‘20/’20 Vision:

America Through
the Ages
A Contextual Introduction to The
Great Gatsby
1920s slang—how many have you used?
baloney
belly laugh
Bible Belt
Bronx cheer
blind date
bunk (insult)
crush (romantic)
fall guy
gold digger
goofy
kiddo
lousy
pushover
raspberry (insulting gesture)
scram
screwy
sex appeal
swell
1917: America
enters World War I
• 40 million estimated
casualties across entire war
period (1914-1918)
• Popularizes use of trench
warfare and chemical
warfare (esp. mustard gas)
• Shatters old worldviews of
order and tradition
1918-1920: Flu pandemic
hits US & rest of world

•First cases discovered in Kansas

•Spread from soldiers returning
home after traveling across world
•Estimated 50 million deaths
(>600,000 in US)
1919: 18th Amendment
(Prohibition) is ratified
•Conclusion of decades-long temperance movement
•Bans alcohol manufacturing, distribution, and sales
•Will later be repealed by 21st Amendment
Bootlegging

• Illegal manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcohol

• Black market arises for alcohol, replete with organized crime syndicates (mob leaders, gangs, etc)
Speakeasy

•Club or store established to illegally sell alcohol during Prohibition

Flapper

•women who rebelled against old cultural norms with their distinctive hairstyles, fashion, and partying
behavior
Jazz Age
•Music genre becomes popular
•Represents youth, excitement,
rebellion against musical tradition
in USA
•Key terms: swing, polyrhythm, call-
and-response, improvisation
Colorized 1920s footage
Playlist of songs mentioned in The Great Gatsby