Here are a few clips to get us into the mindset of a typical 1950s movie goer. These films are samples of the predominantly reactionary attitudes of the 1950s. These reactionary attitudes favored themes such as the following:
- Conservatism
- Pro-military attitudes
- Traditional values
- Fear (outsiders, homosexuals, communism, atomic fallout, the unknown)
- Knowledge as a potential danger
Keep in mind that a progressive film, such as A Streetcar Named Desire, would by their very nature wish to question these ideals.
Some terms to remember: A reactionary is a person who holds political viewpoints that favor a return to a previous state (the status quo) in a society. A progressive is a person who advocates or favors gradual social, political, and economic change (reform).
Some terms to remember: A reactionary is a person who holds political viewpoints that favor a return to a previous state (the status quo) in a society. A progressive is a person who advocates or favors gradual social, political, and economic change (reform).
Appreciating Our Parents (1950)
Duck and Cover (1951)
Soapy the Germ Fighter (1951)
Drug Addiction (1950)
Leave it to Beaver (1959)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
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