The roaring twenties

The Roaring Twenties

Roaring Twenties is a term used to refer to the 1920s as a period of cultural effervescence in New York, Chicago, Paris, Berlin, London and many other major cities during a time of sustained economic prosperity.

Happiness...

New Habits

Fashion changes

Jazz

New dances

New mentalities

Art Deco

New Mentalities

The fear, difficulties and confrontations experienced during the world conflict were forgotten by the euphoric desire to enjoy life.

New Habits

The demand for entertainment intensified, nightlife gained importance, increasing the number of cafés, restaurants and places to socialise. In these places alcohol was quite exaggerated, women drank and smoked.

There were great changes, namely in the social habits of the bourgeoisie. They began to:

• Playing sports;
• Wearing make up;
• Dancing at night and going to cabarets;
• Wear perfume;
• Smoking and drinking alcohol during parties;
• Women started to be more present in the nightlife.

Leisure

In the 1920s, the cinema became the leisure of crowds. In 1927, 60 million tickets were sold every week in the United States. By 1929, there were 110 million. This was Hollywood's golden age (1915-1925). Cartoons were a huge success with the public.

The Mickey Mouse character, created by Walt Disney, was launched in 1928. This talking movie created one of the most famous characters in the world.

Sports

The football craze started at the 1928 Olympic Games. Women also played the sport in skin-coloured tights.

Women in the 1920s

It was also in the 1920s when women started to become more aware of their importance in society. Many women began to:

• drive;
• work;
• support their families, thus taking over from their husband.

Women began to free themselves from their dependence on men and to become aware that they could use their bodies as they saw fit.

Fashion - Clothes

Women

• Trousers began to be worn;

• The corset was replaced by a bra;
• Skirts and dresses went up to the knee;
• Use of new fabrics such as silk and jersey;
• Skin coloured tights;
• Invention of the swimsuit.

Men

• Sportswear was popularised;
• Shorter jackets were worn.

Fashion - Hair and Make up

Hair

• Short hair "à garçon", also known, in Portuguese as "Joãozinho hair";
• The hair was sometimes glued to the head with grease.

Make-up

• Pouting lips;
• Black eye shadow.

Music

Jazz was the most famous style of music at the time. It used to be played in cabarets, to liven up the atmosphere.

Dance

As far as dances are concerned, the 1920s were a defining period, as new dance styles emerged at this time. Today, these styles are still famous.

Tango

Foxtrot

Charleston

Breakaway

Art Deco

In the field of architecture, design and decorative arts, Art Deco reached peak popularity in Europe and earned its name (shortened) from the Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris in 1925. This art style was marked by the use of many colours, brightness and floral prints.

Mass Media

• Comics gained great success for children, young people and adults.

• Books gained more popularity. The growth of the printed press, and advertising also gained a special place in this cultural phenomenon.