The popularity of jazz music first originated in the legal red-light zone of New Orleans, Storyville (Kurtz, 1986). Jazz orchestras and bands formed and were hired to perform at nightclubs, ballrooms, and dance halls around East Coast of USA. The technological advancement of radio broadcast facilitated the popularisation of this essentially Afro- American style of music in the predominantly white community of North America.
“Jazz age” has become a somewhat synonym of the “Roaring Twenties”, characterized by ‘a radical departure from the past and which fostered social attitudes challenging those traditionally upheld’ (Kurtz, 1986). …show more content…
The symbolic meanings of nerve-stimulation, challenging on morals, and even sex-excitement, carried can be traced from the initial meaning of sex intercourse of “jazz” as a slang (Kurtz, 1986). These are mainly accountable to the liberty guaranteed by the syncopation and improvisation in jazz music and dance. These elements were regarded as breakthrough from the classical music which makes more relevance to rules and traditions.
The critique on jazz culture, nevertheless, did not stop the young people from engaging in the jazz culture as a showcase of their “successful life” in the economic prosperity. Jazz music was one of the many outputs of people in the “Roaring Twenties” where the profound energy and carefreeness from their materialistic lifestyle were well …show more content…
McCoy (1973) stated in his introductory chapter that the female labour force of USA almost doubled in 20 years of time, from 4,999,000 in 1900 to 8,229,000 in 1920. New occupational opportunities were opened to women after First World War due to technological advances, as well as the gradually accepted recognition of women’s abilities in aspects other than domestic works. The labels of women as “passive”, “inferior”, and “conservative” started to diminish. The implication of women’s independence in consumerism is significant in 1920’s America. The addition of women in the labour force increased the range and jobs available and possible during the economic growth. For instance, telephone operators were much favourable to women than men during the time the industry grew rapidly. Education and healthcare sectors also saw a great influx of female working forces. With the growth in productivity coming along with advancing technologies, an unprecedented way of living was nurtured in USA in