To gain further understanding
of this period to aid my character design, I wanted to gather some outside story information differing from the book. Even though this may not be particularly relevant, I decided to research the 20s in America. The information I collected gave me more knowledge of
these liberal years, known as ‘the roaring 20s’. I found a few interesting
statements in the book ‘Fashions of the Roaring ‘20s’ (1996) by Ellie Laubner.
Firstly, how in the U.S. the sale of alcohol was prohibited, making matters
worse, resulting in illegal “rum running” and cheaper access to alcohol. The
way in which people were described has produced a strong image, reminding me of the scenes of the Baz Luhrmann version of the F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great
Gatsby’, “It was the era of the First Youth Rebellion. Once boys tried to be
paragons of gallantry, industry and idealism, girls had aspired to seem modest
and maidenly. Now all that had changed”, “Young people were ‘hell bent’ having
a ‘swell’ time!” The change of behaviour had become very apparent. People were living their lives in what it appears to be one massive party! The change here was not only in behaviour, but also in fashion.
Clara Bow “the ‘It Girl’ of 1920s” seemed to be a notable figure in American
fashion icons of this period and “set the standard of feminine beauty” during this time. Women “emulated her bobbed hair, pencil
thin eyebrows, and dark red ‘cupid’s bow’ lips”. There was a strong sense of
androgyny during the 20s in America which has been described as “a reflection
of women’s desire to compete with men in many aspects of their lives”.
Ellie Laubner, 1996, Fashions of the Roaring ‘20s
Ellie Laubner, 1996, Fashions of the Roaring ‘20s
“In the 1920s, a new woman was born. She smoked, drank, danced, and voted. She cut her hair, wore make-up, and went to petting parties. She was giddy and took risks. She was a flapper.” – Jennifer Rosenberg (2011)
Gabriella Pastor, Chelsea Mageland, &
Sarah Findley, History of Human Sexuality
in Western Culture, viewed 03.12.14, Available at: http://historyofsexuality.umwblogs.org/topic-1/early-1900s/roaring-20s/
Viewed 03.12.14 [online image] Available at: http://historyofsexuality.umwblogs.org/topic-1/early-1900s/roaring-20s/
This androgyny was not just fashionable in the U.S, but it was also highly apparent in Berlin. In ‘Berlin in the 20s’
(2007) by Rainer Metzger, we also see many references to the same topic.
“These were the years of undisguised androgyny; of redefining the
roles of men and women; and of constantly changing sexual preferences; the true
sexual identity hidden, but the sexual identity of choice was paraded in a
desire to shock and entice.”
What to wear
for a 1920s party or wedding: part 1, October 29, 2010,
Charlestondance's Blog, viewed
03.12.14. Available at: https://charlestondance.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/what-to-wear-for-a-1920s-party-or-wedding-part-1/
This leads me to discuss
Josephine Baker, described as “one of the top acts on the nightclub scene”. She
wore her hair slick and short yet openly displayed her feminine and naked
physique.
“She was exotic with her black skin, primitive in her banana
skirt, feminine in her nakedness, boyish with her short haircut, and artificial
with all her wigs.”
The late 1920's to the early 1930's was an era of confused liberation. Alcohol, drugs, partying and wild behaviour was happening all over the world during a time of uncertainty and war. Sex and loose sexual behaviour was very free flowing and open, yet women were fighting for recognition, and to be less dominated by men and society. Women would chose methods of hair, make-up and fashion to convey this message, and chose to present themselves in an androgynous way to almost mimic men. They took the 'if you can't beat them, join them' approach.
Rainer Metzger, 2007, Berlin in the 20s - Art and Culture 1918-1933, Thames & Hudson
Ellie Laubner, 1996, Fashions of the Roaring '20s, Schiffer Publishing
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