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Performing Change in Postwar America: A Journey Through Cultural Transformation

Wesley Reed

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Published in How To Do Things With Dance: Performing Change In Postwar America

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Postwar America: A Time Of Cultural Transformation How To Do Things With Dance: Performing Change In Postwar America

Summary:
The post-World War II era in America was a time of profound social and cultural change. This article explores the ways in which these changes were manifested in the performing arts, from the rise of new forms of music and dance to the emergence of new political and social themes in theater and film.

How To Do Things with Dance: Performing Change in Postwar America

by Rebekah J. Kowal

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	348 pages

The Rise of New Musical Forms

One of the most significant developments in the postwar period was the rise of new forms of music. Jazz, which had its roots in the African-American community, became increasingly popular among white audiences. Bebop, a more experimental form of jazz, emerged in the late 1940s, and its influence can be heard in the work of later musicians such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Country music also underwent a major transformation in the postwar period. The "Nashville sound," a more polished and commercial form of country music, emerged in the early 1950s. This new sound helped to make country music more popular among mainstream audiences.

Rock and roll, a new genre of music that emerged in the mid-1950s, had a profound impact on American culture. Rock and roll was a fusion of rhythm and blues, country music, and pop music. It was characterized by its fast tempo, catchy melodies, and rebellious lyrics.

The Emergence of New Dance Forms

The postwar period also saw the emergence of new forms of dance. Modern dance, which had its roots in the early 20th century, continued to develop in the postwar period. Modern dance was characterized by its emphasis on movement and expression, rather than on traditional ballet techniques.

Ballet also underwent a major transformation in the postwar period. George Balanchine, a Russian choreographer who immigrated to the United States in the 1930s, developed a new style of ballet that was more abstract and less narrative than traditional ballet. Balanchine's work had a profound influence on American ballet, and his company, the New York City Ballet, became one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world.

New Themes in Theater and Film

The postwar period also saw the emergence of new political and social themes in theater and film. Playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams explored issues such as the alienation of the individual in modern society and the destructive power of war.

Films such as "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "On the Beach" (1959) explored the impact of war on American society. These films helped to raise awareness of the human cost of war and to promote a more pacifist attitude among Americans.

The postwar period was a time of profound social and cultural change in America. These changes were reflected in the performing arts, from the rise of new forms of music and dance to the emergence of new political and social themes in theater and film. These changes helped to shape the American identity and to make the United States a more vibrant and diverse society.

How To Do Things with Dance: Performing Change in Postwar America

by Rebekah J. Kowal

5 out of 5