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Comparison Essay- 1920s and 1980s After extensive research of many topics from both the 1920s and 1980s, I have concluded that civil societies were more influential than great men during the 1920s and 1980s. By using the Great Man criteria as a basis for comparison, I have concluded that in the 1920s the civil societies that best fit are RCA, Jazz, and Broadway. On the other hand, the three civil societies that I have considered to be most influential in the 1980s are Apple, CNN, and MTV. Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was created by Owen Young, by the wish of the US government to combat threatened foreign control of America’s struggling radio industry. RCA was the reason why American’s were introduced to radios during the 1920s. Radios become one of the most popular sources of entertainment during the 1920s, and “by 1922 RCA was manufacturing radios that produced sound superior in clarity and amplification to the old crystal set and earphones mounted in wooden cabinets” (Givi G). RCA would be considered more social deterministic due to the technological development of the social environment at that time. As for the legacy of the Radio Corporation of America, the company now receives outstanding achievements in music. Also, RCA invented another one of the most important parts of technology ever, the television. The television “lead people to optimism through the greatest depression our nation has ever faced even though the radio fell through to the highly insane popularity of the television” (Givi G). As for today, almost every household in America, and most around the world, either have one of RCA’s inventions, which is also why it would go under social determinism in the Great Man criteria. RCA’s influence was one of the most extensive among anything during the 1920s, because of the “600 commercial around the country” (Givi G), four years after they started, and also how popular radios became in households. Radios provided a sense of leisure and entertainment to all who listened, by broadcasting sports, music, political speeches and other interests of Americans (Givi G). Although Owen Young was very important for RCA, the company had a more extensive legacy and influence to Americans making it social deterministic under the Great Man criteria. The next topic I will be analyzing is Jazz. This new genre of music was extremely influential during the 1920s as it originated in the city of New Orleans. “In this era, music was a hit and jazz was the most important part, due to its very upbeat of slowly melodic tunes” (Arat I). This was a new style of music for Americans, and many people became fans. Today, jazz still has an important legacy, as it completely “revolutionized music” (Arat I) and is the basis for almost every genre of music today. As for Jazz’s influence on society during the 1920s, the genre “began to be played in dance halls and began to be incorporated into shows and clubs” (Arat I). Different style of Jazz started to evolve which led to more and more people listening to it every day. Jazz’s impact on the daily life of Americans consisted of expressing the culture of African-Americans, because jazz was played by more African-Americans than white people at the time (Arat I). This gave African- Americans somewhat more of an appreciation to society. Even though jazz artists, such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, were very important to the evolution of jazz, the genre was far too influential to give one or two men full credit for its existence, thus causing jazz to be a civil society among the Great Man criteria. The last topic I will be analyzing from the 1920s is Broadway. “In the 1920’s, Broadway began to explode through music and show that were able to inform the citizens of the latest news and ways of life” (Michael M). The musicals and plays let Americans get their mind off of WWI, and also let Americans have a sense of relaxation. The legacy of Broadways is tremendous. “Broadway musicals in the 1920’s were filled with some unforgettable hit songs” (Michael M) and almost one hundred years after it originated, songs are still etched into people’s memories. During the 1920s, Broadway became very popular as a source of entertainment. Broadway was intending to draw in the richest families of New York City. Instead, it “attracted rich and poor alike with its wide variety of themes, including ethnic issues and race relations” (Michael M). The 1920s brought rapid urbanization and growth in population for NYC, “ 80 theaters were built within the [Broadway] region before the 1929 stock market crash” (Michael M). Citizens of NYC used Broadway as entertainment and a way to get away from the rapid lifestyle and a way to get their minds off of the war. Broadway would be go under social determinism for the Great Man criteria because of societies importance to the association. Without the attendance of Americans at Broadway shows, the association would cease to have the legacy it does today. Also, Broadway was launched due to rapid urbanization and WWI, which were uncontrollable social causes. In the 1980s, a topic that is considered to be social deterministic would be Apple. This company was started by many people, including Steve Jobs, who came up with the idea of the personal computer. After Apple released the Macintosh, “p eople wanted more, so the Apple II was created as a personal computer” (Drew S). The Apple II was made to get people’s attention, and would not have been invented without the drive of American citizens. Today, Apple is one of the most prosperous businesses in the world. Apple’s impact on society today is that “now most every house hold had at least one computer” (Drew S). Apple hasn’t just invented PC’s, but also iPhones, iPods, and iPads. Apple had a tremendous impact on the lives of Americans during the 1980s. “The Apple II advanced everyone’s technology, not only at home but at places like the school or library as well” (Drew S). Even though their products were relatively expensive, Apple still had a significant impact on the daily lives of Americans. The Apple II “became the computer generally credited with creating the home computer market” (Drew S). Under the Great Man criteria, Apple would be considered a social deterministic force. Without the drive of the people, Apple would most likely cease to exist. Important people such as Steve Jobs weren’t interested in creating a personal computer, but since Americans were in such a need for it, Apple invested in new technology and has now landed themselves as one of the biggest companies today. The next topic that could be considered a civil society is CNN. Cable news network was the first 24-hour live-news network. “CNN was the first network to broadcast non-stop news coverage” (Me). The idea was introduced by cable news pioneer, Ted Turner, who has also came up with several other cable news stations like TBS and TNT. Today, CNN is the largest news station in cable and also on the internet. The internet “allow the people who aren’t necessarily right by a television to be able to access news right from their computer” (Me). CNN’s website can have so much traffic that the site sometimes exceeds the servers’ capabilities. CNN’s influence on Americans during the 1980s was rather positive. “ CNN added specialty news segments on business, medicine, entertainment, and politics” (Me). This allowed for breaking news segments along with specialty news segments. CNN was important to the lives of Americans as it informed them breaking news coverage 24/7. Some of CNN’s most famous news coverage’s include the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, the space shuttle crash of The Challenger, and during the 21st century, the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Even though Ted Turner was the mastermind behind CNN, I believe that the association was launched by the people. Without them, CNN would not have been as successful; therefore they are a social deterministic force under the Great Man criteria. Music Television (MTV) was former on August 1, 1981. “MTV was a television channel that featured the latest music news and thousands of music videos from all the popular bands and artists” (Zach O). MTV helped launch the popularity of many bands and was also a main source of entertainment. Today, MTV is a very prosperous and important television station for millions of Americans. The legacy helps the bands they promote keep selling record after record, years or decades after they are released. MTV’s influence on the lives of people in the 1980s was quite extensive. “People were influenced by MTV because it gave them the idea to perform music from their favorite artists as well.” (Zach O). Many bands and artists are present today because of MTV. Millions of Americans now had a new source of entertainment in music videos as people would “watch and listen to them for their enjoyment” (Zach O). Teenagers were the main focus audience for MTV, though most parents condemned the station because they thought of them to be too inappropriate. Under the Great Man criteria, MTV would go under social determinism. Once MTV was on television, the people took it and ran with it. Americans caused many bands to emerge, not one single man. For the 1920s I conclude that RCA was the most important civil society due to its long lasting legacy, along with the invention of the television. Since that is one of the most important technological advances of all time, I would rank it higher than Jazz music. The Jazz Age was an important time for the evolution of many music genres, but it did not directly affect the lives of nearly as many as RCA has. Jazz would still be more influential than Broadway though. Broadway was important to the lives of people living in NYC at the time and has quite an extensive legacy, but it still does not surpass the importance of the radio, television, and evolution of music throughout America. In the 1980s, Apple has taken 1st place as most influential. It’s legacy today, along with the impact it has on the lives of every American would cause me to rank it number 1. Apples invention of the PC, Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad are all important technological advances. CNN, on the other hand, is a close 2nd. Its 24 hour live-news coverage impacts the lives of Americans every day, bringing them breaking news right when it happens. But, it still doesn’t surpass the importance of Apple. It does surpass the importance of MTV though. MTV’s influence on television is quite extensive, due to the entertainment it provides. Unfortunately for MTV, the context CNN airs on television is considered more important in my eyes, therefore it is ranked 3rd.

Works Cited Arat I. “Jazz-Duke Ellington.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012. Drew S. “Personal Computers, Apple II and Microsoft.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012. Givi G. “RCA, Radio Corporation of America, Owen D. Young.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012.

Michael M. “Broadway, George Gershwin, Eugene O’Neil” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012.

Mitch N. “CNN, Ted Turner, cable news network.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012. Zach O. “MTV, Madonna, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 2012. RUBRIC

A quality comparison essay will

•Use the __four__ criteria of Great Man Continuum to analyze the significance of three 1920’s topics and three 1980s topics. consistently well analyzed

•Analyze of each of the 6 topics with evidence taken from the 1920s and 1980s wikis, Analysis is focus and supported by evidence

•Develop a thoughtful and thorough conclusions on all 6 topics, topics are thoughtfully considered

•Rank the three topics for each decade and explain why one topic is more influential than the other two, yes, supporting evidence is limited

•Answer the essay question with a clear, well reasoned argument, yes, clearly explained

•Explain why the __second__ choice fell short compared to the __first__ choice but is more just than the __third__ choice, yes

•Organize ideas in extended power paragraphs, inconsistently done

•Identify the source and establish its credibility with an appositive phrase, not always done

•Cite evidence with internal citations and in a Works Cited. Click links for exemplars. Sources are correctly cited 