1950s Consumer Culture

What is Consumerism

• The buying and selling of Consumer goods and products?

• The act of consuming things

• The advertising of products to Americans

• The rise of the American Shopping Mall

What trends in spending did the decade of the 1950s see?

• Post War Americans had a large amount of money to spend

• Real Income of the average American rose significantly

• Americans began shopping at large suburban shopping centers, not urban shopping districts

• All Americans were able to purchase homes in Suburban areas

What was the American Dream of the 1950s?

• Purchasing a home in the Suburbs

• The Nuclear Family: Married Couple, 2 kids, and a dog

• Purchasing a home in the city

• Living with or close to your extended family, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins

How did increase use of credit spending impact the 1950s?

• Allowed buyers to purchase new and exciting products

• Led the banks to future failure

• People were more careful about their spending

• Made people less optimistic about the future

True or False: Mass Media and Advertisements in magazines saw a decrease in American spending

• True

• False

Analyze the Ad!

Who is the target audience of this Advertisement?

• Women

• Men

• Children

• Everyone

Analyze the Ad!

What is the slogan used in the following Advertisement?

• Let's have a 'COKE'!

• Coca-Cola is refreshment for everyone

• It's always the right time for a Coke!

• Enjoy Coke!

Analyze the Ad!

Who is the target audience of this Advertisement?

• Women

• Men

• Children

• Everyone

Analyze the Ad!

What is this advertisement trying to sell?

• Dodge Cars

• Women's Coats

• 1950s Drive-ins

• Ford Trucks

Analyze the Ad!

Identify the TWO (2) techniques used in this Advertisements

• Witty Slogans

• Appealing and Relatable Images

• Standards for Beauty and Wealth

• Showing products as "NEEDED"