DBQIntroductionandConclusionExamples

Littleboxesonthehillside/Littleboxesallthesame...Andthepeopleinthehouses/
Allwenttouniversity...Andtheyalllookjustthesame,musedfolksingerMalvinaRay(1962).
Rayreflectsontheconformistnatureofthe1950s.Lyrically,shepaintsaportraitofaworld
markedbyuniformity...aworldwherepeoplearecastinthesamemold...aworldwheredeviation
welcomesdanger.Initially,thisdepictionofcongruityengendersafeelingofsecurity.To
suggestthatabsolutesamenesswelcomesareprievefromstrifemightoffendthemodernstriving
formulticulturalawareness,yetthissuggestionwasprimaryinshaping1950ssociety.Withease,
onemightindictsuchasocietyasintolerant,ignorant,outoftouch,buttocondemnthis
generationwithhasteistoignoresocialcontext.
Asocialcontextdefinedbyafearofwar,afear
ofradicalism,afearofunwarnednucleardestructionallfearsthatlulledmanyofthepostwar
generationintoasubmissivestatewhereonessacrificeofindividualitywasimperativeforthe
preservationofthegeneralwelfare
.
ThetimestheyareachangindeclaredfolksingerBobDylanashesurveyedthedawn
ofanewage(1963).Asnightsubsidedtoday,theAmericanpoliticalandsociallandscape
shiftedtheconformityofthe1950smetamorphosedtotheindividualityofthe1960s.Amyriad
ofadvocacygroupswoulddominatethesocialconversationofthisnewera.TheCivilRights
Movementwouldburgeon,compelledbyDr.Kingsillustriousdream.Friedans
Feminine
Mystique
wouldsparksecondwaveAmericanfeminism.TheHippiecounterculturewouldalter
thenationthroughtheglorificationofdrugs,freelove,andanabsolutedismissalofthose
Americanvaluesthathadshapedandguidedthepostwargeneration.Newfreedoms,new
voices,newideaswouldrisetothesurfaceaswouldnewanxieties.TheVietnamWarwould

overshadowtheentiredecadeclaimingtensofthousandsoflivesareminderofthecrueltyof
war.RacialviolencewoulderuptacrossAmerica.Womenwouldtraverseawildernessof
redefinitionawildernesswheretheywouldbeexpectedtobalancetheprofessional,the
political,andthepersonalwithacuityandgrace.Swiftysomeandslowlyotherswouldembrace
freedom,individuality,expression,progress,yet,attimes,inprivatemomentsofuncertaintyand
publicmomentsofdoubt,somewouldlookbackandcanvasstheperfectlymanicuredlawns,the
pristinestorefrontspromisingcommercialcatharsis,andthesoftlamplightdescendingupon
suburbansanctuaries.Beyondthewhitepicketfence,theywouldglimpsethesmilingfacesof
childrenatplay,womentendingtothehome,menreturningfromaharddayswork.The
glimpse,lastingbutamomentwouldinevitablyend,andaquestionofconformitywouldlinger?
Blessingorcurse?Safehavenorprison?Theansweroralie?

WorksCited
DuckandCover
.Dir.AnthonyRizzo.FederalCivilDefenseAdministration,1951.

Dylan,Bob.
TheTimesTheyareAChangin.
1963.Print.

Ray,Malvina.
LittleBoxes
.1962.Print.