Values of the Jazz Generation

A Struggle for Meaning in the 1920s

In my 2022 novel Renaissance Radio, my six main characters co-host a national radio show in 1928. In one of their broadcasts, with lead character Riis Evans narrating, they discuss their struggle for meaning and values in the aftermath of the First World War:

Gwen asserts that “the last two generations pretty much ruined the world.  Knocked it to pieces.  Now they’re surprised that our generation isn’t enthused about what they’re handing to us.”

“The world was pretty much wrecked,” Mary agrees.

“The horror of the War knocked us back decades,” Troy adds.

“The old values became a farce,” insists Gwen.

“Well, wait a minute,” Francis says.  “The modern sensibility took root at the battles of Verdun and the Somme.  The trench is the permanent symbol of the modern sensibility.  What an infernal use of engineering and chemistry – mass warfare that was completely industrialized, mechanized, automatic, and impersonal.  However, while it’s been much more difficult to find life’s meaning since Verdun and the Somme, we have no excuse to become bitter.”

“That’s right,” says Mary.

“What lofty ideal, what transcendent vision, could still hold our generation’s attention and imagination?” Gwen asks. 

“There’s no collective purpose,” I agree.  “But that’s no reason to become cynical.”

“Church will be the same for everybody, wouldn’t you say?” Mary asks.  “Life goes on in many ways just like it was before the war.  All those church socials go on, the children still shout as they play blindman’s bluff, and we’re still stirred by the oompah of summer military bands.”

“We still enjoy ice cream parlors and county fairs,” Troy agrees.

“And roasted chestnuts and sleigh rides,” Gwen chips in.  “But that’s far from the point I’m making.”

“The 19^th Century had some fine literature,” I say.  “Scott, Stevenson, George Eliot, Browning, Longfellow.  Especially Dickens and Tennyson.”

“Good grief,” says Gwen, “if anything can be declared dead it’s Victorian literature.”

“Thinkers and writers of the 1800s were too optimistic,” Francis says.  “Our generation has totally abandoned those rosy, naïve, Pollyanna visions.  It’s a hostile world and we need to let illusions fall.  We need to be pragmatic.  But we still have souls.  Right and wrong still matter.  Virtues are still what life is all about.  Life remains a quest to mold ourselves, like clay, to the demanding standards of exemplary people.”

“Saints?” I ask.

“Virtuous people,” Francis replies.

“I agree with you, Francis,” I say.  Three yesses from Carmen, Troy, and Mary.  I turn back to Gwen and ask her “with what, exactly, Gwendolyn, would you replace Judeo-Christian and Victorian culture?”

“Change and progress,” she says.

“Americans,” I insist, “have just produced a whole century of progress.”

“That was only progress in science and technology,” she says.  “It was just material progress.”

“No,” I say, “spiritual and moral and social progress, just as much.”

“Either we believe in eternal values like self-discipline, hard work, decency, and unselfishness or we don’t,” says Francis. 

“Right again, Francis,” says Mary.

“The excellence of our civilization this past century comes from pursuing progress that’s in accord with sound, enduring values,” I assert.  “From these together, the future unfolds and it’s good.  That’s the American credo.  Everyone agrees with it.”

“I’m free to question it,” says Gwen, “and doubt it.”

“You’re free to question, doubt, dissent, or even scoff,” says Francis.  “But you’re misguided.  Social change must be guided by eternal truths.  If you take the innate moral sense out of it, there’s no worthy American thought or life.”

“We already have harmony and prosperity,” I say.  “And we’re all taking a hand in creating a better world, a better future.  But things as they are now are basically right.  And things are improving.  The world’s getting better.  Everyone sees that.”

“Everyone?” Gwen challenges me.  “How can you be so confident, so sure, in your orderly view of life and the world?  I’m ready to leave the past behind and embrace a life beyond rigid beliefs.”

“What kind of life?” Carmen asks.

Gwen thinks for a moment.  “A life of self-expression, frankness, fresh thinking, freedom, intuition, creativity, excitement, and joy.”

“Sounds superficial,” says Francis.

“Our generation sees a wide open future,” says Gwen.  “Better than the bland, placid, and gloomy complacency of our Victorian parents.  Riis, do you seriously expect people our age to spend the rest of our lives reading Tennyson?  And all these American magazines, page after page of sentimentality?”

“And moral uplift,” I shoot back.

“Tradition is inadequate,” says Gwen.  “I want to fully experience life.”

“What matters is right and wrong,” says Francis.  “If you reject ultimate values, what kind of culture and society and life will you end up with?”

“I’ve already said,” Gwen retorts.  “A culture, society, and life where we can be free and be frank.  Where we can intuit our way to a life of creativity, joy, and a fullness of experience.”

“That could just as easily lead to decadence and destruction,” says Francis.  “What do you think, Riis?”

Francis seems to expect unconditional agreement.  Gwen looks at me, clearly holding out hope for some support of her view.  “I think we should keep intact our best traditional standards, and be a lot more spontaneous and creative,” I respond.  “We can have good souls with pure motives and still spend a lot more time dancing.” 

Troy: “Some people are saying that Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald symbolize the 1920s and our generation.”

Carmen: “Oh, definitely not.  No matter how bright and glowing F. Scott Fitzgerald makes his characters look, they are all shallow narcissists and they’re all pitifully doomed.”

Francis: “That’s right, Carmen.”

Me: “Yes it is.”

Mary: “Ugh.  Who would want to become as self-destructive as Scotty and Zelda Fitzgerald?”

Troy: “No one I know.  But more and more older folks are calling our generation the Lost Generation.”

Francis: “They regard us wrong.  We don’t feel lost, and we don’t know anyone who does feel lost.  Anyone who says that our generation, the Jazz Generation, is lost doesn’t understand our generation.”

Mary: “I agree, Francis.  They are trivializing the rising generation and trivializing this whole decade.”

Carmen: “I don’t know anyone who is cynical, debauched, and nihilistic.  Anyone who says that’s what the 1920s are about doesn’t understand the 1920s.”

Gwen: “Essentially correct, Carmen.  We threw off a few Victorian restrictions and conventions.  We rejected the comfortable platitudes of prior generations.  But we are still moral and ethical people.  Living decently, bringing up our children, earning a living.”

Francis: “True.  Moral and ethical standards are indispensable to our generation.  Striving to meet those standards each day is what life’s all about.  And always will be.”

Gwen: “But despite all that, Francis, I embrace modernity.” 

Me: “You sure do, Gwendolyn.  Modernity is fine, in my view, when it’s about freedom and democracy with justice and human rights.  When it’s about equality between the races and genders.  When it’s about science and modern medicine.  Even when it’s heavily focused on selling and delivering commodities to consumers.  Where modernity goes off the rails is when it flattens everything spiritually.”

Gwen: “Riis, the five of you derive your moral and ethical values from what you believe to be Divine and spiritual.  I regard both with doubt.  I’m a secular person, not a person of faith, but I don’t agree I’ve lost any value or meaning.”

Francis: “I can’t relate to living without relation to what is Divine and spiritual.  But even without those, all normal human beings possess a will and a moral sense.  By these we intuit moral and ethical absolutes and use them to restrain our lower nature.”

Mary: “That’s right, Francis.  Faith or no faith, in my view, it’s about how we treat other people.  Everyone worth knowing is against lying, deceiving, robbing, and harming other people.  Everyone worth knowing is striving to be honest, to keep their promises, to help others, and to respect other people’s dignity.”  Five yesses.