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Who was more influential in the 1920s and 1980s- Great persons or Civil Society? Comparison Essay: By Stacy Gibson . . The 1920s and the 1980s were times of Great Men, Event- Making Hero’s, Eventful Hero’s, and Social Determinism, which in turn had an impact of people’s lives in some way. Upon closer research, it can be seen that Even- Making Heroes were the most prominent form of influence in the 1920s and Eventful Heroes were most prominent in the 1980s. An Event-Making Hero is described by the Great Man Theory on Buchholtz/ Sidors’ Wiki page to be when “ Social change is based more on the individual than society. The individual actually can create change by creating a fork in the road. Hero’s create a fork in the road and create a new path for people to follow society” (Great Man Theory). This said, people in the 1920s like Andrew Rube Foster- organized the first ever official negro baseball league, Clara Bow- created a new look and way of life for women in the 1920s, and Charles Lindbergh- the first person ever to fly over the Atlantic Ocean can all be considered Event- Making heroes due to their new and unique change to society. Eventful Heroes are described by the Great Man Theory to be when “Social influence determines behavior. Society has set up the context for the individual to lead. All the individual does is lead. This individual is a leader by chance and they create change through chance. This individual is not born a leader; in other words, they are not a leader because of their personality. Anyone could have filled this person’s role as a leader” (Great Man Theory). In the 1980s, people like Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis- caught using steroids during the 1988 Olympics, Michael Jackson- the ‘King of Pop’, and Bill Cosby- comedian on The Cosby Show, were and still are considered Eventful Heroes due to the fact that their accomplishment were primarily a factor of society as a whole, yet still with some individual-ness thrown in. . By looking at the 1920s, it can be seen that some very significant accomplishments were made. People stepped up, out of the crowed to make a change in the society, which in return proved beneficial to a group or to all. First, Andrew Rube Foster organized the first ever official black professional baseball league which, according to Mitch N. Wiki-page, gave an “opportunity [for blacks] to professionally play baseball” (Mitch N.) when before only white men were allowed that privilege. With the black professional baseball team, people of color were able to take part in a big social event of the time period—baseball—therefore allowing the blacks to become closer with those around them. Next, Clara Bow is described on Arabella M. wiki-page to have “helped create a new culture for women with more opportunities” (Arabella M.). By introducing new styles of clothes, hair, and attitudes, Clara Bow allowed women to make a name for themselves in society by changing the status quo. Finally, Ben Clark’s Wiki-page describes Charles Lindbergh to be an aeronautical figure in America due to his successful completion of a “33 hour, nonstop flight from New York to Paris, France. . . [that] had never been done before” (Ben C.). Lindbergh shocked the world when he landed his one man plane safely in Paris, France, and showed the world that flying long distances was a possibility. . Accomplishes by Foster, Bow, and Lindbergh created lasting legacies that still remain today. By saying that an event that took place ninety years ago created a legacy that is still visible in today’s society shows that much was accomplished by that event. Foster’s accomplishment led to more black people involved in all types of sports and baseball “leagues [with blacks that] were stable, [and] players’ salaries [that] were good” (Mitch N.). Ever since Fosters creation of the league, blacks have increased their involvement in sports. Next, Clara Bow gave women the confidence that they “could do anything a man could do” (Arabella M.) and this attitude has lasted ever since. Women have been working towards obtaining higher job positions and education above that of their men accomplice’s, showing that Bow’s confidence boost has positively impacted women as a whole. Lastly, Charles Lindbergh made it possible [to travel] across the world by plane” (Ben C.). After his expedition, people’s views of air travel changes drastically as they realized, with some modifications, such as the new, advanced planes visible today, that Lindbergh’s accomplishment was a major leap in the world of technology. . After major events occur, people are influenced. In the 1920s the above events influenced multiple people in society and around the world. The creation of an official black baseball league by Foster “attracted black fans from all over the country” (Mitch N.) who supported the leagues. The black community was impacted the most from this event because they were able to merge with society through baseball. Bow’s influence of fashion influenced the “way women dressed and acted. . . [women all over] started smoking, drinking, going out to dances” (Arabella M.), wearing makeup, cutting their long hair short and going out to parties. Women everywhere began to create an identity for themselves by changing the way America saw them and by how they acted in a social environment. Lindbergh influence came in the form of technology as he became the “first mass-media celebrity” (Ben C.). After proving possible to fly over oceans, people worldwide became interested in his accomplishment and were influenced by the event because it meant that soon enough, they would be able to fly over the ocean, just like Lindbergh. . The fourth criteria for a great man, is impact on daily life. As a result of these three major events in the 1920s, daily life was impacted positively. Blacks were affected by “the determination of Rube Foster to establish a League” (Mitch N.) for African American ball players. His determination led to blacks feeling more connected with society as they became part of major social events like sports. Also, with women emerging in in society as individuals under the fashion instruction of Clara Bow, “a new culture for women with more opportunities” (Arabella M.) was created. Women everyday dressed according to fashion trends, and with their new individualistic confidence, found jobs and discovered that their talents were not limited to the home. Lastly, the effect of Charles Lindbergh’s flight from New York to Paris, France “represented the hope for new technological advancements in America” (Ben C.). As technology advances, so does people’s lives and lifestyles; in the 1920s, with the invention of a plane that could travel overseas, people realized that soon enough, traveling and communicating overseas quickly would be a possibility. . By looking at the 1980s on the other hand, it can be seen that the majority of the accomplishments made began as a society, and resulted with a few people rising above the rest to lead society along. As a result, the events accomplished by people of this decade fall best into the category of Eventful Heroes. Michal Jackson, as described in Jacob B. Wiki-page, “was a music legend who set new standards in the music world. . . [and] who transformed pop music as a solo act, becoming the first African American singer to gain mass consumer appeal” (Jacob B.). At this time, people in America were embracing the new styles of Pop music and major figures like MJ, as he was sometimes referred to, appeared out of the shadows to help the movement along. Also, comedian Bill Cosby, Part of Warmedy (warm family comedy) and the Cosby Show, is said in Arat I. Wiki-post to have originally sold The Cosby Show which “gave perspectives on the likes of people in society” (Arat I.) in the 1980s in a lighthearted manner. Through his comedic performances on the show, sitcoms gained popularity. Finally, Drug use by Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis, two trusted Olympic athletes, is said in Reyna L.’s Wiki-post to have “created a more cynical America” (Reyna L) as this use of drugs to increase their performance hurt the hearts of Americans who believed such actions were a disgrace. After America was hurt by such highly trusted athletes like Johnson and Lewis, their views towards pro athletes changed drastically. . Legacies that followed the accomplishments by MJ, Bill Cosby, Johnson, and Lewis, were not necessarily long lived due to the person himself, but were long lived due to what came as a result of the overall event. The legacies that remain do not initially refer to the individual as the creator of the legacy, but the event itself as the legacy with the person as a mere support figure. In the case of Michal Jackson, MJ “had the most impact on pop culture out of any music artist” (Jacob B.) of the time. MJ’s role as a figure of Pop music, especially as a black man featured on MTV, led to a rise of black Pop singers and in general, had a big part on culture; this said, MJ was still only a part of the legacy that Pop music as a genre left behind. Next, Sitcoms with the exception of The Cosby Show “lost their original vale [of bringing together the family] and became mostly commercial depending on its audience” (Arat I.). As time passed, sitcoms grew less and less popular and the only ones able to survive for multiple years, like The Cosby show, were strictly commercial dependent. Finally, the legacy of the Lewis and Johnson’s scandal was not widespread or lasting as an individual abuse of the no drug rule, but the use of drugs as a negative action in a pro sport was as it “changed the science behind drug testing and increased testing [for drugs] in general” (Reyna L.). After Multiple cases of drug use by NFL players in the 1980s were brought to the surface, drug testing became a popular way to ensure that athletes were not cheating their way to a gold medal. . These major events in the 1980s influenced society in ways where the entire society was affected. The influences from these events were widespread and long lasting as well. Michal Jackson and “Pop music influenced young adults [in ways that affected] what they wore and how they acted” (Jacob B.). Their influence spread worldwide as people began to change their appearance and behavior to fit in with the culture of Pop music. Shows like The Cosby Show influenced society “depending on the type of show or sitcom being shown” (Arat I.). In general, sitcoms focused on family life and how families were decidedly dysfunctional; the action of sitting down to watch such shows influenced families’ relations to each other. The influence that came as a result of the drug abuses by Johnson and Lewis revolved around “trusting sports fans [who] where shocked and disappointed” (Reyna L.) upon hearing the news. These fans were affected as trust in their favorite athletes was lost and their spirits around the love of the pure competition of the game was tarnished. . Daily life following these events changed as new styles were adapted or new traditions were made. In addition, the impact of these changes spread over the nation. MJ and Pop music “changed the music and fashion industries by introducing new wild clothes and a new variety of songs” (Jacob B.). Together these changes affected how people dressed every day and how people acted; after Pop music became popular, people gained personality and ways to express themselves. Next, “sitcoms or situation comedies. . . [brought] together the family” (Arat I.) by creating an activity families in the 1980s could do together on a regular basis, which was watching sitcoms. This action of sitting down with the family to watch a show together gave family members something they shared in common and looked forward to every week, bringing the family closer together in the end. Finally, daily life was not greatly impacted by the scandal of Johnson and Lewis, but the Olympic games itself turned out to be “the most televised Olympics. The news of the scandal spread quickly” (Reyna L.). Soon after the Olympics concluded and drug testing laws or ideas were put into place, people continued on with their everyday lives, not greatly affected by the event. . In order from greatest impact on society to smallest impact on society and its overall legacy, I would rank the 1920s topics in this order: Charles Lindbergh, Andrew Rube Foster, and Clara Bow; and the 1980s topics in this order: Michal Jackson, Bill Cosby, and Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. I feel that Lindbergh was more influential than Foster and Bow in the 1920s because his accomplishment of long distance plane travel had a worldwide impact and its legacy is long lived (Mitch N.). Foster would be second behind Lindbergh because the creation of a pro black baseball league has a long legacy of blacks involved in sports, which can still be seen today, but was not necessarily a worldwide event (Arabella M.). Third behind both Lindbergh and Foster is Bow because her influence, although big in terms of women empowerment, was not long lasting in terms of her fashion influence since fashion is constantly changing and has in fact changed multiple times since her time in history (Ben C.). In the 1980s, I listed Michal Jackson as the most influential of the three as his role in the spread of Pop music was large (he is known as “the King of Pop” for a reason), and the spread of Pop music in general was fast and furious, and Pop music is still popular today (Jacob B.). Second most influential in the 1980s in my opinion was Bill Cosby and The Cosby Show, as the act of siting with the family to watch it each week helped to bring the family together, but sitcoms themselves only lasted a few years at best (Arat I.). Third, behind both MJ and Bill Cosby, I put Ben Johnson and Clark Lewis because their poor decision to take performance enhancing drugs before the Olympics was something many athletes did behind the scenes, Johnson and Lewis were just the unlucky ones who were caught, and the impact of their choice after only impacted people who were fans of theirs (Reyna L.). Overall, in response to ‘Who was more influential in the 1920s and 1980s- Great persons or Civil Society?’ I believe Great persons or Event- Making Heroes had a bigger influence in the 1920’s, and Civil Societies or Eventful Heroes had a greater impact in the 1980s. This shift in influence from individual persons to society as a whole shows how America, as a country, has become more united as time passes. Events that happen today and in the 1980s generally impact society as a whole, while years ago in the 1920s, as the country was still working hard to make a name for itself, and brave people were required to stand up to make the change.

Arabella M. 1920s Topics: Clara Bow The “it” Girl flapper Culture. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Arat I. 1980s Topics: Warmedy (warm family comedy) and The Cosby Show. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Ben C. 1920s Topics: Charles Lindbergh Flies Non-stop from New York to Paris, France. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Great Man Theory. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Jacob B. 1980s Topics: Michal Jackson “King of Pop”. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Mitch N. 1920s Topics: National Negro Baseball League (1920-1930). Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com . Reyna L. 1980s Topics: Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis 1988 Olympics. Buchholtz/ Sidor American Studies. April 1, 2012. www.wikispaces.com RUBRIC
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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 well chosen evidence

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

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

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

•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, consistently done

•Identify the source and establish its credibility with an appositive phrase, done

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