Literary Movement and the Arts
President Eisenhower’s literary career was not well known, but he did write several books. These books include: Eisenhower’s Own Story of the War: The Complete Report by the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, on the War in Europe from the Day of Invasion to the Day of Victory; Crusade in Europe/ Sir Winston Churchill: Champion of Freedom; The White House Years; In Review, the Pictures I’ve Kept: A Concise Autobiography; The Eisenhower Diaries; and others. Eisenhower’s works were mainly about World War II and his presidency, but some of them were about his personal life. An example of how Eisenhower impacted some literature was through his writing about his personal life, such as in The Eisenhower Diaries. This connected to American literature of this time, which was mainly about social and personal life (“Eisenhower, Dwight D”).
Although some of Eisenhower’s books related to many novels written during the 1950s, most of his books were only about politics and war. Literature during this time tended to be more about social norms and about rejecting or creating middle class conformity. An example of this is a special issue of Life Magazine that was made in 1956. This magazine featured the “ideal” middle class woman as a white suburban housewife, and a mother of four, who married before age eighteen. Women were also supposed to be involved in many community activities such as church, the PTA, and dinner parties. They were also supposed to be devoted to, and serve, their husbands. Another example of conformity literature during this time is The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, written by Dr. Benjamin Spock. This book gave advice to middle class parents on raising children. The book focused on encouraging children’s qualities and skills, but not punishing them as much in order to make them fit in with the “popularity market”. Not all literature and art focused on conforming. In fact, rock and roll emerged during the post-war era, otherwise known as R&B during this time period. It became popular among white teenagers. This is significant because this type of music was only listened to by African Americans before, but became popular with white teenagers as a rebellion to conformity. Along with this, Elvis Presley became popular among white teens. He sang a mixture of gospel and country R&B rhythms. The final example of the 1950 anti-conformity was in literature. Books such as From Here to Eternity, Invisible Man, Bellow’s Dangling Man, and Seize the Day, were written to question middle class conformity. They included restless, tormented characters that had trouble with self-image (Shi and Tindall 1963-1970).
1950s Music
http://www.last.fm/tag/1950s
Questions from Reading
1. Name three books published by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
2. What was another name for R&B?
3. Why did teens begin to listen to rock and roll?
President Eisenhower’s literary career was not well known, but he did write several books. These books include: Eisenhower’s Own Story of the War: The Complete Report by the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, on the War in Europe from the Day of Invasion to the Day of Victory; Crusade in Europe/ Sir Winston Churchill: Champion of Freedom; The White House Years; In Review, the Pictures I’ve Kept: A Concise Autobiography; The Eisenhower Diaries; and others. Eisenhower’s works were mainly about World War II and his presidency, but some of them were about his personal life. An example of how Eisenhower impacted some literature was through his writing about his personal life, such as in The Eisenhower Diaries. This connected to American literature of this time, which was mainly about social and personal life (“Eisenhower, Dwight D”).
Although some of Eisenhower’s books related to many novels written during the 1950s, most of his books were only about politics and war. Literature during this time tended to be more about social norms and about rejecting or creating middle class conformity. An example of this is a special issue of Life Magazine that was made in 1956. This magazine featured the “ideal” middle class woman as a white suburban housewife, and a mother of four, who married before age eighteen. Women were also supposed to be involved in many community activities such as church, the PTA, and dinner parties. They were also supposed to be devoted to, and serve, their husbands. Another example of conformity literature during this time is The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, written by Dr. Benjamin Spock. This book gave advice to middle class parents on raising children. The book focused on encouraging children’s qualities and skills, but not punishing them as much in order to make them fit in with the “popularity market”. Not all literature and art focused on conforming. In fact, rock and roll emerged during the post-war era, otherwise known as R&B during this time period. It became popular among white teenagers. This is significant because this type of music was only listened to by African Americans before, but became popular with white teenagers as a rebellion to conformity. Along with this, Elvis Presley became popular among white teens. He sang a mixture of gospel and country R&B rhythms. The final example of the 1950 anti-conformity was in literature. Books such as From Here to Eternity, Invisible Man, Bellow’s Dangling Man, and Seize the Day, were written to question middle class conformity. They included restless, tormented characters that had trouble with self-image (Shi and Tindall 1963-1970).
1950s Music
http://www.last.fm/tag/1950s
Questions from Reading
1. Name three books published by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
2. What was another name for R&B?
3. Why did teens begin to listen to rock and roll?