American Youth Culture

American Youth Culture

The American youth culture started before World War II but began to expand and literally explode in the U.S. consumer markets after the war ended. (Lecture)   Teenagers influenced many fads and markets; such as: hairstyles, fashions, music, media, radio, television, movies, cosmetics, and automobiles. (p. 821 par.3 & 4) Due to the high birth rates in the previous years, teenagers were now in blossom and buying what their hearts desired.   “The democratic growth of teens and the postwar economic expansion created a burgeoning youth market” (p.821, par.4) Teens were working, earning their own money and spending it as they wished.   Marketing representatives banked on the fact that teenagers were a large part of the consumer markets.   Teens were buying make up, clothes, records, radios, record players, magazines, and attending movies and concerts.   (p. 821, par. 3, 4, & 5) This new found independence threatened parental control over their teenagers.   Parents felt the morals of their children were being ruined by this new American youth culture.   The music children were listening to became the blame for the lack of control.   Rock and Roll music and its artists were thought of as a dirty, immoral and sexually deviant entity that was destroying America’s youth. (p. 821, par. 6). But as the lyric is written, “Rock and Roll is Here to Stay”. (Written by David White of Danny and the Juniors).   The teen market reshaped the music industry.   Ma and Pa’s music was no longer the fad or choice of America’s youth.   The popularity of the transistor radios and car radios increased in the 1950’s as the consumer enjoyed traveling with their music.   2,700 AM radio stations were playing on America’s air waves by 1956. (p 822, par. 1)   Although the majority of the stations catered to the adult, contemporary markets, the youthful audience did have a few stations to Rock and Roll to.   Some of the recording industry followed the demands for more Rhythm and Blues (R & B) and...