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Impact Of Jazz Music In The 1920's

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In the article, “Birthplace of Jazz,” Naydja Bynum writes that jazz “...is not an invention. It's alive. It grows, it dies, it changes, it stays the same” (Bynum). Many aspects of society in the 1920’s contributed to the life jazz music brought to the world and the impact it continues to have on modern music today. Post-war strains, racial segregation, and the wild, carefree life of the of the era had the greatest influence on the music of the 1920’s.
After World War I, tensions between countries around the world remained high causing many people to struggle with the stress and worries of a post war society. In fact, according to author Kimberly Elliot, “[t]he unprecedented carnage and destruction of the war stripped this generation of their illusions about democracy, peace, and prosperity, and many expressed doubt and cynicism in their artistic endeavors”. Music became a coping mechanism and distraction during this difficult period of time. For many musicians and entertainers, “...the desire for escapism and the introduction in 1915 of leave for the troops at the Front encouraged ever more elaborate entertainment, a phenomenon which continued in the immediate postwar era…” (Hewitt). Although the war brought pain to many people, it also served as inspiration for what would become some of the most popular music of the 1920’s. People sought after music not only because it helped them to cope, but because it allowed them heal: “...[T]he healing power of the blues is not so

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