Sign Up
School Account Sign Up
Contributor: Nathan Murphy. Lesson ID: 13505
Dive into the 1950s teen revolution! Explore how music and new consumer trends shaped youth culture. Compare retro ads to today's and see how teenage life has evolved from rebellion to influence.
Imagine you're a teenager in the 1950s. For the first time, you've got money in your pocket, free time to enjoy, and music that's shaking up the world.
After WWII, the booming economy brought prosperity, giving families extra cash to spend. Teenagers, once expected to blend in, started standing out. They became trendsetters, influencing fashion and music, and businesses quickly took notice, creating a market just for them.
Watch this short clip from Elvis Presley's 1956 TV appearance. Notice how his energy, style, and attitude capture the rebellious spirit of the era.
The 1950s were a time of change. Young people began questioning their parents' norms. They didn't just follow the rules — they pushed boundaries.
Rock and roll wasn't just music; it was the anthem of a generation redefining youth.
Explore how this era set the stage for the counter-culture movements that followed and how teenagers became a powerful force in society.
Rise of Middle America
Before the post-war boom, teenagers weren't seen as a critical demographic. They had little money and weren't targeted by advertisers or entertainment.
But after WWII, prosperity brought more wealth to American families, allowing teenagers to get higher-paying jobs and receive allowances like never before. This newfound spending power made teenagers a prime target for businesses.
Movies like the 1955 classic Rebel Without a Cause started catering to them. Starring James Dean, this film spoke directly to teenagers, portraying their struggles and desire for independence.
Watch this Rebel Without a Cause scene and notice how James Dean's character reflects the era's teenage angst.
The prosperity of the 1950s gave teenagers more freedom, but it also created a disconnect with their parents, making them the perfect target for companies looking to profit from their rebellion.
Rock and Roll
As teenagers drifted from their parent's values, they embraced a new sound: rock and roll.
This music, rooted in African American rhythm and blues, symbolized teenage rebellion. Record companies saw the potential and began marketing what they called "Black music" to white suburban teens, leading to the rise of rock-and-roll icons like Elvis Presley.
Despite its popularity, rock and roll was controversial. Older generations viewed it as crass, and even preachers condemned its influence.
Watch this clip of Reverend Jimmy Snow discussing the evil of rock and roll.
One of the significant fears during the rise of rock and roll was that it would lead to racial mixing, with young black and white kids coming together over this new, rhythmic music.
Many suburban parents were alarmed by the idea of their children interacting across racial lines, reflecting a deep-rooted history of racial tension in America.
Literature
Much like movies and music, literature began speaking directly to teenagers.
The Catcher in the Rye resonated with a generation that felt misunderstood by parents who had lived through the Great Depression and WWII. The novel's protagonist, Holden Caulfield, famously calls out the "phonies" around him.
Read these excerpts and see if you relate to Holden's view of the world.
You never saw so many phonies in all your life, everybody . . . talking about the play so that everybody could hear and know how sharp they were. . .You should've seen the way they said hello. . . It was nauseating. The funny part was, they probably met each other just once, at some phony party.
I'm always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.
If you sat around there long enough and heard all the phonies applauding and all, you got to hate everybody in the world, I swear you did.
This book faced backlash like Rebel Without a Cause and rock and roll. But despite being challenged, these forms of entertainment paved the way for a new, youth-focused culture in the 1950s.
Move to the Got It? section to explore how advertisers tapped into this emerging youth market and transformed it into a powerful consumer force.
FAVORITE
Like