Gatsby Jazz Era!

The Roaring 20’s! The Jazz Era! Prohibition! This is the grand setting for The Great Gatsby and an era where social and moral values begin to decay.  It was a time of decadent parties and wild jazz music.  Gatsby and his lavish parties reek of cynicism, greed, and empty pursuit of pleasure.  This type of lifestyle resulted ultimately in the corruption of the American dream, as the unrestrained desire for money and pleasure surpassed more noble goals.

Jazz was originally a mixture of Blues and marching band music and was played by African-Americans on old U.S Army instruments.  It was mostly improvisation, because most of the jazz musicians weren’t able to read music. Soon the white man started to play and blended together with the African music culture and a new style of jazz was born. Jazz bands started the musical revolution.  The music provoked close and intimate dancing which many believed led to rebellion and other socially questionable activities.  Parties like Gatsby’s which featured this music were typical for this time period. The extravagant festivities required charm, notoriety and good manners as a social asset.