History 476
Devine
Spring 2016
Homework Assignment for February 23rd
Imagine that you have traveled back in
time to the roaring twenties. Create a back story for yourself – How old are
you? (keep your range to between 17 and 22) What are
you like? (Scion of an old wealthy family? Social climbing member of the new
middle class? College fraternity man with a brand new car? Party girl frustrated by your old-fashioned
parents who don’t want you smoking?
Conservative young lady who longs to be popular but is put off by those
vulgar “flappers”? Bewildered guy just
looking for a “nice girl”? Athlete in
search of alcohol and a fast woman who can dance up a storm? Snarky editor of the school paper whose
radical politics mask an insecurity complex about a poor Jewish
background? Or a small town girl who
just bought some rouge and a new “modern” dress through a mail order catalogue because
you’re tired of being a wallflower?)
After you’ve written the description of
your own character, based on your back story and drawing on the information in
the assigned reading and from the clips of Our
Dancing Daughters, create the profile of your ideal “date.” Consider your “likes” and “don’t likes.” Consider what you’d really want in a guy (or girl), what you’d be ok with, and what you
simply couldn’t tolerate. Consider what you might like to do on a date
(and what you don’t want to do – or won’t do!).
In writing both descriptions, remember
that your back story and the profile for your ideal date must be historically
accurate. In sum, create
characters that are fully developed but also true to the times.
To help you capture the right “lingo,”
you should use this “Glossary”
of Flapper terminology. (Access with password à 476)
Bring your typed responses with
you on Tuesday. I will collect them at the end of class.