given by the subcommittee in 1955. Writing Prompt:Do you think it is fair to link movies, comic books, and Rock and Roll to juvenile delinquency? Are similar arguments made about the effects of popular music, movies, and media on teenagers today? Extension Activities:1. The year is 1955 and your town is considering hosting a Rock and Roll concert. Students will explore different perspectives and potential reactions by writing an editorial to the local paper in the voice of a fictional character. Assign the students a character, or invite them to choose from the following:
In the editorial, students must voice his or her concerns or support for a Rock and Roll concert. Where is their town located in America and how might this affect their opinion? Where will the concert take place and who will be allowed to attend? Invite students to share their editorials in class. 2. Challenge students to find a present-day article in a newspaper (either online or in print) that reflects a similar anxiety or fear about the current effect of either music, movies, the internet, or video games on the behavior of today’s youth. In a writing response, have them compare the present-day article to what they have learned about youth culture in the 1950s. How are reactions, fears, and anxieties about the influence of media similar? How are they different? How has entertainment changed since the 1950s? Handouts Standards Common Core State StandardsCollege and Career Readiness Reading Anchor Standards for Grades 6-12 for Literature and Informational Text
College and Career Readiness Writing Anchor Standards for Grades 6-12 in English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening for Grades 6-12
Social Studies – National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
National Standards for Music EducationCore Music Standard: Responding
Core Music Standard: Connecting
National Core Arts StandardsResponding
Connecting
Career Technical Education Standards (California Model) – Arts, Media and Entertainment Pathway StandardsDesign, Visual and Media Arts (A)
Performing Arts (B)
Which factor contributed to the growth of youth culture in United States during the 1950s?In the 1950s, financial prosperity allowed young Americans to participate in a shared culture of rock and roll music, movies, and television.
Which factor contributed to the growth of youth culture?Youth culture was enabled by social changes like the extension of public schooling and the growth of consumer culture, and during the 1960s young people would become powerful agents of political and cultural change.
What is an example of youth culture?Youth culture can pertain to interests, styles, behaviors, music, beliefs, vocabulary, clothes, sports and dating.
What are the objectives of youth culture?To promote an awareness of the content of the Constitution of India amongst young men and women, along with a knowledge of their rights and responsibilities; c. To advocate for the creation, in youth, of a sense of belonging, patriotism and responsible citizenship; d.
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