Culture

The Jazz Age was a period marked by increased division between traditional and modern culture. While the cultural mainstream valued a more refined, disciplined approach to entertainment, new Jazz artists challenged this idea and shattered established norms regarding what was socially acceptable. The music that began to be played in speakeasies and public dance halls elicited physical responses from its listeners, something that had previously been viewed as vulgar or inappropriate. This loss of physical control in dancing provided a completely different experience for audiences, who were accustomed to observing music while remaining still. More and more people began to break away from traditional rules, increasing the number of commercial leisure establishments, as well as theatres featuring jazz and blues. In many of these settings, there was little separation between the audience and performer, and people actively participated in the musical experience. Dances such as “The Eagle Rock,” “The Stomp,” and “The Turkey Trot” replaced the more traditional Waltz and Polka.

Many more conservative individuals regarded this new form of entertainment as disgraceful and even dangerous to society. Civil groups attempted to regulate the types of dance that were allowed to be performed, and many went as far as to prohibit jazz performances all together. African Americans continued to face intense discrimination, and a majority of the population was not in favor of integration through entertainment or in society as a whole. Clinging to moral codes and social distinctions, many resented the controversial behavior exhibited by American youth, which was largely attributed to the music that they were listening to.

The fear that arose out of these attitudes contributed to the passage of the 18th amendment to the U.S. constitution in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, import and export of alcohol. Many religious groups and conservative individuals were behind this movement, believing that alcohol was an evil substance and, combined with Jazz music, the source of lewd behavior. Speakeasies served these beverages, and alcohol became closely associated with the Jazz culture. Bootlegging and illegal alcohol trafficking also became prevalent during this period, going against the mainstream and providing a new form a rebellion from traditional values.

Less regard was given to social class in many Jazz venues, and people of differing backgrounds, incomes and races were brought together as a result. New opportunities arose for African American artists to gain recognition, and Jazz artists such as Joe King Oliver, Wilber Sweatman, and MG Handy became influential in the entertainment industry. Many black neighborhoods began to evolve in large cities, and while racial oppression was ongoing, many African Americans were empowered. In addition to the Jazz performers themselves, other African Americans assumed solid jobs in the entertainment industry, making up made up approximately one third of the industry’s workers in a 1920 census. This was in an industry that had more than doubled in the past ten years, illustrating the significant impact that the emergence of jazz had on modern culture.

As in many other social movements, the music during the Jazz Age was both indicative of the emerging culture and had an influence on it. The struggle between disorder and order during this period would not have been as evident without the presence of Jazz, which served as an agent of cultural change that shaped the course of history.

Written by Leah Mendes

Works Cited

Gage, Beverly. "Just What The Doctor Ordered." Smithsonian 36.1 (2005): 112-117. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.

Appelrouth, Scott. "Body And Soul: Jazz In The 1920S." American Behavioral Scientist 48.11 (2005): 1496-1509. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.