5.+1950s+to+90s+CULTURE,+ART,+SOCIETY

** Let's introduce these decades and share some opinions before we really study them in class. So, let's test your general knowledge, shall we? ** ** As this page is still in the making, sometimes you're not going to be able to edit it. This means I'm working on it and that's why it is momentarily locked. So, you've got to try again later:(( THIS PAGE WILL BE OPEN TILL the 20th MARCH. HAVE FUN:)) ** ** 5.1. How would you define the decades from the 1950s to the 1990s? Make a list of keywords / keyideas. **** Let me start: WILD TEENAGERS, Excellent music (Teresa 12th E) ... ** Amazing bands and songs. New movements with peculiar beliefs and purposes. Strong modifications in societies. Filipa Pina 12th E Fights for women's and African-American's rights. Marta Ferreira Hippie movements!:D Rafael Gonçalves 12E The Beat Generation Guilherme Cerveira 12F decades of behavioral revolution MarianaFerreira12thF
 * 5. 1950s to 90s : CULTURE, ART, SOCIETY**

Women Emancipation - Tiago12F

Art Revolution Rita Pinto 12thF

Daring enlightenment- Nuno Branco

The 50's - A rebellious generation Emilia Mota

The second birth for music. Mariana Marques **The 80´s the boom of all decades behind,** __Huge change in musical and entertainment costumes. Joana Pereira__
 * The big jump in music industries Renato **

Capitalism vs. Comunism, Cold War, Revolutions, Cultural movements, Space explorations, Music significance. Rita Rebelo

Message songs; Kennedys' and Martin Luther King's assassination; punks', hippies' and yuppies' appearance. Vitória Melo

Social and technological evolution and innovation Telmo 12E

**5. 2. "THE 1950s: A DECADE OF FUN, EXCITEMENT AND INDIVIDUALITY"** ** 5. 2. 1. Do you identify any of the images of the following video of the 1950s? ** media type="youtube" key="cMR6yzGqMnM" width="339" height="280" The first image is my Sinatra. I really love his songs! We can also see the cars people drove and the clothes people wore at that time and the most famous people of the 50’s such as Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly, (who died on a tragic accident on 3rd February 1959, later called “the day that music died”.), Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II, Nat King Cole… **Teresa 12th E** As Teresa mentioned it appears a lot of known people from 50's, but this year is also characterized by the clothes, cars, the music, the bars (forniture and decorations). MarianaFerreira12thF

The background music and the clothes show a glamorous decade where people were genuine and had fun in a different way than us today. Rita Pinto 12th

Sinatra, Grace kelly, johnny cash, the cars and fancy style, are some things that are well associated with the 50's. -Nuno Branco

As it was mentioned, the first image is sir Sinatra and then we see remarkable people like Tonny Bennet, Grace Kelly, Jane Russel (who we forgot to mention in our class, did "Gentleman prefer blondes" with Marilyn Monroe), the rebel teenager James Dean and many more. The 50's were also the decade of amazing cars and beautiful clothes and style. Emilia Mota

As mentioned before, the clothes and that typical car that appeared more than once. Also, the video showed a lot of singers, and some of them were close to the typical microphone of that age. The tall, and then squared mircrophone. I could also recognize Monroe and Elvis. Mariana Marques

In some pictures we can see some of the biggest revolutionary areas, like clothing, fashion, cars, sports and of course, music. All of these elements marked this decade. Rui Neves

And the music! The second music we hear in this clip reminded me immediately of the creation of one of the most important music genres: //Rock 'N' Roll//. It appeared in the late 50's. I suppose these pictures show influent people of this decade, and activities that were considered luxurious at that time (wearing those clothes, playing those instruments, playing baseboll and boxing...). Joana Pereira

There was a turning point in life perspective with the end of World War II. People in general changed their behavior and teenagers started some sort of revolution where mentalities evolved and the concept of freedom had another meaning. Fashion had a major role between girls as they stopped dressing up like their mothers and adopted a more jovial, colorful and feminine style, more adequate to their ages. It was when models first appeared as well as fashion magazines. Teens started to go out to dance on saturday nights and singers like Frank Sinatra, Rita Lee, Johnny Cash emerged. It was a time of glamour with Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot, all actresses and some singers, too. There was an evolution in cinema, as well. Before World War II, films showed an idealized men and women´s portrayal. Young people wanted exciting symbols of rebellion and “Rebel Without a Cause” is the perfect representation. With the advent of television sets in every home, Cinemascope and VistaVision were a desperate attempt by studios to call viewers back to theatres and drive-in movies. Westerns, Science Fiction and Disney movies as well as Musicals were in vogue. Pop Art, American Pin Ups and Barbie were also symbols of the 50s to be considered. Carolina Cunha 12ºE

Lots of famous artists and performers ( won't name them to evoid repetitions ) and those 60's cadillacs that have a pretty good design Telmo 12E

I must confess I got a little disappointed towards my general culture over the 50's, I'm glad Teresa's group work presentation was really clarifying. In spite of knowing it was a decade of musicals, in which our astonishing star Marylin Monroe rose up (a current tv serie called Smash is actually reproducing one of her musicals), I could barely recognize any of the faces that appeared in the video, except for Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Marylin herself, Queen Elizabeth II. Despite that fact I noticed several references were made to fashion since peculiar hair styles and clothes started being designed to enhance women's bodies. As a symbol a men's sex appeal, of course beautiful cars had to be in the spotlight. Vitória Melo

** 5. 2. 2. What do you think of the following scenes of one of the most emblematic films of the 1950s, namely Rebel Without a Cause" starring James Dean? **media type="youtube" key="tdrmDwvIjE0" width="339" height="280" media type="youtube" key="u7hZ9jKrwvo" width="338" height="280" Films like “Rebel without a cause” showed teenagers’ behavior during the 50’s. By that time, teenagers changed their mentality: they were wilder and started to understand how freedom and independence were a great accomplishment, sometimes without really understanding the consequences of some of their actions. **Teresa 12th E** These Films as Teresa said,show us the change that happened in those years in teen's mentality and not only,it ended beeing a time of big change in the way teens were seen by society,they started to bee seen with more respect,and with more respecto for their opinions,there weren't only children and adults anymore,there was a new age group in the block,the noisy,rebel,and badass styled teens. Rafael Gonçalves 12E

I couldn't see the second clip because it says youtube is unable to show it. The main message of the first clip from the film 'Rebel Without a cause' is that teenagers in those years tried to change people's thoughts and ideals, it's a year which we can see revolution and behavioral changes in order to make other people follow the 'rebels'. MarianaFerreira12thF

As I said in class, James Dean was a role model for teenagers. They identified with his struggles and that teenager dilema: nobody undestands him and he's surrounded by people but feels lonely. He assumed a representative role of teens, so his movies and his personality marked a generation. Emilia Mota

I consider the aim of movies like 'Rebel without a cause' not far away from the ones of nowadays'. As we've already discussed this subject in class, last year, main roles in films are given to actors who have to play their roles so well in order to actually become a role model to the people who're watching the movie. Having said this, I cant say this for sure but I got the idea that teens, back then, in the 1950's, must have loved James Dean and saw him as an idol. I guess that's why it was such a huge success. Teens related to him, and wanted to follow their steps. I can even bet, but just bet, because I really don't know this for sure, but James Dean's haircut may have influenced their followers. And isnt that what happens nowadays? After popping Justin Bieber, every boy had the same haircut as him. And he ended being an huge success too. Mariana Marques

James Dean is a 50's icon. His charm, and confidance set a standart to wich many are compared. Rita Rebelo

As nowadays, back in the 50's there were solid, well built movies and trashy ones. "A Chicken Game" didn't seem to me like a very interesting movie, because it includes round characters who are thoroughlly stereotyped, who get what they want under any circunstance by using their beauty and fancy props. Vitória Melo

5. 3. "THE SWINGING SIXTIES" **The decade was labeled the “Swinging Sixties” because of the fall or relaxation of some social taboos especially relating to sexism and racism that occurred during this time.** **5. 3. 1. One of the most emblematic films of this decade is "Easy Rider" It stands as a landmark counterculture film and "touchstone for a generation" that "captured the national imagination." It explores the societal landscape, issues, and tensions in the United States during the 1960s, such as the rise and fall of the hippie movement, drug use, and communal lifestyle.** Watch the film trailer and share your views on it:))media type="youtube" key="nIfUD70yvz8" width="382" height="315"

I like easy rider very much,I didn't watch it in its full lenght until today,because i hadn't had an oportunity to do so yet,but I will se it,it was a big icon amoung the sixties movies like it was said,it was a sort of continuation of the rebel teens ofthe 50's but now more out of control,marked by those use of substances for example. Rafael Gonçalves 12E

Well, I'm shocked with what I've just seen in the trailer. I didn't have the idea that films in 1969 already showed sex during some scenes.I really had the idea that this kind of tabu didn't end until a recent time. About the 'gras', I had that idea that is represented in the movie. Because of slogans like Sex Drugs and Alcohol, in my mind, I thought smoking weed in 1969 was completely normal. The trailer got me curious to see the rest of the movie, so I might just well enjoy my easter vacations and maybe take a longer peek. Now, about the tabus that are put in the movie.. It is important that someaone has the guts to start admiting by, for instance, making a little bit fun of it. If it weren't for movies like these, maybe, nowadays we couldn't talk about these subjects like we do, even in class, as it already happened last period.. Mariana Marques

I liked this trailer very much! (: I didn't know that Jack Nicholson was in the cast of Easy Rider. I like him very much, and I believe that he has only participated in good films (of course, I don't know every single film he has participated in). I liked that sentence his character said: "They are not afraid of you, they are afraid of what you represent. What you respresent to them is freedom." This is quite what the mentality in these decades was about, specially in the 50's and 60's. This film is probably a paradigmatic example of the change people were trying to reach. Joana Pereira.

====One of the movie's taglines is "A man went looking for America...and couldn't find it anywhere". This quote gives the idea that the American society was in a period of uncertainty. But it might also be a description of the adventure that this man puts himself through. It a dangerous, wild and full of adrenaline road trip, a journey through the unknown. To a certain extent, it is similar to Chris McCandless's journey. Chris takes it to an extreme but they both are in a search for something and do it wandering and riding America's highways. It was interesting to see Jack Nicholson so young, I had never seen him like that! Emilia Mota ==== ==== In my opinion, we can really see a pattern here. The idea of going into the discovery, as we've seen, for instance in Into the wild, is a typical teenage and wild idea. Not a teenage like us, but an adult with thsi teenage spirit. People always try to escape from their daily and munotunous lifes. Well, this film sound just about it. A man who goes out to discover America. A really interesting idea.. In my head, I see this as a promising movie. Rita Rebelo ====

Yes, I was about to make that comparison Rebelo brought about, concerning "Into the Wild". Just like Chris, this man decided to embrace a self-discovery experience in order to find the right path to his life. Like he says, despite being hard to leave his land, it's vital to search for the true essence of America to understand his personal, inner essence. As we are the mirror of both our genetic patrimony and the environment where we are brought up, it's crucial to be in an osmotic relationship with that atmosphere. If we feel somehow disconnected to the place we've been raised in, it leads to existencial doubts that can be healed with such a journey. Vitória Melo

**5. 3. 2. "BORN TO BE WILD", by Steppenwolf is the most famous song of the film soundtrack. Listen to it, analyse its lyrics and state your opinion on it.** media type="youtube" key="5UWRypqz5-o" width="339" height="280" media type="youtube" key="jgOToIJ6IRc" width="339" height="280" **5. 3. 3. Do you agree that "like a true nature's child We were born, born to be wild"?** As time passes we will gradually become more civilised,our tecnologie will continue to be developed,and we will become more and more distant from ourorigins,but we can never escape from them,we "come from nature",until now at least,and that's a fact we can never escape from,so I think we will never let being wild Rafael Gonçalves 12E I agree with the statement. We were not born to by shy, we were born to be audacious and wild. In my opinion there is nothing better than living on the edge of life, the thrill of countless possibilities can only be fulfilled by being wild. -Nuno Branco ** Yes, **since we born we have a certain instinct so if nobody try to modify us we will be wild because we are not just because we live in this society bbut if we look deep inside we will find it!! Renato This song is awesome! And it really describes the life style we see in "Easy Rider". Riding their motorcycle, leader jackets and all that style defines this generation. As the song says, "looking for adventure" and openned to anything that might happen. In the end, "Born to be wild" means that you love nature and the planet where you live, embrace it and everthing that it has to offer you. It's not the same, but it reminds me of a great Bon Jovi's song, "Wanted dead or alive" :

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride I'm wanted dead or alive And I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back I've been everywhere, still I'm standing tall I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all

Emilia Mota

Yes. I think that by being “wild” the singer means taking advantage of what life has to offer and enjoy as much as we can. Sometimes it sounds a little unrealistic to say that we have to live each moment as if it was our last. However, even if we can’t do it, I believe that we should try our best to be happy for as long as we can, despite the different meanings happiness has to us. Núria.

we all need to slow down and apreciate mother nature once in a while, this means that it's ok to be wild and it is even necessary to be wild sometimes in order to escape the daily routine, furthermore we should enjoy life to its fullest because we only get one chance to do so. Telmo 12E

I believe that we are, indeed, Nature's children, so we are wild because Nature is wild, but our wilderness is limited by the rules of our society. Our wilderness does not mean living in a jungle but living within Nature, respecting her in a fusion. Pessoa says that only the ones who are audacious and wild enough to follow their dreams, overcoming all the adversities and dangers life can provide, may be able to survive this crazy world. It is surely a powerful message to spread with a strong charge related to it, which once again enlarges music role in revitalizing society and the human mind. Vitória Melo

**5. 3. 4. Watch the following video and tell me your opinion about "The WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL" held in 1969.** media type="youtube" key="StFhvAIv3Js" width="339" height="280" This festival reminds me of now-a-days festivals where we can see concerts, batth in the river or sea and relax and have fun with our friends. maybe it only happens today, and those festivals exist, because of this one and because people in the 60's tried to reach new ways of living. Mariana Ferreira12thF

I've seen the film "Taking Woodstock" and I consider this festival the "mother" of all festivals. By that time things were really different because was a new concept a people who were there could really enjoy and appreciate the true essence from the festival. Rita Pinto 12thF

The woodstock festivals are considered to be the best festivals ever made. However, there were lots of drugs and alcohol which led to many deaths, that demonstrates the lack of responsability people had back then.-Nuno Branco

Nowadays festivals have nothing to do with this one. This festival had a cause people had a motivation to go now they are very good but the spirit is diference. Now festivals are seen as an oputunity to make money had to sell drugs nothing else. But this festival is the best ever made for me and the spirit was the best also we do not know nothing like rape like nowadays for example Renato 12E

I like it that people use music to express these feelings of discontent. It's the best way of expressing them, specially if we are referring to pacifist and hippie movements. It is impressing how these people got to leave a mark in history for rebelling against war and racism in such a "harmonious" way. (: Joana Pereira. I I think this festival was the climax of the message 60's music was trying to transmit. Peace and Love as much more than a cliché, because back then it was no cliché at all. It was an inspiring moto whose words could be able to cease war, conflicts, rioting, gunshots and violence. Woodstock was also extremely related to the hippie movement who defended that wave of relaxation, wilderness, personal enrichment got by independence, self-discovery. Nowadays, we have Sudoeste as a mainly hippie style festival, despite having all kinds of audience. However, I do agree with what Renato said about festivals being made to raise ridiculous ammounts of money with no major cause beneath them. But it is a great experience everyone should have the opportunity to try! Vitória Melo

** 5. 3. 5. And now a video about Janis Joplin, one of my favourite singers of the 60s. Hope you enjoy it:)) ** media type="youtube" key="vThD7ot9oII" width="339" height="280" Janis Joplin was a great great woman and in my opinion she was one of the symbols of 60's. I would suggest The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin for you to listen because they were great band and the major influence for some of the musicians today :) Rita Pinto 12thF

Pink Floyd, don't you forget! Joana Pereira

This woman had the most amazing voice! It took a lot of drinking and smoking to get therem but she definitly was one of the greatest female voices that the world has ever seen. I just remembered a song that has an amazing video, which illustrates the society of the end of the 60's. It's only one side of the society, and we see all kinds of bad things in the video, but I think it's a really good one: Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic media type="youtube" key="aUwjyr17l0M" height="225" width="300" Emilia Mota

Like is was said drugs and alcohol affected our music but from my perspective in a good way because the disinhibition caused by this allowed the musicians to release them selves and show their pain to the world. If you dont believe me check it out by yourselves.

Purple haze all in my brain Lately things just don't seem the same Actin' funny, but I don't know why ' Scuse me while I kiss the sky

Purple haze all around Don't know if I'm comin' up or down Am I happy or in misery? Whatever it is, that girl put a spell on me

Help me help me Oh no no... no

Yeah

Purple haze all in my eyes Don't know if it's day or night You've got me blowin, blowin my mind Is it tomorrow or just the end of time?

No, help me aw yeah! oh no no oh help me... media type="youtube" key="HObqZh_RTds" height="315" width="420" =Pedro 12ºE=

I think Janis was a true icon and reference to all artists back then in the 60s and it is even nowadays. For instance, we could see in the portugese show  A tua cara nao me é estranha, Romana performing (brightly actually) Janis Joplin, in Mercedez Benz. This decade was definitely marked by some peculiar singers that, might have died but still persist in the present days we live in. Rita Rebelo

I agree. The first time I heard about her was when my father complemented her on her great voice and impact it had in his generation. She is definitely a remarkable singer who will be remembered for many years. Núria.

I'll post some interesting details about Janis's personal life because I also find her a brilliant singer and performer with an unfortunate life because what she gave to taste was so little compared to what it could have been. Her room was filled up with velvet and satin; she slept every night with her dog, George; she had a thin, attractive figure that along with her tough, rusty voice made her a queen at the age of 24; her drug addiction started due to a conversation with an old friend she met at a park while walking her dog, to whom she told about how frustrated she was getting because she could no longer feel rush with anything; her friend advised her to do a little smack and Janis had those words pumping in her head ever since; she died at 27 of an overdose. Vitória Melo