1920s Paris

The First World War is over. Worries are gone, and now perpetually celebrating has become the norm for Parisians. The streets of 1920s Paris were filled with laughter. Poets discussed in Montparnasse about complex issues. Jazz was heard throughout the streets. Parisians smoked cigarettes and drank champagne. What an era!

This leads me, Iliostacio, to a question: are the current ‘20s of the 21st century lacking a spirit of celebration? YES!

Most of our current societal issues have become divisive politics and inner rage, becoming the norm for most of the world’s countries. Celebrating and being cheerful are the last emotions one now contemplates doing.

Parisians of the 1910s lived with a daily fright. They were under the attack of being bombarded. Their city, and culture were changed because the war was directly brought to the streets of Paris. Food shortages were at their highest, and people starved. 

During the 20s the people who tremendously suffered during the last decade became the ones who lead the next major cultural movement. Surrealism developed in Paris, leading to a major change in people’s expectations and values. The avant-gardes changed norms, and led the experts in art to use their imagination and combine their knowledge of symbolism to experience this new art.  It also gave people the power to dream, to imagine, and live beyond their reality.

Going back to celebration, our world has become digitalized, and stressed. The activities people enjoy doing are now decreasing. The majority of our youth enjoys their free time by doom scrolling. There is so much energy being lost. Energy which could create the new form of celebration for this era. 

The new movement is not consuming endlessly, but rather building yourself up. There is so much power that comes from trauma and hardship. If you do that, then you are like those individuals who redefined the 20th century, simply through celebrating.

Sincerely,

Iliostacio