reflections of the social class
TRANSCRIPT
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Social Class; TheSocial Class; The
InterconnectionsInterconnectionsImage AutomobileImage Automobile
Ownership as well asOwnership as well asProsperity in theProsperity in the
1920s1920sBy: Jeremy PrairieBy: Jeremy Prairie
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DiagramDiagram
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PP Industrialization of newIndustrialization of new
inventions cause gapsinventions cause gaps
between the socialbetween the social
classes because thoseclasses because those
who are more prosperouswho are more prosperouswere the only ones whowere the only ones who
could afford highercould afford higher
quality automobilesquality automobiles
during the 1920s.during the 1920s.
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EE When are you goingWhen are you going
to sell me that car?to sell me that car?
Next week; Ive gotNext week; Ive gotmy man working on itmy man working on it
now. Works prettynow. Works pretty
slow, dont he? p25slow, dont he? p25
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PP During the earlyDuring the early
1920s, cars were a1920s, cars were a
status symbol forstatus symbol for
the upper classes.the upper classes.
With the arrival ofWith the arrival of
the Model T,the Model T,
however, cars alsohowever, cars also
became a statusbecame a status
symbol for thesymbol for the
middle classes.middle classes.
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II
All car owners during the earlyAll car owners during the early1920s were considered to be1920s were considered to bewealthy people because theywealthy people because theycould actually afford a vehicle.could actually afford a vehicle.
This would only change untilThis would only change untilthe new Model-T came outthe new Model-T came out
because it was very cheap andbecause it was very cheap andmany middle class peoplemany middle class peoplecould now afford a car. Also bycould now afford a car. Also bylooking at the evidence fromlooking at the evidence fromthe text you can see thatthe text you can see thatWilson is very concerned aboutWilson is very concerned about
the car and Tom could car lessthe car and Tom could car lessabout it because he is muchabout it because he is muchwealthier.wealthier.
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PPThe introductionThe introduction
of automobilesof automobiles
promotes apromotes a
display of socialdisplay of socialstature instature in
society, as wellsociety, as well
as how muchas how muchmoney a personmoney a person
makes.makes.
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EE
On week-ends hisOn week-ends his
Rolls-Royce becameRolls-Royce became
an omnibus bearingan omnibus bearingparties to and fromparties to and from
the city between ninethe city between nine
in the morning andin the morning and
long past midnightlong past midnightp39p39
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PP
AutomobilesAutomobiles
continued to be acontinued to be a
means of expressingmeans of expressing
social status, andsocial status, and
accessories wereaccessories were
being designed tobeing designed to
personalize onespersonalize ones
car and project acar and project a
certain image tocertain image to
other people.other people.
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II People who ownedPeople who owned
a car back thena car back then
were considered towere considered to
have some heighthave some heightof wealth and whenof wealth and when
they drove theirthey drove their
car around a lowercar around a lower
class area peopleclass area peopleknew they were inknew they were in
the upper class.the upper class.
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PP People who are inPeople who are in
the lower classesthe lower classes
value cars andvalue cars and
other vehiclesother vehiclesmuch moremuch more
because anbecause an
individual whoindividual who
owns a car isowns a car isviewed asviewed as
wealthier person.wealthier person.
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EE His beat downHis beat down
station wagonstation wagon
scampered like ascampered like abrisk yellow bug tobrisk yellow bug to
meet all trains.meet all trains.
p40p40
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PP
Ford's well-built yetFord's well-built yetinexpensive Model T turnedinexpensive Model T turnedout to be the perfect car forout to be the perfect car forthe middle class. In 1928,the middle class. In 1928,
when half of all cars in thewhen half of all cars in theworld were Fords, the Modelworld were Fords, the ModelT sold for a remarkably lowT sold for a remarkably low$290. Owning an$290. Owning anautomobile gave working-automobile gave working-class Americans a sense ofclass Americans a sense of
prestige that permittedprestige that permittedthem to emulate thethem to emulate thelifestyles of capitalistlifestyles of capitalistelites.elites.
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II Now that people inNow that people in
the middle an even athe middle an even afew in the lower classfew in the lower classcould now afford acould now afford a
car, they began tocar, they began tovalue it much morevalue it much morethan a wealthy personthan a wealthy personcould. This is becausecould. This is becausethey could now use athey could now use a
vehicle to help themvehicle to help themearn an honest living.earn an honest living.
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SynthesisSynthesis Automobiles created a very significant display ofAutomobiles created a very significant display of
the differences between the social stature classesthe differences between the social stature classesduring the 1920s, the time where the bookduring the 1920s, the time where the bookTheTheGreat GatsbyGreat Gatsby took place. In the early 20s mosttook place. In the early 20s mostpeople who owned a car were classified as richpeople who owned a car were classified as rich
just by looking at them. This is because back thenjust by looking at them. This is because back thencars were very expensive and many middle classcars were very expensive and many middle classpeople could not afford them, until the Model-Tpeople could not afford them, until the Model-Tcame out. In the time of the novel most middlecame out. In the time of the novel most middleclass individuals idolized people who ownedclass individuals idolized people who owned
vehicles. Therefore automobiles demonstrate thevehicles. Therefore automobiles demonstrate theconnections between vehicle ownership andconnections between vehicle ownership andprosperity.prosperity.