1950's Culture Presentations
(Semester II, 2001-2002)

The 1950's winessed dramatic changes in popular culture. Rock and roll, bringing together African-American blues, Southern hillbilly, and even gospel created vibrant new sounds that excited teens and worried parents. At the same time televison entered the American home, and more traditional forms of popular culture, like movies, were threatened by this new accessible medium. The film industry's responses ranged from the moral reform to courting the teen market.

Working in smalls groups, the Amcon 202 class created 15 minute presentations on key topics of 1950's pop culture: Elvis, Chuck Berry, American Bandstand, the Hollywood Black List, Teen Movies, and Sitcoms. The presentations provided basic information on the subject, an explanation on the subject's larger signifance in relation to American ideas of individualism, freedom, and happiness, and included a discussion of the subject in terms of commercialism, audience, and access.

The Black List


Left, L-R: Annie Olson & Adam Magill

Right, L-R: Dan Nelson & Adam Magill


A depiction of the House of Un-American Activities Committee


Teen Movies

Left, L-R: Pam Parnell & Ryan Shiek

Right, L-R: Gretchen Riewe & Zac Smeltzer


Teens working on the "night moves" at the theater and the drive in.


Sitcoms

Left, L-R: Kristin Williams, Blanke Wanger, & Kate Vanderkooi

Right, L-R: Bre Thornton, Kristin Williams, & Blake Wanger


The CBS execs decide to air the new sitcom "I Love Lucy."


Above, L-R: Bre Thornton, Kristin Williams, Blanke Wanger, Kate Vanderkooi, & Lauren Wendt



1960's Multimedia Presentations

(Semester II, 2001-2002)

Working in groups of 5-6, Amcon202 students constructed 30 minute presentations which addressed the historical and cultural significance of different 1960s' subjects (i.e. Haight-Ashbury, the Greatful Dead, Woodstock, Communes, the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and the Miss America Pageant Protest). The presentations utilized multimedia such as handouts, transparencies, music, posters, photographs, cd's, video clips, and objects appropriate to the period.

Woodstock

Above, L-R: Bobby Klein, Kate Humrickhouse, Marc Hardenack, & Stacey Soland.

The hippies watch Woodstock's opening act.



Above, L-R: Bobby Klein & Marc Hardenack

Creedence Clearwater Revival belts out "Proud Mary."



Above, L-R: Kate Humrickhouse, Stacey Soland, Dan Nelson, Marc Hardenack, & Bobby Klein

Someone distributes the acid laced kool-aid.


Communes

Above, L-R: Adam Magill, Jake Huseby, Alex Hontos, Ryan Shiek, Rafe Anders, & Lauren Wendt

The Dating Game: Communes edition. Eligible bachelors from four different communes (religious commune, urban commune, rural commune, and the Merry Pranksters) all vie for the attention of the lovely, single Mary Jane.


Above, L-R: Rafe Anders, Adam Magill, Ryan Shiek, & Jake Huseby

Zachias the Tall tells the audience about his favorite "drug", Jesus.




Above, L-R: Lauren Wendt & Alex Hontos

Oh, look at that happy couple! Mary Jane chooses bachelor #2, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (aka "Twiggy"), the suitor from the rural commune.

1968 Democratic National Convention

Above, L-R: Kate Van der Kooi, Bre Thornton, Carrie Burton,& Eleni Pinnow

The Chicago police moves in and beats the protesters with clubs.



Above, L-R: Kate Van der Kooi

Kate enlightens the class with pictures of the protests.


Miss America Pageant Protest

Above, L-R: Melissa Hinderscheit, Kristin Williams, & Gretchen Riewe

Feminists stage a protest outside the Miss America Pageant.


Above, L-R: Gretchen Riewe, Laura Kiel, & Kristin Williams

Because the protesters felt that the pageant was a "meat market," they crown a sheep queen.



Above, L-R: Gretchen Riewe, Laura Kiel, & Kristin Williams

Protesters throw away the the tools used to oppress women.