Many social commentators, including Christians, see the 1960s as the turning point in American morals.
I disagree. Looking at some of the cultural icons in fashion and entertainment from thirty years earlier, I have discovered several trends which were already forming the minds of youth as early as the mid-thirties. My mini-thesis is that what happened in the sixties was already in the culture, already becoming main-stream.
In the past few weeks, I have been doing a little reflection on this blog on entertainment. I have been introduced to a short history of entertainment in America, and I have been truly shocked at what I have been discovering.
If one actually listens to the words of songs and follows stories, one sees the unraveling of morals much earlier than most people want to admit.
We have an idea of an America which was morally homogeneous before WWII. This is not true.
As earlier as the mid-1930s, loose sexual morality was more than hinted at in famous movies, such as the famous ones of Fred Astaire. I want to list some of the serious anti-Christian points made in movies which were supposed to be entertainment, and not serious drama since about 1935.
The reason why such a reflection is important is that the movies were aimed at taking people out of the sadness of the financial depression and also to prepare them for war, as the war effort in manufacturing began years before America actually came into WWII.
This is happening now, as people are still using movies and television to escape from the reality of the spiritual life and the reality of hardships.
Here are some of the points I have gleaned by examining some of the most popular movies of the 1930s and 1940s.
One, men were already being depicted as weak in sexual matters, and sex before marriage was strongly hinted at, if not portrayed.
Two, men did not want to get married and were frequently tricked into it by the scheming women.
Three, women and men did not reveal respectful relationships, speaking rudely with each other and being sarcastic.
Four, entertainment was being pushed within entertainment, in obvious self-promotion. How many movies actually involved stories about plays, shows, dances, etc., revealing this obsession with promoting Hollywood?
Five, marriage was based on sex and not on homemaking or children.
Six, lies in relationships were common and accepted as either cute or necessary. Lying was used to get the girl or get the man and so on.
Seven, selfishness were rewarded in men especially.
Eight, women were portrayed as having to pretend to be stupid in order to "get the guy".
Nine, yelling in movies and even arguing was considered normal in couples who were supposed to be in love.
Ten, rarely were children discussed as part of the future marriages and, in fact, many of the couples just went into show-business; see point four.
Eleven, women had to manipulate "to get the guy", either in lying, or in changing their looks or even compromising their ideals.
Twelve, romance never, never included God or a spiritual dimension.
Twelve, romance never, never included God or a spiritual dimension.
All of these American characteristics show a contempt of most of the virtues. They relationships between the couples depended on exterior beauty and sex.
Now, some readers would say these early movies were harmless. I disagree.
The formation of conscience is a delicate and steady process. The conscience needs to be cultivated with a long perspective of truth and prayer.
Sadly, in the States, billions of dollars has been spent over the last century on entertainment. Gone by the 1930s were the ideals of family, brought back briefly after the War, when people were settling down again.
I challenge readers to really listen to the words of the songs that were sung, the attitudes in the relationships, and the general atmosphere of the stories.
A culture does not suddenly decay. The process is long and complicated. I would state that several generations, before the wild sixties, engaged in watching stories which were just as damaging as those thirty years later.
to be continued....
