“Culture is forever changing and reflecting what’s happening in society and with its people. It can be born from the arts, music, food, and sometimes politics and strife.”
Will the rest of the 20’s be the 21st century’s “Roaring Twenties”?
“The “Roaring Twenties” refers to the decade of the 1920s in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the United States and Europe, particularly in major cities such as Berlin, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, and Sydney. In France, the decade was known as the “années folles” (‘crazy years’), emphasizing the era’s social, artistic, and cultural dynamism. Jazz blossomed, the flapper redefined the modern look for British and American women, and Art Deco peaked.”
The social and cultural aspects of the Roaring Twenties began and spread widely in the aftermath of World War I and the 1918 pandemic.
The 1920s became the decade of change. the 18th and 19th amendments were passed (the later did not include Black Women), many advancements occurred that impacted the society and way of living and, as black soldiers returned from Europe after World War One, and southern blacks migrated to northern cities by the thousands; as black writers and artists in Harlem spawned the New Negro Movement, and black political spokesmen commanded national attention, “race” announced itself as a rapidly changing factor in postwar America.
Fast forward to 2020 and the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID19). We’ve experienced most of 2020 with little to no social contact outside of our own homes and much of the first quarter of 2021 will be much of the same. In addition, the political and social strife we’ve experienced in the United States has exploded and reminded us that the plight of Black Americans of the 1920s and the Civil Rights movement of the ’60s isn’t a thing of the past. These events of 2020 and early 2021 are sure to change us culturally and it certainly seems that the same pattern is evolving.
In fact, Yale Professor and social epidemiologist, Dr. Nicholas Christakis predicts millions will seek out “extensive social interactions” to make up for lost time noting, this is typical once pandemics end.
But, what will the “Post COVID” period be called? In today’s terms, I think it’s begging for an acronym. I immediately think of #YOLO due to #FOMO – You Only Live Once due to Fear Of Missing Out. However, I suspect these terms will become outdated soon in our microwave society.
Whatever it will be called, we’re already seeing signs of pent-up desires to travel, hang out with our friends are bar, go to the movie theatre, see and hug our loved ones, especially our parents and grandparents.
Certainly, for me, travel is on the agenda but, the first thing I want to do is fly home and hug my parents for a very long time. I just want to sit in their presence, see their maskless faces, hold their hands, and sit at their dining room table. I’ve also realized that I put off many personal travel agendas because I put my business first (occupational hazard) and that is going to change. #YOLO due to #FOMO. I’m already planning getaways with my spouse and friends to places that have been on my list for quite some time.
When this will occur is yet to be determined. It could be late 2021 but most predict it will be mid to late 2022. Some of it can already be seen by the number of travel reservations that are being made for late 2021 and 2022.
Two questions for you, are you already planning a trip for 2021 or 2022? And, what would you call our post-pandemic society?
#YOLO
Yours truly,
