Name a way in which war has shaped popular culture.

[Beware the Beast Man]

This is one for the history buffs.

Cathyclysmic and I were talking about this the other day. It seems that war, for better or worse, creates some sort of cultural exchange, whether it be in fashion, the arts, industry, or culinary arts.

A good example is the Volkswagen. After American troops bombed out and captured the KDF-Wagen factory and handed it over to the Brititsh, Volkswagen was born, and soon became one of the most popular and affordable cars on the road.

On a slightly more ridiculous angle, Twinkies used to use banana creme filling. When Hostess couldn't obtain bananas during WWII, they used a plain creme filling instead, and never looked back.

Can you think of any other examples?


edit- and yes, I am aware of all the bad influences (like ribbon magnets, awful Lee Greenwood songs, etc), but I'm thinking of positive or practical things.

[Initech]

1. Easy one - Woodstock

[ohiosmith]

2. The distribution of cigarettes to WWI and WWII troops by tobacco

companies created generations of nicotine addicts.

[Beware the Beast Man]

3. Good one!

Yeah, cigars, pipes and chew were always more popular than cigarettes up to that point.

[underpants]

4. Volkswagon related- Ike brought the Autobahn to the USA

in the form of the interstate highway system ( extremely opposed by conservatives) in case we need a means to move troops around the country and of course the economic benefits of trucking and material movement.

[underpants]

7. WWI - the US was able to raise an army by mail

I don't know if it affected culture or the new technology affected the war effort. Either way it was a HUGE step in many different areas.

ON EDIT- also at that time something like 90% of the population never went more then 50 miles from where they were born. That changed.

[underpants]

11. The Crusades brought many changes to Europe

Two main ones (History channel "Battle of Acre)

First hospital care. Hospitals in Europe were mostly used to house the poor and the soon to be ill. There was no treatment (let alone prevention) they basically went there to die.

Second Hygiene.

Yep both things were learned from .......... the Arabs. This as well as many other things came back to Europe and helped create the age of Enlightenment and the Renaissance.

[Beware the Beast Man]

14. Byzantium, too.

It's amazing, when people in western Europe were crapping in pots and dying of the plague, Constantinople had the most sophisticated underground sweage system of it time.

[underpants]

21. Exactly

If you remember one of the excuses given for all the missing money in Iraq was that the Arab world has no accounting system... seriously they have said that over and over and over.

Where the hell do they think our numerical system came from? No accounting system, they had accounting when Europe was basically flinging poo at each other!!!

[jobycom]

23. The Muslim/Arab influence on Europe was far deeper than most realize

Arabic numerals, aglebra, philosophy, the use of logic, love poetry (yes, even out top 40 hits were heavily influenced by Muslims' concepts of what we mistakenly call "Romantic" love), architecture, sugar (an Arabic word), astronomy, medicine, even a lot of Christian theology came from Islamic learning. Not just through the Crusades, though. The co-mingling between wars was important, but even more important was the increase in Mediterranean trade brought on by the Crusades. At the same time Europe began the Reconquista against Muslim Spain, and while this, too, led to wars, it also led to greater contact in more peaceful ways with al-Andulus (the Muslim part of Spain), where Christians, Jews and Muslims often lived in perfect harmony. Te Troubadours stole Arabic love songs, the attitudes of the Muslims towards love led to the concept of "Courtly Love," which is the romantic love we talk about today--wooing with flowers, idolizing the beloved, and all of that.

For a millenium, Europe was a backwater, uneducated, economically barely above subsistance and gift/pillage, while Islam in Spain, Sicily and the East was the dominant culture in the world. When Europe began to encounter Islam, they learned everything they could.

[Beware the Beast Man]

29. I just watched "The Crusades with Terry Jones" again last week.

the concept of chivalry was inspired heavily by the Muslim world of the time.

[underpants]

5. Grenada movies

let see ...there was "Hamburger Hill"...uh ....

[RetroLounge]

6. Rattan furniture was made of Steam Bent Ash

during WWII. Heywood Wakefield, for example...

Also, WWII soldiers from the pacific campaign brought home or sent home much asian and polynesian trinkets, starting a fad that lasted thru the 50's, with tiki bars and polynesian restaurants, etc.

Maybe the steel, rubber, etc. drives during WWII led to recycling?

RL

[Taverner]

8. SPAM for one

But that one's easy.

How about the Motorcycle Culture of the 50's?

During WWII, American GI's when on R&R usually rode around on English bikes (Triumphs and whatnot). Motorcycles were rarely used in the US beforehand.

When the GI's returned home, they found few jobs, and they had a wad of cash in their pockets. So they bought bikes.

If I am correct, all of the bikers in "The Wild Ones" were supposed to be WWII vets.

[Beware the Beast Man]

19. That's probably why Spam is so popular in Hawaii.

I forgot about bikers.

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. Plastic surgery.

Refined my military surgeons during WWII.

[underpants]

13. EMT's- originally were medics from Vietnam

Okay not pop culture except if we had had EMT's we never would have had "Mother Jugs & Speed" think about it.

[Beware the Beast Man]

16. Life flight & MedEvac, too.

[LynneSin]

10. Hummers

Because everyone wanted one of the Gulf War I Humvees

[terrya]

12. What about "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II

I don't think there really was a widespread understanding of women in the workplace before World War II. But I think the image of "Rosie the Riveter" in American culture changed the idea forever that women didn't belong in the workplace.

Maybe this isn't what you were asking about.

[Beware the Beast Man]

15. Yes. The women's movement (as well as the civil rights movement)

really took off after WWII.

[RedStateShame]

17. The Zippo

[Tyrone Slothrop]

18. Fanta

During WWII, the German Coca-Cola plants couldn't get the Coke syrup from the US, so they invented a new fruit flavored soft drink called Fanta.

It became popular and was brought back to the States after the war and then Coca-Cola bought the trademark and recipe and began mass production.

[RedCloud]

20. LSD...

Was supposed to be given to the enemy through their drinking water so they wouldn't be so bellicose, but experimenters had to keep testing it on themselves..

[RedCloud]

22. I forgot about Edwin Starr!

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing





EDWIN STARR - "War" lyrics

[underpants]

24. There usually is great music that comes from a time of war

but not today. At least not anything that you will hear on the radio seeing as how the radio is basically controlled by Clear Channel.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

25. This is kind of weird

I'm listening to the radio right now and hear the B-52's and I see this thread, this band would have a totally different name if it wasn't for the B-52 plane.

[ulysses]

26. the development of airplanes, rocketry, jet engines

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

27. Twinkies have looked back.

They used Banana filling in their King Kong movie promotion. I have a box of them around here. Collector's item, you know.

[meegbear]

28. SPAM (the food), nylon and the jeep

[rug]

30. It did wonders for the Mayans.

[Beware the Beast Man]

31. How about some ancient examples- martial arts and chess.

Wasn't chess originally concieved as a military strategy game? I know its origins are sketchy, but most versions of chess evolved from that same principle.