For the average American today, it is difficult to think about a life without cars. Not only are they essential to the daily lives of most Americans, but they have also become a cultural symbol in our country. The automobile has engrained itself in the American way of life in several different ways, and much of this began during the changing automobile culture of the 1950s.
As I mentioned in the previous post, suburbanization resulted partially because of the Interstate Highway system, and it led a cultural revolution in the United States. Families began settling in suburban neighborhoods, and the vast majority of these families owned a car that they used to commute to work, go to the store, or take a family road trip along Route 66. These ideas have become commonplace in our society today, and they are all a result of the automobile becoming a staple of the American lifestyle.
The cultural effects of the automobile were reflected in all parts of society. In the 1950s, drive in movie theaters became popular, fast food restaurants with drive thrus were a new phenomenon, and “taking a drive” became a relaxing weekend activity. As the highway systems expanded, advertisements popped up along the roadways and furthered the consumer culture ideology that exploded during the 50s (Martin, 1997).
Automobiles also became a form of personal expression for many people. With more styling options and a wider variety of designs and colors becoming available during the post-war automobile boom, the type of car a person owned was a way for them to demonstrate their personality (Veitch, 1994). This is just a true today as it was 60 years ago, with car fanatics all around the country taking an interest in cars as a hobby. Automobiles even began to evolve into a competitive outlet, and drag races and hot rod competitions became popular events. This tradition has lived on, and today NASCAR is the second most popular spectator sport in the country.
Today, it’s impossible to imagine where our country would be without automobiles. They have become such an integral part of the American identity and way of life that it’s difficult to think about a time where they didn’t have such influence. Many of the modern impacts of the automobile—as a form of personal expression, as a necessity to the American lifestyle, and as a popular sport—began in the 1950s.
Citations:
Veitch, Jonathan. "Angels Of The Assembly Line: The Dream Machines Of The Fifties." Southwest Review 79.4 (1994): 650.Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.
Martin, Richard. "Fashion and the Car in the 1950s." Journal of American Culture 20.3 (1997): 51-66. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.
As I mentioned in the previous post, suburbanization resulted partially because of the Interstate Highway system, and it led a cultural revolution in the United States. Families began settling in suburban neighborhoods, and the vast majority of these families owned a car that they used to commute to work, go to the store, or take a family road trip along Route 66. These ideas have become commonplace in our society today, and they are all a result of the automobile becoming a staple of the American lifestyle.
The cultural effects of the automobile were reflected in all parts of society. In the 1950s, drive in movie theaters became popular, fast food restaurants with drive thrus were a new phenomenon, and “taking a drive” became a relaxing weekend activity. As the highway systems expanded, advertisements popped up along the roadways and furthered the consumer culture ideology that exploded during the 50s (Martin, 1997).
Automobiles also became a form of personal expression for many people. With more styling options and a wider variety of designs and colors becoming available during the post-war automobile boom, the type of car a person owned was a way for them to demonstrate their personality (Veitch, 1994). This is just a true today as it was 60 years ago, with car fanatics all around the country taking an interest in cars as a hobby. Automobiles even began to evolve into a competitive outlet, and drag races and hot rod competitions became popular events. This tradition has lived on, and today NASCAR is the second most popular spectator sport in the country.
Today, it’s impossible to imagine where our country would be without automobiles. They have become such an integral part of the American identity and way of life that it’s difficult to think about a time where they didn’t have such influence. Many of the modern impacts of the automobile—as a form of personal expression, as a necessity to the American lifestyle, and as a popular sport—began in the 1950s.
Citations:
Veitch, Jonathan. "Angels Of The Assembly Line: The Dream Machines Of The Fifties." Southwest Review 79.4 (1994): 650.Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.
Martin, Richard. "Fashion and the Car in the 1950s." Journal of American Culture 20.3 (1997): 51-66. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.