Western Society and Culture

Ch.13 section 4

Science and Technology

• Government funded research projects created a new model for scientific research– Complex projects required teams, huge labs, and

expensive equipment• Space Race: 1969 US are first to land a man on

the moon• New alliance between science and technology– Some argued that technology caused more harm

than good

Population issues

• 1999 the UN announced the world population had reached 6 billion people

• Wealthy nations have declining populations– Larger percentage of the population is reaching

retirement• The most populous nations are developing

nations– US is expected to be the only wealthy nation with

a growing population

Changes in Family life

• 1960-70’s women’s movement emerged in the U.S. and spread to Europe– More women working, getting married later, putting

careers and education first led to population decline• Equal Pay Act passed ‘63- required women to

be paid the same as men for the same job• Roe v. Wade 1973 legalized abortion• Still today women make on average less than

men and are forced to do 2 jobs

The AIDS Crisis

• AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)– Discovered in 1981

• Most early patients were homosexual men– Caused a lot of discrimination

• Awareness and tolerance were promoted in 1980-90’s– Ervin (Magic) Johnson’s diagnosis helped people

see it could strike anyone

Movies and Music

• Lord of the Rings movies were an international venture and was released in 28 countries simultaneously– Globalization of mass culture

• 1950’s- the birth of Rock n’ Roll– Spread American culture throughout the world

• Cultural imperialism: people were afraid American entertainment was weakening their own language and culture

Television and Sports

• TV creates a sense that Americans and Europeans share a culture– They watch our shows with dubbed language

• Televised sports and the Olympic Games make sports international– Sports are also a political force (ex boycotting the

Moscow Olympics because of the Cold War)

National Religious Trends

• Immigration to Europe after WWII led to greater religious diversity– Previously a predominantly Christian culture

• In the U.S. the Protestant movement has gained strength

• Brings about the question: what role should religion play in a democracy?

Nationalism and Regional Identity

• Minority groups try to maintain their culture and some seek independence

• Brittany, France throws a festival, Fest Noz, every year to celebrate their Celtic culture

• Quebec Canada has tried to secede for years• Clashes between the Catholic Irish Republic

and Protestant Northern Ireland – “Bloody Sunday” January, 1972