Characteristics of the 20th Century

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One of the first questions we must consider is:

What are the distinguishing characteristics of the 20th Century?

Write your answer in a well developed, fully formed paragraph of at least six substantive sentences, covering at least TWO characteristics.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 1998

Answers

i think that the distinguishing charactoristics of the 20th century are technology and drug use. Technology has changed the way the world works, from the televisios we watch to the computers we do our home work on. We are in a society that needs technology, without it our society would parish. Drugs have also shaped the 20th century. They effect our music, role models, and the way people party and have a good time. Drugs seem to have made a huge impact in our music from the Doors, Jimmy Hendricks, Pink Floyd, etc. Music is what distiguishes society, and drugs definately effected music, therefore effected the 20th century and stand to be a major charactoristic.

The main ways for attaining knowledge in the 20th century is through computers, television, radio, and of course books. What has changed since the last century, every thing just listed except for books. Every way of agttaining knowledge in the 20th century in unique to it, except for books.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998


I think, the twentieth century has a lot to do with lying. We lie to other people and to ourselves. When I say lying, I mean not accepting things how they are. Everything always has to be better. Dieting is a regular part of our lives, and we judge people on their appearance. We say we don't judge, but we do. We may feel sorry for people less fourtunate, but we would not want to live their lives.

The fact that we judge by appearance, and think people are better if they have more material possesions is another characteristic of the 20th century. People used to live together in communities, and help others. Now, I would say, people are more isolated. We have our cars and our houses, and all we want is privacy. Other people can look at all that we have, but know that it is only ours. Technology seems to separate us more and more. Our families move farther and farther apart, but it seems like we are still close. Cellular phones, e-mail, long distance phone calls make us think we are still close, but really we are not.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 1998


The television is a very distinguishing characteristic of the 20th century. The TV allows us to see what is going on thousands of miles away. Television has enabled us to have one more way of learning. However, televison has been detrimental to todays society. Increased violence, rape, deviant behavior has been the result due to the shows that the televison broadcasts. Today people are spend several hours in front of the tube, this also leads to the "isolation" that Laura Woods refers to in her essay. Looking at the advances in technology in the 20th century will give a second characteristic. Just to say that there has been a lot of advances in technology is very general. Look at the advances of the televison, telephone, radio, cars. Not only are these characteristics of the 20th century, but are going to be characteristics of the 21st and future centuries.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 1998

I would have to agree that technology is the major factor that separates us in the 20th century. Life used to be much less complicated. Now we have cell phones, beepers, high-tech computers and other machinery. Our world is being transformed each year by the "newest" technology. Advancement used to be so much slower, but in the 20th century something new and improved pops up before we are sometimes ready. Individuals want to have the "newest" technology so it seems that our society has turned into a contest of who has the "best" and most updated of everything. This can cause personal debt problems for families or individuals just so they are considered to be considered "upper class" or "well off." It all seems to be a never ending contest of who is the best. We are spoiled in the 20th century and seem to be taking it for grantite. We don't wash our clothes by hand, heat up food by stove, or send telegrams anymore. I'm not saying technology is necessarily bad, we just shouldn't take our use of it for grantite. We need to appreciate what we have and not get into the "who's better" war.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 1998

One characteristic of the 20th century is sports, and how they can bring people from opposite sides of the spectrum together. Throughout history sporting events have always been popular, but within the last three years I have notice an increase in interest. For example last night Mark McGwire hit number sixty-two, breaking the major league record for most homeruns in a single season. However, the amazing thing is that every radio station, television station, etc. paused their programs to announce the feat that had just been accomplished. History was broken and everyone felt the joy that McGwire felt. As I was watching the game with my father, we started giving high fives and the adreneline started pumping. I know that we were not the only two, I mean you could hear it in the crowd, in the announcers voice, and on the radio stations. Everyone was excited. However, lost in the excitement is the lack of role models that has plagued my generation. With T.V.'s, radios, malls, and mom and dad both working, we have lost role models. Today children look to superstars as role models, which is not fair to the athlete who should only be a role model to his own children. A child must have a family member to look up to and trust. Athlete's are paid to play, it is there job and shouldn't have to be role models. You don't see accountants, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, etc. as leading role models, so why then should professional athlete's be one? They shouldn't. The sole responsibility rests with the parents who should stand up a want that responsibility. My father raised me and was the best role model a kid could have or want. So parents need to stop pointing fingers and look in the mirror.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 1998


The phrase, "to take for granted," is what i feel the one writer meant to say. Does this hint at a characteristic of the 20th century, man's hastiness to make a point without being sure of how to make it......Spell Check will make it alright. This is just another example of our fast food society. Do you always get what you order, not unless you look in the bag.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 1998

Whether we are talking about money, technology or control over human lives, two of the most defining characteristics of the twentieth century have to be greed (in a take-take relationship sense)and selfishness (in a disregard for others feelings and lives in general sense). To look at my life in review I notice the stress that has been put on the advancement of science and technology. I see the bulging eyes of a child who sees a fifty dollar bill for the first time. We have lost a sense of priority in life that has ruined great institutions and empires over and over again. The idea that the founding members of this country fought for has dwindled down to the word most over used in the English language, "Me." Selfishness, greed and the quest for fame has become an overriding force in the late twentieth century that has hazed the history behind the founding of our great nation and the battles fought since that day to preserve it. We all want to create perfect lives and opportunities for our children just as our ancestors before us, but money can't buy the love and affection of a child that time well spent could provide. Secondly, on a more global scale, the ideas of oppression and tyranny that many thought would never resurface have gone to prove that history will always repeat itself in one way, shape or form, but the 20th Century has now made the world a much smaller place through the technology that has been built upon. It is no longer a long boat ride over to Europe or a tiring train ride out west. The world itself has become an island on which we are all trapped. We may not see that now but with a few flaring tempers and a click of a button this island may become a lot smaller and the after effects of that explosion will prove to be more painful than the initial loss.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998

There are many characteristics of the 20th century that is set it apart from all other centuries. I beleive that the following quote summerizes this century; "sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll". When examining these major elements of the 20th century it is evident that they all have helped shape the way that society lives. At least one of the these three characteristics is some way evident in every part of society. Sex and drugs have also contributed to the demise of the society, but more importantly to the demise of the youth. Of course in addition to "sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll", the 20th century also intailed other things. For instance, computers and automobiles have been a very important part of 20th century way of life. They are actually vital to 20th century life. The 20th century was a century set apart from all other centuries because of its many attributes and flaws.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998

Technology has to be one of the largest contributions to the 20th century. The internet allows us to communicate all across the world and it is also a source of education. This site is an example of this new learning process. Even with the advances in technology the world still face scandal which is a huge part of the modern era. Our president, which is supposed to be someone that is looked up to, finds himself wrapped in a personal scandal. His personal situations may lead to his impeachments. Violence is another large influence on the past century. It starts with all the wars we have had to fight and ends somewhere around the United States bombing of Afganhastan and Africa. Violence is art of our everyday life. We see it on television, on the news as well as on movies and shows, and also hear about on the radios. The terrible thing is our children will have to find a way to solve our problems and find away to survive at the same time.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998

In the 20th century I feel that people are living life more on a day to day bases. Before the 20th century I feel people dwelled on the issue of what is going to happen in the future. Many people today feel as if the future is here or is coming very soon. When I state day to day bases I mean that people are living for today because tomorrow in not promised. On a different level, I totally agree that technology seperates the 20th century from others. Technology is a source for communication and helps provide knowledge. Through technology we have phones, computers, appliances, T.V, radio, ect... In other centuries communication and knowledge of peoples and their environments was very limited.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998


Transportation and modernized technology helped shape the 20th century. Something like driving a car or flying an air plane is something we all do but really don't think much about it. Something like this is what helped shape the 20 century. It brings us closer to loved ones gets us to work on time and is a major contributing factor to the success of the business world. Technology has come a long was a well. Things such as a radio, televiosion, computer, and cellular phones play a major roll. Often people wonder what life would be like with out this stuff but in a number of years it won't matter any way because it will all be replaced with something new. Things are always changing and most of the time you have no choice but to change with them.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 1998

The characteristics that I found to be most unique to the 20th century are 1. communications technology and 2. mass confusion. The first is relatively simple to explain. This site is a perfect example. Never before in the history of the world has there existed the ability to rapidly, sometimes instantly, exchange goods and information over vast distances. Computers provide access to information from around the world, be it current affairs, new historical finds in Siberia or just whats on tv in a five minutes. The development of the supersonic aircraft has contributed to the rapid distribution of bulkier goods, such as food stuffs, or engine machinery. While technology has been a general catalyst for the availability of televisions, radios, computers, etc. it really isn't, in my opinion, unique to this century because it has always been present, just at different levels of sophistication. The second characteristic, mass confusion, is a little more difficult to pin down. It has, however, been my experience, personal and social, that we as Americans, Europeans, Africans, Asians,etc. do not really have an idea of what we are doing, where we are going. Up until the 20th century, you saw the development the idea of the nation state. Greece, Rome, France, Britain, Germany, China, the list goes on but with the generally same result: that of the establishment of unique traditions, the creation of names and territories for those traditions to abide, the defense of those beliefs and attempts to impose ones beliefs over another. All of this served to unite people, provide them with a common bond, a visible symbol to aim for. Now, however, you look around and see disarray. Europe is a paradox for as the whole peninsula seems to be on the verge of uniting under one flag, the EEC, many of its integral parts are facing dissolution. Serbia, Croatia, the Basques, Scotland just to name a few, want their own independence. America, long called the Melting Pot, is in fact facing the same dissolution, as each of the ethnic groups wants to retrace and embrace their own distinct histories and cultures. Just at the time when the world is capable and seemingly ready to become one, there are strong influences tearing it apart. Much of it can be traced to the fact that we no longer have anything to believe in. Our enemies supposedly no longer exist; communication and transportation takes us to places we never dreamed possible. But the more we learn, the less we seem to know. This in turn forces many to search for something tangible, something safe. The end result being everyone going their own way, resulting in mass confusion.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 1998

The twentieth century is distinguishable by many characteristics. Consumerism is one characteristic that is very blatant. This excessive consumerism is found among the people and the nations. Another characteristic of the twentieth century is the drastically increased use of technology. Technology's applications span every occurrance in everyday life. Combined, consumerism and technology have not only defined the twentieth century but have begun a new path toward the future.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 1998

I believe that the distinguishing characteristics of the twentieth century are the advancement and obcession with technology and how important education has become. Technology advances because of need and pure curiosity. Education is a necessary thing in modern society. Education was not as important pre-twentieth century and I believe higher education to be the most defining aspect.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 1998

Two distinguishing charecterisitcs of the twentieth century that I have been exposed to are advancement of technology and a selfish attitude of people. Technology always seems to be changing in order to make our lives easier. It is also making certain things more efficient and producitve. For example, a fax machine is a lot more effective than the pony express. When this technology is abused, it can create a lazy, selfish attitude that can become dangerous. An automobile is a perfect example of this. A car is a very useful tool. There is an obviuous difference between use and abuse. People can become too dependant on the car and take it everywhere. It is a lazy alternative to riding a bike ar walking. Some negative outcomes of this are harm to the environment and an overall deciline in people's health. This is not the case with all people, but just an example. I am as guilty of this as anybody else, but it seems to be a trend that is not going to go away. We must be careful as technology is making our lives easier not to abuse it selfishly.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 1998


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