Key Takeaways
In the backwash of the political upthrust and social reform of the sixties , the 1970s may seem pretty frivolous . surely , there were discos , polyester suit , and amber chain , but there was much cultural and political change happening as well . The second undulation of feminism , the goal of the Vietnam War , Roe v. Wade – many ideas that are de rigueur today were introduced in the 1970s . scan on to learn about the cult that made this decade so far - out .
1. Disco
In the 1970s , disco music arrived armed with keyboards , drum machines , sugary lyrics , and pass dancing jailbreak . Artists such as the BeeGees , ABBA , and Donna Summer crooned their elbow room into the philia of multitude in America , Europe , and beyond . Bell - bottom drawers , square hair’s-breadth , and big sunglasses were all disco accessories . Most people know the lyrics to " Stayin ' Alive " whether they like it or not , thanks to discotheque movies likeSaturday Night Fever . Disco music , discotheque saltation , and disco culture unremarkably get a big rap for being frivolous and over the top , but today ’s pop music , techno , and club euphony all have their roots in disco .
2. Afros
The Black Power motion of the recent ' sixty and former ' 70s claim the mantra " Black is Beautiful , " and the Afro was one mode to show solidarity among grim people . Rather than continue to tidy up their hair’s-breadth , African - Americans have their textured , kinky mane spring up unhindered . The effect was a kind of halo or ball shape around the head resembling a dandelion puff and sometimes produce disproportionately large . Anyone with curly hair could achieve this style , made democratic by ' 70s maven such as Angela Davis and the Jackson 5 , but it was generally appropriate for the " Black is Beautiful " band .
3. Roller Skates
Back in the eighteenth century , people were hip to the approximation of bond bike to their feet to get around faster . But not until the 1970s did roller - skating become intermeshed in American culture . As materials and applied science sophisticated , steering wheel and skates became slicker and quicker , and roller - skating became more sport . By the mid-1970s , thousands of roller rinks had opened across the United States . Most rinks meld disco with skating , so patrons could skate under the mirror ballock and groove to the medicine of K. C. and The Sunshine Band while they tittup their material .
4. Pet Rock
California entrepreneur Gary Dahl was jest around with supporter one dark in 1975 about the perfect pet . It would n’t use up , make noise , or require to be potty train . Dahl jest that a rock would fit out the posting . Everyone laughed , but within two weeks , he had writtenThe Pet Rock Training Manualand commercialize the musical theme at a barter show . A tale inNewsweekand an show onThe Tonight Showfollowed , and , within a few calendar month , a million positron emission tomography rock had sold for $ 3.95 a piece . dhal made a dollar for each sway sell , pee him an instant millionaire .
scan on to con about the funkiest fads of the ' 70s on the next page .
8 Funky Fads of the 1970s, 5-8
What does yourmood ringsay today ? loose in your leisure courting and show the last part of the funkiest fads of the ' 70s tilt .
5. Leisure Suits
If you were a with - it kind of guy in the ' 70s , you had at least one leisure suit . Made pop via telly shows such asCharlie ’s Angelsand movies likeSaturday Night Fever(yes , that one again ) , suit made of polyester were marked by flamboyant colour , wide pockets on the legs , and winged shoe collar . band like the Bay City Rollers used satiny fabric in their courting , too , a trend that trickled down into the mainstream – for best or bad .
6. Mood Rings
Who knew a thermochromic liquid quartz glass could predict the mood of humans ? Joshua Reynolds did n’t really believe it could , but he did figure that he could sell the idea to the general public as a novelty . That ’s exactly what he did in 1975 with themood ring , which was invent in the late 1960s by Marvin Wernick . heating system from the wearer ’s hand would cause crystals in the halo to warm up , gain the face of the ring change from black to green to blue to purple . Sir Joshua Reynolds sold more than a million dollars worth of temper pack within three month of their entry , and everyone checked in with their mode doughnut with nearly religious fervour .
7. CB Radio
Before chat rooms , there wereCB radios . Citizens ' Band radios were ( and still are ) largely used by truck driver on the road to communicate with other drivers in their range . However , in the 1970s and into the early 1980s , masses across the United States , the UK , and Australia took back the signification of " citizens ' radio " and began to use the low-toned - frequency wireless waves to chat with other CB users . They had their own particular slang term and cognomen , and First Lady Betty Ford even got into the action . She was known by the CB handle " First Mama " when she crackled over the airwaves . That ’s a large 10 - 4 … over and out .
8. Punk Rock
Not everyone in the ' 70 was feeling the love . Across the pond , disenchant youth in the UK were predate the Hustle for the fast , hard , unsanded power of what they called " punk rocker . " band such as the Sex Pistols , The Ramones , and The Clash showcased their ira , frustration , and disregard for authority in songs such as " God keep the Queen , " " I Wanna Be Sedated , " and " London Calling . " Just as discotheque laid the groundwork for late saltation genre like techno and home , soil and operose metal are rooted in the riotous sound of punk rock ‘n’ roll .
Helen Davies , Marjorie Dorfman , Mary Fons , Deborah Hawkins , Martin Hintz , Linnea Lundgren , David Priess , Julia Clark Robinson , Paul Seaburn , Heidi Stevens , and Steve Theunissen
