Crashing into the past: Times Square then and now / Photoshopper: Thian Armenia
Many of us look back fondly on the roaring ‘20s with its booming economy, emerging jazz music, and of course, the Charleston. After all, who could resist the flapper styles and developing industrialization? Movies and books alike have raked in millions on their glamorous depictions of the fun, carefree era. Looking back, we might ask ourselves, what happened to the dropped waistlines and calf-length dresses? What happened to the jazz clubs and smoking rooms? What happened to the bobbed hair and the sharply-painted cupid bows? The answer is, of course, time. It is hard to believe that it has only been a century since the 1920s. In the grand scheme of things, 100 years is not a long time, yet if we compare the society and culture of the “roaring ‘20s” with ours today, there has been an astonishing amount of change. So, in honor of 1920, I say let’s revive some of its classic trends for the year 2020.
One of the most notable tropes of the roaring ‘20s is its fashion. The pale skin and thin eyebrows of the time were modeled after popular black and white film stars. Although you may not be ready to commit to plucking off your eyebrows, I highly recommend using a mixture of bleach and ammonia to lighten your hair. For your figure, although it may be difficult to find one today, the best solution to lose weight is to purchase a rubber garment, to help you sweat excess fat off. And finally, I propose we do away with modern razors, and bring back x-rays! Yes, you heard me right, x-rays are a very efficient and completely harmless method of hair removal popularized during the 1920s.
The 1920s ended with the stock market crashing, paving the way for the Great Depression. Soon after, World War II began. After analyzing the mental states of my fellow high schoolers, I suggest that the next great depression has come a decade or so early. Our current president seems to agree with me, taking a step further in this centurial repetition by provoking the start of a third world war.
When interviewing one of the students here at OIHS about my plan to revive the trends of the early and mid 1900s, she replied, “no way! That’s a horrible idea!” I believe this student is in the minority concerning her stance on this topic, so I will continue to encourage everyone to chop off their hair, lower their waistlines, and start learning the Charleston. The roaring 20s are back!
Join us again next week when we will be discussing the revival of blatant sexism, racism, and homophobia.