ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
The Rise and Decline of the Teenager, by Thomas Hine
Guiding Questions
How do our assumptions about the past impact our understanding of today?
How has the understanding of the term ‘teenager’ changed through the 20th century?
James Dean
Teacher-to-Teacher
This article could work well as an introduction to historical thinking and the processes historians and other social scientists use when pursuing the answer to a larger historical/sociological question. While topically it is a 20th century subject, the practices and rationale shown in the study of youth/teenagers can be applied to other areas of historical interest. I might use it at the beginning of the school year to spark interest in the techniques of history as well as history itself. Alternatively, this Collection has a place in studying modern American Culture and the changes in expectations in terms of education and jobs. It could also be used to build context when studying The Catcher in the Rye or any YAL with a focus on teenagers.
Literature Connection: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky