Arts, Entertainment & Culture in the U.S. in the 1970s

That said, Star Wars was not the most influential movie of the period, at least from a musical standpoint. Sure, the Imperial Theme is frighteningly catchy, but it was Saturday Night Fever that forever solidified the role of Disco as the soundtrack of the 1970s. Groups like the BeeGees, ABBA, and KC and the Sunshine Band as well as legendary icons like Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor belted from speakers and stages at clubs across the world. By far, the most famous of these clubs was the infamous Studio 54, a venue in New York City that attracted the biggest names in disco despite its numerous run-ins with the law.

That said, some of the most enduring musical talent of the period would have never thought of their material as disco. James Taylor epitomized the growing singer-songwriter movement and found considerable success. In more rural areas, the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd popularized a new genre, southern rock, best described as country music with a heavy use of electric guitars, with their songs Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama.

While some music audiences were tuning into the rural sounds of the New South, TV viewers were increasingly turning away from the small town antics of early 1970s television. Sure, the 1970s were the decade of the Brady Bunch, a sitcom about a blended family and teenage heartthrobs, Marcia and Greg. However, the real story of 1970s TV is how gritty and real it was getting. Shows like Saturday Night Live and All in the Family opened up dialogue on racist and sexist attitudes through comedic confrontation and challenges that exposed backward, stereotypical thinking. New series also challenged former racial norms, presenting minority members as middle-class citizens and/or successful business owners. Most popular were The Jeffersons and Good Times.

The life of a woman without being framed as a wife was explored in the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Soap operas took off, pressing social envelopes further. And for millions, the most influential show would feature a large yellow bird of indiscriminate species along with his friends - that's right, Sesame Street started late in 1969, but caught its full audience through the 1970s.

Also, color TV was now widespread and people wanted more. Cable TV began to reach millions of Americans during this period, and with it came HBO, a provider of movies and exclusive content. Soon, pay-per-view TV was possible, with boxing matches and sporting events being frequent sources of programming.

These new wildly popular series influenced fashion and culture in interesting ways. Farrah Fawcett and Catherine Bach, better known as Daisy Duke, provided significant influence in fashion. Diahann Carroll, the star of the television show Julia, was known for her elegant wardrobe that became a merchandising success with a Julia Barbie doll, a paper doll collection, and sewing patterns of her wardrobe. Meanwhile, stories from places like Studio 54 told of what the most fashionable individuals were wearing, from bell-bottom jeans to ruffled tuxedo shirts.

The houses of the 1970s were also a complete departure from earlier. Upon entering a house from the 1970s, many of us would first look for one of the lava lamps we feel epitomizes the period. However, beyond that accessory, it was during the 1970s that the idea of open-plan living came into its own. Exposed brick, thick carpets, and heavy wood paneling completed the look.

The 1970s was a busy period for American cultural actors. Many of its most enduring successes come from the films and music of the time, which saw explosions of disco and Star Wars, southern rock and mob movies, like The Godfather. TV shows also emerged that challenged the status quo of rural material of the 1960s. Shows like The Brady Bunch, children's shows like Sesame Street, and progressive shows that opened political and racial conversations like All in the Family were all a part of this decade. Styles in fashion were spread widely through such media, with both housing styles and clothing fashions being heavily influenced.

Your goal upon reaching the end of the video should be to recognize the popular movies, music, television, and fashion of the 1970s.