Topic 2: History of the novel

Why did this book have such an impact on Americans of the 20th century and today? Here are some suggestions to get you thinking: Look for information on book reviews when it was published in 1951, link interviews with current writers that were affected by Holden and add them to your post. How did teenagers react to the book when it was first published? Why was the book banned? Are there letters readers wrote to the author? See if you can find some reasons for why this book is the most banned book and why it is so controversial.

First group post DUE: By 10PM Friday 4/1
First 2 responses due: By 10PM Tuesday 4/5

Topic 1 Post: Shane, Ace, Tyler S.

During the years of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, there were many ways that the men and women spent their days. Drinking and smoking was a big part of how adults occupied their free time. One of the most popular things to do as an adult or teen was to go to a friend’s house and party with your neighbors and do the ‘swing’, which was a popular dance at the time.  If you didn’t feel like going out to party you could go to the movies with your family. Back in this time the average price for a movie ticket was 49 cents.

Toys that were invented for children included toys such as the Tonka truck, silly putty, Candy Land, and chutes and ladders.  
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/toys.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070928155103AApvO56
-shane

If you were to compare how much people made back then to now, it wouldn’t seem like that much but really you’re almost making around the same. For example, the gas price back in the early 1950’s was 17 cents. Now, that hardly seems like anything but back then the median income for a family was only around $2950. If you wanted things such as a car or a house for your family, the cost would total to $7450 for a house and $1420 for a car.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_States
-tyler

These days’ children everywhere are constantly depending on their smart phones, ipods, and video gaming systems to keep them entertained. And very rarely do we enjoy these things with our parents and other immediate family. However, back in the days of the 1940’s to 1950’s children listened to their radios with their family for a short while, before going outside and enjoying life outside the walls of their bedrooms.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_life_like_for_a_teenager_in_the_1940s
-ACE

Topic 1 Post: Abby, AJ, Amy, Celeste

Could you remember what life was like when you were a teenager if we fast forward life fifty years from now? In this blog we revisit today fifty years from now. Imagine life in 1949 and trying to be a teenager, would life be easier or have too many rules? Teenagers back in 1949 had an approximate curfew of nine or ten at night during the weekdays. Eight out of ten boys went out to war. Teens hung out at the local discos and soda shops. If you were able to obtain a job the minimum hourly wage was $0.43. Girls in school were educated in sewing, how to do laundry, and beauty culture. On the other hand Guys were educated in hard physical education and trained for war. School was not common at this time so half the United States population did not pass the eighth grade. Teenagers had lots of slang as do teens now but our slang is very different than there’s. Here are a few examples: Pad = Home, Spaz = Klutz, Wazoo = your rear end, Cut Out = Leave, Cut the Gas = Be Quiet and Dibs = Call that (as in items).

Hobbies were a big thing back in the 1949 where people would collect antique toys, flying metal planes, stamp collecting, scrapbooking, wood working, ballroom dancing, knitting, and pen pals. Activities and be being outdoors were also big hits like hiking, hunting, horseback riding, swimming, and fishing. Most of these activities are still practiced today. Music was also a new thing and some types of common music were: classical dissonance, European influences, R & B. Some artists included: Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby and Billy Holiday. Quiz shows, radio shows and soap operas’ were also big in this era.

Families in 1949 made a median income of $3,200 on an average four person family. Women had an average of five pairs of shoes, Can you image that? I think most people now a days have well over five. Flat shoes were worn for school and went with slacks. Hats were loved among almost all women.

Please enjoy this link of a family in 1949ish and how life went about then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAvd5VqJ5og

Work Cited:

www.margise.com www.censusbureau.com www.bookrags.com

Topic 1 Post: Terryl, Cody S., Zach Bogs, Topher

Teenage life in 1949 was completely different from what it is today. We as teens now a days have jobs and school and some responsibilities but not as much as the teens in 1949 did. Teens went to school and if you were a guy you were expected to either join the army or get a job so that you could help support your family. And if you were a girl you were given more freedoms then what other girls have had in the past. Also if you had a job during 1949 the average pay is $.25 an hour. Another thing about teenage life during 1949 twas that teenagers had their own language just like teens today. They didn’t talk the same way we do but the had their own slang like cheesy, cold, chicken, cracks me up, buzz, and bust your chops. All these words have the same meaning as they do today. So when asked if Holden's language is the same language as an average teen the answer would be yes. Because during this time teenagers spoke their minds and said what the wanted to around each other. Other things during this period that is associated with the time period is that the music of the 1940’s was more of a “swing” rhythm to it. People enjoyed listening to their music because they could dance to it, and sing along. There were jukeboxes in diners and many other places of gathering, and people could play whatever song they wanted like at a redbox... only for music. Most families had radios in their houses and would listen to radio programs during the day just like we watch Television. In the evening,most radio stations would broadcast a nightly show. Families could tune in to listen to different horror stories, comical shows, and “reality” shows on the radio.

Also the entertainment of the 1940’s was rather similar to that of now days. People would listen to their radios together like we watch TV with our families. Also, these were the days of the Barnstormers. Many world War II pilots did not have anywhere to go after the war, so they turned skyward, and started giving rides to civilians in their personal aircraft. Outside of the “fun-stuff” most families helped each other out on their families farm. Also schools in the 1940’s students were called pupils instead of students. the teacher was the one in charge at the school. a lot of the schools were made out of wood. the main subjects were English, math,history and geography. The teachers were more strict and the classrooms more orderly.
And during the late 1940s and early 1950s people made around $125 a month and it increased over time until the early 50s it went up to around $700 a month.

Works cited-
http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar/slang/1940s-slang.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_life_like_for_a_teenager_in_the_1940s
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Teen_life_1950

Topic 1 Post: Kristin

In the 1950’s fashion had started some new trends. One was for women the chemise dress, which was very tight and as short has the women wanted. Many women also started to go sleeveless in 1949. Many more clothes were being made out of velvet. For men they started to wear more hats for every event of the day. Most men started wearing suits regularly.

1950’s music started with big bands and country western. Many new stars were coming out to the media including Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams. Many of these musicians also helped “black” music meet the media.

Topic 1 Post: Andrea, Caitlin, Zach Swenka, Andrew

During 1949, three major fashions trends were developed. The first one was the casual fashion. People wanted to have a more casual life style. The second one was a short, street-length evening dress. The last one was made from nylon fabric that was both woven and knitted. Silhouette was a very big thing in 1949 and so were fabrics. Women wore dresses, such as the cocktail dress, and it was ideal to have a matching jacket. The cocktail dress was essential as was suits.

The Zoot Suit was popular among younger men until the War Production Department restricted the amount of fabric available to be used. (The fabric had to be saved for the soldiers.) The same restriction led to the popular women’s convertible suit, jacket, short skirt, and blouse. Since silk stocking weren’t available, to give the illusion, women would draw a line up the back of their legs with eyeliner to mimic the look of a stocking seam.

1949 was the era of change in the music industry. Rock-n-Roll, country and western music was developing and popular. Carl Perkins created rock music and called it “Rockabilly”- a combination of country and R&B with some rock influences. The music in the 1950’s flourished because of the decade before.

A lot of the leisure time was spent dancing, or listening to music. The jitterbug dance became popular in 1949 as well as big bands (jazz groups). Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Cosby were popular singers in this era.
The language used in the book, The Catcher in the Rye, was reminiscent of 1949. Similar words and phrases were used among both.

Work Cited:
http://retro-fashion-history.com
www.thepeoplehistory.com/50music.html
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade40.html#events
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmrRwX2jmFU

Your posts as a group!

Email your researched group responses and I will post them for you. You need to do this by the end of the day today (Monday 3/28). This will make responding to other groups' work much more efficient.

Thank you!

My email: ahansen@cca.k12.ia.us

Topic 1: Historical Information

You are responsible for finding all the information you can about life in 1949. Here are some things you might want to think about: What was it like being a teenager in 1949? Holden's use of language is very distinct in the novel, is this the way most teenagers spoke at the time? How did they dress? What did they like to listen to? What occupied their time in the late '40s and early '50s? What was the median income? What was the median income for people like Holden's parents? You can include anything you want (links, information, statistics), as long as it’s connected to life in the late 1940s.

**Post your responses using the names of all of the members of your group, and don't forget to comment (individually) at least twice each week to other groups' responses.
Your first two responses (over Historical Information) to other groups' responses are due by the end of the day Wednesday 3/30.