Julia's+Pop+Culture

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**Julia's Pop Culture Page ** ** __1940's__ ** Q1. What was happening in the world in the 1940’s? - World War Two was a big thing in the 1940's. It started in 1939 and went through to 1945, taking up half of the 1940's. It affected the entire world and caused great sadness. - In the 1940's many people tried to kill Hitler, but in the end he died committing suicide - Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll music emerged in the 1940's. - The 1948 Olympics were held in London and was a world event as it is now. The Olympics in 1940 and 1944 were cancelled because of the war. - In the early 1940's America was working on a project that was trying to create an atomic bomb. America ended up dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. - The world's first helicopter took flight in 1940 **The Nazi Symbol (the Swastika)** **- This was used by Germans in WWII** Q2. Why were dance bands and their music so popular? Dance bands and their music were popular in the 1940's because they were used to brighten men's spirits in the war. They were also usually 'happy' and upbeat music which helped to take people's minds off the war. Lots of music in the 1940's was very upbeat. It was also because people couldn't afford record players and went to see the dance bands instead. Q3. Why was nostalgia such an important element of pop music? Nostalgia (Which means remembering) was a very important element in music in the 1940's because of the war. The war was a sad, bad time which made many people unhappy. Nostalgia was needed in music to help people remember happy times before the war. While the war was bringing sadness to the world, music was needed to brighten people's spirits. That is the reason that nostalgia was used in music in the 1940's.

Q4. Who were the great music stars in the 1940's? Some of the great music stars from the 1940's were: - The Andrew's Sisters - Rosemary Clooney - Bing Crosby - Ella Fitzgerald - Glenn Miller - Edith Piaf

Most music in the 1940's was brass and big band styles. Lots of music in the 1940's had brass instruments (like trumpet and saxophone) in them. Rhythm & Blues and Rock 'n' Roll music emerged in the 1940's but Rock 'n' Roll was more popular in the 1950's than in the 1940's. To find out more about music in the 1940's, go to [] Q5. How did the roles and lives of women change during the 1940’s? Women's lives were changed in the 1940's for many reasons. The main reason was because women had to take over all of the men's jobs because the men were at war. This made many women weary and more tired. It also made women realise that they did not have to stay at home being a stereotypical housewife; they were quite capable of doing the jobs usually reserved for men. When the men came back from war to go back to their jobs, women were urged by societal pressure to go back to being a housewife.

**__1950's__** Q1. What was the Baby Boom? The 1950's was just after World War Two, meaning that all men came home to their wives/girlfriends etc. Now that all the men and women were together, they all decided they wanted to have babies. This created a massive increase of births, which we now call a 'baby boom.' Over 4 million babies were born in Australia alone! The term 'baby boom' is usually used to identify a high increase of births between 1946 and 1964. Q2. Where did Rock ’n’ Roll originate? Rock 'n' Roll originated in Mississippi, America. It evolved from rhythm & blues. Q3. What threats to world peace flared during the 50’s? The Korean War was something that threatened world peace in the 1950's. General MacArthur (from Korea) planned to invade and bomb China to get rid of East Asian communism. Another thing that threatened world peace in the 50's is the cold war between America and Russia. America and Russia 'teamed up' in World War Two to try and defeat Germany. They came at Germany from opposite sides, making every country they went through take their side instead of the other's. America and Russia have argued over many things, for example which country did the first man to land on the moon come from? America says it was them, but Russia says it was themselves. During the '50's some people thought that World War Three would break out, but in the end it didn't. Q4. In what ways did peacetime encourage economic and industrial change? People in the world had decided that they wanted the world to be free of war and be a happy place to be. It was also because the men were home from war so the women had more money and that meant that they had more money that they were allowed to spend. Q5. In what ways were the 50’s conservative? World War Two had finished about 5 years before the 50's began, but it was still taking it s toll on people in the '50's. All men had recently come back from war and home to their ladies. When the men came back the women, who had been doing the men's jobs, were fired so that men could have their jobs back. Women were urged by societal pressure to go back to being stereotypical housewives. Some did, but others began to realise that they could work just as well as men could. This began an uprising that occurred in the 1960's.

**__1960's__** Q1. In what ways were the 1960’s revolutionary? The 1960's were very different from the 1950's as less people respected authority, more teenagers started experimenting with drugs and church started being less important to certain people. People were breaking the law more often.

Q2. How did the ‘Space Race’ impact on the world? The space race was a race between America and Russia to be the first ones to get certain things into space or onto the moon. Here are the things they wanted to be the first to do and the country who ended up doing in first: - Russia won this one. They were the first to get a satellite in space to orbit the Earth. - Russia won this by sending a dog named 'Laika' into space. - Many people think America was the first country to send a man into space, but it was actually Russia. Yuri Gagarin was the first human to ever go into space, though he didn't walk on the moon. Russia also won this one. America was actually the one to win this one. An American man called Neil Armstrong was the first man to land/walk on the moon. As he placed his first foot onto the moon he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
 * To be the country the got the first satellite in space to orbit the Earth.
 * To be the first country to get a living creature into space.
 * To be the first country to get a man into space.
 * To be the first country to land a space probe on the moon.
 * To be the first country to send a man into space and have that man (or woman) walk on the moon

The space race caused some controversy between people of the world as some chose to support one of the two countries. It was also a very good thing as it opened up a wide range of opportunities and meant that lots of new technology had been invented.

Q3. What was ‘social change’? Social change was changes for the community or changes in the community. People changed the way they behaved and acted, for example kids started dressing up in more punk styles and becoming a bit naughty. Many people were unhappy with the way the country was run.

Q4. What topics were the subjects of political demonstrations? Some topics of political demonstrations were:
 * Martin Luther King started the civil rights movement
 * The Vietnam war
 * Peace and 'flower power'

**__1970's__** Q1. What was the 'Civil Rights' movement and how did it affect society? The Civil Rights movement was about equal rights and freedom for Native Americans and Aborigines. It was led by Martin Luther King and its main goal was to make //all// Americans have equal rights. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. made a revolutionary speech called 'I Have a Dream'. This is what he said: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today." The Civil Rights movement made people realise that all Americans deserved to pursue the American dream. In the early 1970's, most Americans wanted their troops in Vietnam to withdraw. Also in the early 1970's, blacks were allowed to do anything and go anywhere they wanted. Q2. What advancements were there in the women’s movement in this decade? Feminism started in the USA in the 1960's but began to rise in the 1970's. As feminism grew bigger, so did the divorce rate as women now had the right to divorce their husbands. Before 1968, women did not have the right to have permanent jobs in the public sector. Equal pay for work of equal value wasn't won until 1972. Also, before the women's movement, it was taken for granted that men should, at all times, have sexual access to their wives just because they were married. Q3. How/why did the Environment become an important issue? In the 1960's the first man landed on the moon. From this landing, pictures of Earth from space/the moon were taken. This helped make people aware of the importance of the Earth's environment. The 1970's started an affirmation of the environmental issues some early activists of the 1960's had warned of. People were more aware of the environment and more were getting worried about it, partly because more people were buying cars and so more gas was used, polluting the environment. Because all these reasons, the USA celebrated Earth Day for the first time. Also, some people started singing songs about the environment ('Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell, to name one). Fashion In The 1970's Here are some items that were fashionable during the 1970's:

**__1980's__** Q1. Why are the 1980’s seen as the ‘Me’ years? The 1980's were called the 'Me' years because people were becoming more self-centered. People wanted to do their own thing and a lot of people, especially teenagers, got the impression that they only had to think about themself. It was also because of the strength of the economy. This meant that people had more money so they spent more money on themselves. Q2. Who were the influential musicians of the 1980’s and how did they impact this era? The most influential musicians of the 1980's would have to be Madonna and Michael Jackson. They were the king and queen of pop. Many of their songs, styles and dance moves are used by artists today. They are some of the artists from the 1980's who are still popular today. Men At Work, an Australian band, were popular in the 1980's thanks to their song 'Down Under'. The American Cup is a yacht race which up until 1983 had only ever been won by Americans. In 1983, however, an Australian team won it. They used Men At Work's song 'Down Under' as their anthem because it was all about Australia (e.g. it mentions vegemite in it and also refers to the Australian culture of drinking alcohol and then having a "chunder" (being sick!). Q3. How did the removal of the Berlin Wall impact on western culture? The Berlin Wall was put up in the 1940's. It separated East and West Berlin, meaning it also separated the rich people in Berlin from the poor. It was a hard time for families as they did not get to see each other. It was especially hard for poor families as they could not go see their rich relatives for help. Many people were killed because of the Berlin Wall because if anyone tried to climb over it to the other side, which some people did, they would be shot dead by the Wall's guards. In the 1980's the Berlin Wall was finally knocked down, part of it was even physically knocked down by students. It was a great time for many people as they were reunited with their families. Germany became one country again. **__1990's__** Q1. In what ways were the 1990’s the ‘Electronic Age’? There were lots of different types of technology in the 1990's which is why it was called the 'Electronic Age'. Here are some of the things that made the '90's the 'Electronic Age':
 * The first MP3 player was invented.
 * CD burner drives were introduced.
 * Digital cameras came out in the mid-1990's.
 * Microsoft created Windows.
 * eBay came out in the 1990's.
 * Computers were upgraded.
 * Pagers were replaced by mobile phones towards the end of the era.

All these pieces of technology, which are still used today and are quite popular, and many others that were invented in the '90's were the reason that the 1990's are dubbed the 'Electronic Age'.

Q2. How did the advent of personal computers impact on language? The invention of the computer has had a big impact on spelling and grammar. In e-mails and other forms of chat features people shorten words (e.g. 'you' is spelled 'u') and spell them how they sound (e.g. 'what' is spelled 'wot'). They also use abbreviations such as BTW (by the way) and usually don't use any grammar. Here are some examples of shortened/misspelled/abbreviated words used in 'computer language': All of these words and others used in 'computer language' have a big impact on people's lives, especially children. As many children have e-mail/use chat features on their computer, lots of them use 'computer language' in their schoolwork or other pieces of writing. Although instant dictionary definitions on the internet are helpful, there are definitely negative impacts on language because of computers.
 * Before - b4
 * Got to go - g2g
 * Laugh out loud - LOL
 * Rolling on the Floor Laughing - ROFL
 * See you - cya
 * You - u
 * What - wot
 * Oh my gosh - OMG
 * Talk to you later - TTYL
 * Later - L8R
 * Are - r
 * By the way - BTW
 * I love you - ILY
 * Great - gr8

Q3. Where were the beginnings of terrorism evident? USA, NYC, World Trade Center || A bomb planted in an underground car parked at the World Trade Center || 6 killed, 1000 injured || Lima, Peru || A bomb exploded in a bus outside embassy || One killed || Karachi, Pakistan, U.S. Consulate || Murder || Two American diplomats killed || USA, Oklahoma City || Car bomb left outside a federal building || 168 killed, 600 injured || Moscow, U.S. Embassy || Rocket-propelled grenade || Minor damage || USA, train travelling between Miami and Los Angeles and derailed in Arizona || A train came off its tracks because it was deliberately destroyed. Two of the bolts on one of the joints of the track were removed. || 1 killed, 80 injured || Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, U.S. military headquarters || Bomb || 7 killed || Athens, U.S. Embassy || Anti-tank missile attack || No injuries || Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Khobar Towers || Truck bomb || 19 U.S. airmen killed || USA, Centenary Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Olympic Games. || Bomb || 2 killed, 110 injured || Karachi, Pakistan || Murder of American oil-company employees || 5 killed || Unabomber sentenced to life || Parcel bombings || 3 killed, 28 injured || Lebanon, U.S. Embassy || Rocket-propelled grenades || No injuries || Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, U.S. embassies || Simultaneous bombings || 263 killed, 5000 injured || **__2000's__** Q1. In what ways has ‘terrorism’ become a part of life? Stories of terrorism are all over the news in the 2000's. It mainly began with the attack on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001, which lead to the Afghanistan War. The Iraq war began in 2003 and there is now a lot of tension in the Middle East. The 2002 Bali bombings were another terrorist attck. The War on Terror (Terrorism) is the common term used to mean the many military, political and legal actions by the United States government which are said to be a response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. Most people believe that America having their first African-American president is a good thing, a step forward, but others disagree and go out of their way to try to put an end to Barack Obama, or other people who try to ease racial tension, or make their lives miserable. Terrorists leave their country to do terrible things, but people in the army leave their country to try and end wars/bring peace and some end up getting killed. It makes me ask myself, why would people actually want to be terrorists? Who would want to do such terrible things and why do they do it? Countries have lots of security systems in place aimed to prevent terrorism. Airports in particular have things like metal detectors that help to identify people carrying dangerous weapons. Terrorism is a terrible thing. It has caused many deaths, serious injuries and devastated families. Q2. What world events have had an impact on our lives? Here are some events in the 2000's that have impacted on our lives: . - The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which was underwater, caused a wake of deadly tsunamis on the west coast of Indonesia. - Hurricane Katrina, which is one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States.
 * ** Date, Place ** || ** Type of Attack ** || ** Deaths/Injuries ** ||
 * Feb 26 1993
 * July 1993
 * March 1995
 * April 19 1995
 * September 1995
 * Oct 1995
 * November 1995
 * February 1996
 * June 1996
 * July 1996
 * November 1997
 * May 1998
 * June 1998
 * August 1998
 * Barack Obama (pictured below) became the first African-American president of the USA. This has shown the great acceptance of all humans and that less and less people support racism.
 * The 9/11. The 9/11 is probably the biggest terrorist attack in the 2000's, or at least the most remembered/had the biggest impact on us. The 9/11 was a terrorist attack which occurred on September 11, 2001. It was a massive attack in which four planes were hijacked by Islamic extremeist terrorists. Two of the planes crashed into the World Trade Centre (Twin towers), while the other two headed for Washington. One of them crashed into the Pentagon - the main building of the US army - but the other was overtaken by the passengers. They heard about the other attacks because they had mobile phones, so they crashed their plane into the ground of a New Jersey farm. This amazing act killed everyone on the plane, but probably saved the lives of thousands in Washington: it was headed for the White House.
 * The death of the 1980's King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has made many people quite sad.
 * There have been many severe natural disasters in the 2000's, here are a couple of them:

Q3. What world events are shaping our lives now? Some events shaping our lives now are: .
 * Julia Gillard (pictured below) recently became the first female Prime Minister of Australia.
 * The war in Afghanistan is currently happening and many soldiers from all different countries are fighting in it. This war could also come under either of the two previous questions.
 * In my opinion, technology has taken over many people's lives and is definitely something that is shaping the world we live in. New inventions like the iPod (including iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano), iPhone and iPhone 4 are so popluar, they have taken over. Technology that a) has a touch screen, or b) begins with"i" is the new fad, especially thingslike the iPhone and iPhone 4 which also have internet connection. The internet, chat rooms, mobile phones, Wii, Nintendo DS, all of these are 2000's pieces of technology that I believe have made many addicted to technology.
 * Global Warming. It is a big problem, but not as much is being done about it as I believe should be.
 * The Global Financial Crisis.
 * Reality television is exceptionally popular in the 2000's. Cartoons are also quite popular among children.