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Week9-Lecture1-CultureWars.pptxThe Culture Wars: Key Terms https://pollev.com/andrewhighsmith992
The Culture Wars
Social liberals/progressives
Social/religious conservatives/traditionalists
Robert Bork
LA Riots of 1992
Murphy Brown controversy
Proposition 187
Proposition 227
Multiculturalism
1994 Crime Bill
Cultural Conflict in Historical Perspective
Culture wars: period during the 1980s and 90s in which many Americans looked to define their political loyalties on the basis of social and cultural issues (abortion, homosexuality, multiculturalism, etc.)
Long history of cultural conflict in US. Conflicts often related to broader political/economic issues
1920s debates over gender, sexuality
1940s debates over zoot suits
1950s debates over rock and roll music (on right, Elvis Presley)
The Culture Wars of the 1980s and 1990s
Pitted social liberals/progressives against social/religious conservatives and traditionalists
Series of very angry national conflicts over social and cultural issues that raged during 1980s and 1990s. Wide range of issues including abortion, gay rights, immigration, crime, artistic expression, pornography, etc.
Stakes of culture wars very real. Not simply a distraction from more important political/economic issues.
Culture wars often tied to larger political and economic debates
Debates about the nature of America and the American Creed, or value system
Why the 1980s and 90s?
Battles of 1980s and 90s were more widespread and universal than in previous generations.
Battles of 1980s and 90s seemed to divide Americans along similar lines: liberal v. conservative; progressive v. traditional
Rooted in major social upheavals of 1960s (see image on right) and collapse of Cold War anticommunist consensus
US society becoming more inclusive/open to new people, ideas, behaviors
End of Cold War = loss of major external enemy (communism). Search for enemies within.
Rise of conservative movement
By the 1980s and 90s, simmering conflicts of 1970s broke out into the open.
Case Study #1: Robert Bork
Staunch conservative nominated by Pres. Reagan for Supreme Court in 1987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDKQq3jne_I
Question for Discussion (1-2 minutes):
Why was Bork such an important figure in the culture wars?
Case Study #2: Rodney King and the LA Riots of 1992
March 1991: LAPD officers beat black motorist Rodney King (on right); beating videotaped and televised
April 1992: officers acquitted by a nearly all-white suburban jury
LA Riots of 1992: multiracial, multiethnic riot/rebellion. Lasted for five days and resulted in 55 deaths, thousands of injuries, and, millions of dollars in property damage.
A polarized response to riots
Debating the LA Riots
Members of black community condemn police violence and racism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvIHZXXN3eM
Pat Buchanan’s response:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2wzdOCqr8
Question for Discussion (1-2 minutes):
How do the two video clips shed light on the growing social and cultural divides of the 1990s?
Case Study #3: Dan Quayle v. Murphy Brown
May 1992: Vice President Quayle condemns television character Murphy Brown (on right) for having a child out of wedlock.
Murphy Brown’s response:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnhhZ0LVNPU
Debate revolved around family values, traditional gender roles
Case Study #4: Debating Immigration and Multiculturalism in California (cont.)
Rise in number of undocumented immigrants in CA
Social and cultural conservatives blamed Latino immigrants for causing crime, draining resources, taking jobs from Americans, failing to assimilate.
Proposition 187 (1994): banned undocumented immigrants from using non-emergency health care services, welfare, and public schools.
Overturned in courts
Case Study #4: Debating Immigration and Multiculturalism in California
Proposition 227 (1998): Eliminates most bilingual education programs in CA public schools
Multiculturalism: Idea that multiple racial, ethnic, and cultural groups can co-exist peacefully and positively in a society.
Many opponents of bilingual education see it as harming immigrant students, weakening national culture
Supporters of bilingual ed. see it as helpful educationally and part of process of celebrating American diversity/multiculturalism
Are the Culture Wars Over?
Short term gains for conservatives (Dem. and Rep) via culture wars
1994 Crime Bill: 100,000 more police officers; $10 billion for new prisons
Changing American values and rising diversity in US lead to declining returns for conservative culture warriors
What happened to the Republican Party in CA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao6BMNVaCeI
Are the culture wars over, or has the terrain simply shifted with new social upheavals of 21st century?
Trumpism
Black Lives Matter
Morality in the debates over health insurance reforms
