The 1960’s is one of the high points of the American culture. Still riding off of the WWII production boom, The United States of America was as powerful as ever. They had a prominent and distinguishing fashion, the Civil Rights Movement took place, music swept the nation, we landed on the moon, and classic comedy from The Producers to The Three Stooges was a hoot. The comedy is the most important quality of all because it defines the hardiness and the pride of the society. Americans watching a musical glorifying Nazis, who murdered thousands of their fathers, and still managing to laugh is a testament to the great American pride and strength. Nowadays, Americans feel touchy on virtually every modern political argument there is to have . America isn’t laughing at itself anymore; it’s too tense, and this is why we’re so divided and paralyzed as a nation. If there was one society that knew how to laugh at itself, it was ancient Greece – specifically, ancient Greece in the time of Lysistrata1. Lysistrata remains famous all of these …show more content…
This oligarchy, run by four-hundred men, had power over Athens. This power, as so in all governments, serves to distinguish these four-hundred men from the rest of Athens, as if to place them in a higher caste. In this, comedy is essential in reminding the Athenians these four-hundred rulers also want sex and have human needs. Comedy humanizes the oligarchy, making them more understandable and reducing fear and improving understanding amongst the people, reducing political tension. As well, as the oligarchy receives word of comedic works like Lysistrata, they are reminded of their humanity, and so they become more empathetic, less egotistical, and less close-minded as leaders. The political machine, as a result of comedy, runs smoother because every person involved understands each other and is more willing to
In the 1960’s television and music experienced many changes. Music experienced new artists, different genres and exciting musical festivals. Television introduced different genres that range from daytime talk shows to sitcoms that portrayed the average American family. During this time period America improved in a lot of ways due to the music that people listened to and the television shows that were aired.
The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil
When most people think of the 1950’s or 1960’s, they think of Elvis, Greasers, jukeboxes, Woodstock, and rainbow peace signs and hippie love. Although these symbols are somewhat accurate (and very popular), not many people think about the changes society and culture went through. The 1950’s and 60’s were a time of great change and freedom for many Americans. Everything from World War II, to the gay liberation movement, to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped to change society. Many of the views American’s had on topics such as war, gender roles and sexual preference were changed greatly after these events and have led to our culture being what it is today. The 1950’s and 1960’s were a time where great changes took place that helped to
For Americans, the 1960’s were a time of both unnerving turmoil and exciting change. Following on the heels of the 1950’s themes of tradition and conformity, the contrasting events and attitudes in the sixties constituted a perfect storm leading to a reconstruction of American social, cultural, and political ideals. Although each decade has experienced identifying features, events occurring during the sixties provided for a definitive coming of age era for the United States. While much of this revolution can be attributed to the events themselves, the medium used for disseminating these ideas bears some of the responsibility. Throughout the decade television replaced radio and newspaper as the primary source of news and entertainment.
The 1960’s was one of the most controversial decades in American history because of not only the Vietnam War, but there was an outbreak of protests involving civil and social conditions all across college campuses. These protests have been taken to the extent where people either have died or have been seriously injured. However, during the 1960’s, America saw a popular form of art known as protest music, which responded to the social turmoil of that era, from the civil rights movement to the war in Vietnam. A veritable pantheon of musicians, such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan sang their songs to encourage union organizers to protest the inequities of their time, creating a diverse variety of popular
Satire is a literary manner built on wit and humor with a critical attitude directed to human institutions and humanity. A successful satiric play will show certain truths about society and then try to improve upon them. Satire is meant to be constructive rather than destructive. Aristophanes uses satire in Lysistrata to convey many different themes such as war and peace, the struggles of power and class, and the life and death issues that are seen in war. Satire is successfully used and seen in Lysistrata by stereotyping women in general and then the different classes of women as well. Double entendres are seen throughout the play to help add humor to the play. Sex is
The 1960s was crammed full of many impacting events and important figures. From Hitchcock releasing one of the greatest thrillers of all time, Psycho, to Marilyn Monroe’s untimely death, to the infamous Woodstock festival. This era changed history completely and made the United States think twice about its youth. Events of the 1960s are still impacting our country as we know it today. The sudden pull from the conservative ‘50s changed America’s views on all aspects of life, including fashion, entertainment, and lifestyles.
The humor within the play comes from the idea of women dominating in a male-dominated society. With “this couldn’t happen” is the idea of comedy in Greek society, it's easy to see that the entire play revolved around a humorous idea. Aristophanes used the tradition of women being inferior created by Hesiod in a comedic way throughout the entire playwright. Hesiod lays the foundation of what a women’s part in society is; women are to play the part of being a housewife, cooking and cleaning, taking care of the children, sexually pleasing their loved one or husband, and attending the household duties were their main objectives. In “Lysistrata” we see that Lysistrata has the ability lead an assembly of women
Irony and double entendre is shown throughout the play of ‘Lysistrata’ to represent the theme of
Lysistrata by Aristophanes is seen to be a comical play used to show the impact of war not only on the ones physically in the war, but the ones mentally involved also. This play was written to help express the feeling the author had about the war occurring during the time the work was written. Lysistrata, the main character, is a strong woman who decides to become as what could be said as being “rebellious”. She does this by refusing to have sexual relations with the men in the city until it was agreed that peace would be declared between the two troops. She calls a meeting with the women in the city and include them in her vindictive ideas to bring the war to an end. This play is sure to bring a smile to the readers face due to the comical events that occur. However, comedy is not the only thing that becomes apparent within the play. Throughout the work of Lysistrata there are three themes that become apparent during this play: peace and harmony, control by gender, and politics.
During the 5th century BCE, Old Comedy was the most prevalent comedic form in Ancient Greece. This was largely due to the success of Athenian playwright, Aristophanes. His plays were frenetic, visual and personal, often containing historical figures. In particular, Aristophanes’ comedies contained automatist utopian themes that were used to satirize various aspects of 5th century Greece, often in Athens. The present essay will first define utopia and the automatist subtype. Then it will explore Aristophanes’ usage of automatist utopian themes in his plays Acharnians and Peace. Specifically, this paper will argue that Aristophanes used themes associated with automatist utopia to satirize war, the excess of the aristocracy, and the ignorance of the lower classes in 5th century Greece.
The 1950’s and early 1960’s was a time of consensus in the US. By the middle of the 60’s the US experienced a series of shocks which undermined consensus. The assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas in 1963. The differences in the civil rights movement. The escalation of the Vietnam War. All of these factors undermined American confidence to change the world and improve the country. By the late 60’s, US society was polarised: divided between different viewpoints: Youth culture; counter-culture, and multiculturism.
The Iliad is the first written document, of anything. Never before the Iliad was the tool of writing used to such an extent. The Iliad is a marvelous piece of work. Great in its fame and content, the Iliad was used as the first historical text, philosophical writing, and storybook. Historians use it for an account of an era. Philosophers use it as one of the basis of human thought. To children, it is a wonderful story of battles between man and their gods. It is a writing of many uses. One such use of the Iliad is that it is an illustration of humanity. It is an illustration that a man or womans life exists with conflict. The Iliad illustrates that it is human nature to create and live with conflicts, whether by
The Frogs contains the largest number of references to the poet's function as an adviser. The world of Aristophanes' comedies is mainly one of fantasy, where free men carry private peaces in wineskins or fly to Zeus on a dungbeetle, women take control of the state, and a slave rides down to Hades on a donkey(18). But Aristophanes focus in The Frogs is on contemporary politics of real world. The purpose of The Frogs is to bring reform in Athenian society by satirizing contemporary politics and political leaders.
During 405 BC, Athens was demoralized by the effect of war, and democracy had taken birth in their society. Peloponnesian war was an ongoing issue and Athenian people had lost their heroes such as Pericles. Among his eleven surviving comedies The Frogs was basically concerned with morality and amalgamation of subtle lyricism and crude lewdness. Comedy is flexible genre and has ability to mold the situation and events to show the other side of reality. Comedy allows to cross the limits and to see the picture with entirely different angle. The Frogs is a reflection of social and political life of Athens in fifth