Audio media in 1948
Most of the songs that I found that were popular in 1948 were based on love and relationships. Many of which I found the meaning to be sexist. The songs below are the ones that stood out to me the most in terms of Lolita and Humberts fascination with young girls. All of the songs that I have chosen are love songs, one of which speaks of a strange boy and his love for a woman. The one that disturbed me the post would be "Baby Face" after reading Humberts descriptions of young girls, listening to that song really made me feel as if Humbert could have written it. Speaking of young women and talking about their "Baby Face" and their facial features really made me uncomfortable.
Audio- Nature BoyI chose this song by Nat King Cole because it reminds me of what Humbert thinks of his love. "Nature Boy" written and sung in 1948 it is a long song, but it seems to focus on innocents of love. Within the song Nat says "The greatest thing you will learn is just to love and be loved in return" this line is what reminds me of Humbert and what I believe is going through his head when he thinks of Lolita. I also found it very fitting when the song opens with "there was a boy, a very strange boy."
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Audio- Baby FaceBaby Face automatically caught my eye considering Humbert's fascination with young girls. Baby Face was written in 1948 and the lyrics go along with how Humbert has described young girls our reading of Lolita. The song describes not only the young girl having a "baby face" but also goes into details of their hair and the dimples in her cheeks.
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Audio- My HappinessMy Happiness was written in 1948, this song is about thinking about the past and past love. They sing about only being able to think about how happy they were when they were with their significant other. This makes me think about Humbert and how he can only think about Lolita in his everyday life, and how he seem to be happy when he is around her.
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Visual Media in 1948
The 1950's was a time of which communism is starting to rise, and therefore propaganda was on the rise. Many Americans saw these posters all over towns and cities, which persuaded them to feel a certain way. The Cold War was in full swing during this time period, leaving American men to be called to war, or even the propaganda at this time to persuade men to enlist in the military.
Visual #1This image was one of many that were shared all over the country during the time of McCarthyism. People were being silenced based on political beliefs. I compare this to Lolita because she is starting to develop her own voice in the book and it is only a matter of time until she is silenced.
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News happening in this decade.
This section is to get emerged into what was going on in the news during the moment. in which the book is being written.
The "REAL Lolita"?It is believed that the book Lolita was based on a true kidnapping of a young girl in 1948. This has caused an uproar against Nabokov's integrity as a fiction author. Although the accusation is very telling of the events going on during this time, Nabokov was able to deny that his story was based on this event because he actually started writing his book before the kidnapping took place.
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ConsumerismThis article makes me think of Humbert's relation with Lolita, and how he always had to buy things for her to keep her from leaving him. The photo also portrays what people thought was the "ideal" life, showing the mother of the house taking are of the kids as well as attending to her husband.
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