Preview

Ragtime: A Reflection Of American Culture

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1080 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ragtime: A Reflection Of American Culture
When the United States was founded in 1776, it was a nation of Christian individuals. According to One Nation Under God: Religion in Contemporary American Society; “In 1776, every European American, with the exception of about 2,500 Jews, identified himself or herself as a Christian. Moreover, approximately 98 percent of the colonists were Protestants, with the remaining 1.9 percent being Roman Catholics (Kosmin&Lachman).” Although America was never established as an officially Christian nation, it is plain to see that the founding fathers and inhabitants intended for America to follow a code of morality found along the lines of the Bible. Looking at America 200 years later, its people and their culture are not where they started. According …show more content…
As Americans were seeking to develop a culture strictly of their own, away from the British influence, ragtime style music entered the scene. Ragtime was a uniquely American style of music to reflect the growing patriotism of the culture. In 1897 ragtime was popularized by composers such as Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb, bringing about a marked end to music influenced by the British. It was around this time when American culture was expanding and evolving at a rapid rate. Cultural expansion led way to flappers as well as rampant alcoholism. Flappers were women who promoted sexually promiscuous clothing and were a reflection of American culture beginning to loosen the reigns on morality. Americans were beginning to realize who they were as individuals. As a result, they began to branch out in new ways. In the early 1900’s, country, western, and riverboat music had its inception. These new genres of music defined the personal lives and culture in America. By the 1920’s, America’s culture had a greater sense of freedom and expression reflected in their …show more content…
Secular humanism is the number one belief held by the popular media. Instead of freedom of religion, there are organizations seeking freedom from religion. Prayer is no longer allowed in schools, and if someone is a Christian, they are now considered a minority. Music from the present time is the antithesis of the music that started our nation. Lyrics today are filled with profanity and the “clean” versions of some songs by popular artists could more accurately be named an “instrumental” version. Beyond the actual profanities, the overall message of today’s popular songs has shifted even further away from God. The majority of music is now centered around sex in a way that sex outside of marriage is not only accepted, but it is glorified. Women are objectified in many modern songs and are not described how one should describe a person created in the image of God. Americans have shifted away from God and their culture has followed suit. This shift in ideology has created the demand for songs with content that is being produced today. If the culture did not demand it, the music would not be
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Chastized By Scorpions By Maura Jane Farrelly
    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Summary Of Chastized By Scorpions By Maura Jane Farrelly

    Religious freedom was something America struggled to completely achieve for many years. Historians have written articles that explain why it was so hard to achieve religious freedom in America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. One of the historians was Maura Jane Farrelly, who wrote the article “American Slavery, American Freedom, American Catholicism”. In Farrelly article, she “ explores the relationship between American slavery and American Catholicism”(Farrelly, 69). Another historian would be Charles H. Lippy who wrote “Chastized by Scorpions: Christianity and Culture in Colonial South Carolina, 169-1740”. In Lippy’s article, he writes about “religious diversity and religious tolerance and how it extended to Trinitarian Christians”(Lippy, 270). Farrelly’s article was very clear and also used many primary and secondary sources, while Lippy’s article also used many sources it was not very clear and had me confused a couple of times. Which is why I would recommend Farrelly’s article instead of Lippy’s to students who are taking History-131.…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ruhangiz Rabbimova
    • 560 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ruhangiz Rabbimova

    After 1776, northern states adopted taxes that forced everyone to support Christian teachings. William G. Mcloughlin quoted Supreme Court Justice David Brewer in 1892 that” this is a Christian nation.”…

    • 560 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Did America Have A Christian Founding Analysis
    • 202 Words
    • 1 Page

    Did America Have A Christian Founding Analysis

    Mark David Hall in "Did America Have a Christian Founding?" discusses the roots of America's founding and its potential influences. Hall contends that Christian ideas were an important part of the Founders' thinking. He discusses that at the time of the founding, the Founders had three thoughts in regards to religion and its relationship to the state: religious freedom was a right to be protected, there should be no official national church but states may do so, and if states were to establish a church it would be done so as to encourage and protect Christianity as a part of the public sphere. Hall concludes that while there was definitely a religious, Christian influence on the founding of America, the founding itself was not Christian. A…

    • 202 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Alexis De Tocqueville
    • 153 Words
    • 1 Page

    Alexis De Tocqueville

    In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, "Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention.” Throughout America’s existence, religion in any form has been a principle foundation in the country. If the very reason for so many people flocking to America was to flee religious persecution, it is no surprise that these religious or spiritual beliefs would find their way into the literature of the country. This stake in America’s structure has led the rhetoric of the country to change as the country’s view on these beliefs shift between the eras. Whether it was focused on God or a general sense of spirituality, they both had an important part in shaping the ideals and morals of the…

    • 153 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Essay On The Declaration Of Independence
    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Dbq Essay On The Declaration Of Independence

    The United States was not founded upon the principles of the Christian religion. The Declaration of Independence clearly states that the Colonies are separating from British rule because of their unjust and unfair actions towards the Colonies. The Constitution and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom express how religion is free to choose and not enforced in public office. The United States was established because the people wanted to live under better conditions and constitute their own laws.…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Role Of Flappers In The 1920's
    • 2292 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Role Of Flappers In The 1920's

    The death and devastation that resulted from World War I gave birth to a rebellious mentality among American citizens who wanted to live their lives to the fullest. Flappers were a breed of new women in the 1920s that defied convention and attempted to redefine the female role. Women began to smoke cigars, test with sexual rules and disregard traditional Victorian etiquette. Prior to this era, females were governed by rigid regulations and robbed of their social, cultural and constitutional rights. The roaring 20s, a decade of cultural change, granted several females enough freedom to rebel against the submissive role that they had been subject to for centuries. Flappers received an inconceivable amount of negative and positive attention. Because…

    • 2292 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Shift In American Culture In The 1920's
    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page

    Shift In American Culture In The 1920's

    This run to the underground was also felt in fashion, with the introduction of the “Flapper” style: a woman with a bob cut and a quickly receding hemline in her skirt. And America also saw a shift in musical tastes with the proliferation of jazz (seemingly at…

    • 174 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1920s Flappers Essay
    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1920s Flappers Essay

    On the other hand, critics of the era often argued that the flapper’s influence had a negative impact on shifting social norms of the 1920s because she exhibited reckless and illegal behavior during a time of rising economic inequality and debauchery. They criticized flappers for essentially “eroding the moral fabric of society” (DiPaolo). Victorian Americans believed the rebellious women misused their new sense of social freedom by mimicking the most disgraceful habits of men: including smoking cigarettes, illegally drinking, despite Prohibition, and avoiding household responsibilities (Pick). During the Roaring 20s, the rebellious sound of jazz music influenced popular culture and flappers since it was perfect to dance to in night clubs (Pick).…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Christian Nation Response
    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Christian Nation Response

    The controversies of this question have risen numerous of opinions and views over the decade. The nation’s fundamentals in which allowed the practice of any religion without any boundaries and strains between government can and can’t be viewed as a Christian nation. The religious conservators and American Christian population uphold the idea that this nation it’s a Christian nation. This nation been raised by Christian values and ideas, values that equalize the wrights of each citizen and ideas that maintain fairness and union between each other’s. While, other liberal side of the population identify this question as contrary. Since last decades, a numerous immerging of immigrates to the United Sates lead to recognition of many different religions and believes. In addition, to a more liberal society it became more of a secular religion in which numerous of people believe this nation it’s not a Christian nation.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Ragtime Era
    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Ragtime Era

    My topic is on the dances of the Ragtime era. During this era, many dances like the cakewalk, foxtrot, charleston, moonwalk, samba, waltz, tango, and etc. all began to rise and became more trendy between the years of 1895 to 1918. This era was known for its unexpected rhythmic dance steps. In addition, it became a real entertainment system for many people around the world. Ragtime era was the influential time for early jazz as well.…

    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Religion In Colonial America
    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Religion In Colonial America

    Since the ancient times, religion has influenced the principles of society, and still continues to do so. The foundation of society and all the moral values were totally based on the religious values. During the age of colonial America, the Puritans were known for their peculiar religious ideologies on which the moral values of the society were shaped. With scientific and technological advancement in the future, the ideologies of the American people started to change. Philosophically, America underwent through a lot of changes in beliefs and ideas in religious and political terms, for which literature is more or less responsible. This change helped the nation to deal with political issues avoiding religious controversies. While each colony…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    American Identity Characteristics
    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages

    American Identity Characteristics

    Many people came to America in search of religious freedom. Colonists wanted a chance to worship freely and have a religion they wanted to take part in. When the pilgrims came to American their goal was to escape the persecution of the puritans. Later on many religions began to disperse everywhere and therefor, population began to grow in America. The Salem Witchcraft Trials, and the Great Awakening of the 1730s played a great role in influencing freedom of religion. America became a refuge for those who wanted religious freedom and became a home to the many people that had the chance to improve their lives. Overall, religious freedom is a huge aspect defining American…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Ragtime American Dream
    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Ragtime American Dream

    E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime is a story involving certain characters, each trying to find his or her place in America. Doctorow focus’s on many themes throughout the novel, however, one theme that he gives to the reader from the very beginning of the novel is the American dream. Many characters throughout the novel individually take diverse journeys in order to fulfill what they might describe as “The American Dream.” Throughout Ragtime several characters venture upon momentous journeys whether they be sensible or unwise, in order to try and achieve their personal pursuit of the American dream.…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ragtime Music
    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ragtime Music

    Ragtime was a relatively brief-lived musical form, its popularity lasting for about twenty years, but it was an essential link between earlier forms of “Negro music,” European (“classical”) music, and jazz. It was defined at the time by its then-revolutionary use of syncopation, or it’s “ragged rhythm,” which refers to its rhythmically broken up melodies. Its rhythms made it lively and springy, and therefore ideal for dancing.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Prognosis by Morris West
    • 820 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Prognosis by Morris West

    ) Judeo-Christian Ethics: When people call America a "Christian nation," they're referring to the Judeo-Christian morals that shaped our country. Our strong sense of right and wrong kept corruption to a minimum, our Protestant work ethic caused Americans to be productive, and our belief in rights given by God, not government shaped our national philosophy. Respect for Christian values is a part of the fabric of our country that goes right back to our founding. Even if many people wouldn't realize it until it is too late, an America where Christianity isn't an important part of everyday life would no longer be America in any meaningful sense.…

    • 820 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics