1.1 Modern mass society

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towards WW1

1.1 modern mass society 

Learning objectives

1. You can explain what characterizes mass society 
2. You can describe what developments European industry experienced 
3. You can name some important social and cultural changers around 1900

Society around 1900 

By the 19th century, Europe had changed dramatically.

-Populations had grown

-Cities had grown

-There were new, faster means of transportation, the train, subway, streetcar and later the automobile

-There were new means of communication such as radio and film

- Industrial and technological advantage 

first full cartoon in movie theatres (1928) 

Society around 1900

These inventions made it possible to reach a very large group of people at once. 

Film and radio are examples of mass media because of this.

This led to a modern mass society.

La belle époque

People saw life very positively around 1900 and had high hopes for the 20th century.

Causes:

- people were getting more and more of a say in politics

- people could buy more through the consumer society

- because of all the new inventions they could get much more information

the new inventions made life easier

   Example: electricity, vacuum cleaners, record players or washing machines

La belle époque

However, many people did not realize that this period also had bad sides.

- environmental pollution by industry

- industrialization brought new weapons to the market, which could be produced on a much larger, and cheaper, scale

             Examples: machine guns or poisonous gas

vacuum cleaner (1928)

Around 1900, a modern mass society emerged. What do you think, are we still living in a mass society? Give an argument.

Socio-cultural changes

With urbanization, people developed a new kind of freedom, because in the city you are more anonymous.

Consequences:

a. Women became more independent due to new kind of jobs → growth of emancipation

b. Secularization due to rise of political movements such as socialism

c. New interest in art: Rise of abstract art 

Piet Mondriaan

Kandinsky

Theo van Doesburg

Gerrit

Rietveld

Modern mass society

1. Which picture is an example for modern mass society? 

Homework 

Make the following exercisies: 1 - 13 

Online book 

Magister 

Max edition 

Klascode: 189567