Laura Jones - OCA Key Steps in Illustration 1: Part 2: Exercise

People and costume in the 1950's (hair, make-up, clothing, thinking):

More innocent fun and intersocial behaviour with very strong feminine icons typical of the period when industrialisation was prevalent. Hairstyles, clothing and makeup reflect cruder products and lack of technology. Make-up was heavy, unrefined, blocks of mascara and thick red lip colour. Hair relied on curlers and hairspray and clothing emphasised gender differences and roles in society.

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/blogs/daily/2014/08/forgotten-fifties-look-magazine-slideshow_slideshow_item3_4
Teenagers doing the bunny hop, 1953. [accessed nov 2014]

www.styleglow.com [accessed 16 October 2014]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_brassieres [accessed 25 November 2015]: Patti Page wearing a bullet bra, 1955

www.time.com [accessed oct 2014]

www.rebloggy.com [accessed oct 2014]

www.kassiastclair.com [accessed oct 2014]

www.isis.aust.com [accessed oct 2014]

Women were happy to demonstrate for equal rights, at the same time they'd emulate emerging media icons, such as the rise of the busty mannequin-like pin-ups like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, with over dyed platinum hair and heavily painted faces.

Architecture and interiors (buildings windows doors rooms functionality):

The advent of Modernism was inspired by industrialisation, genetic science, space travel and strong lines. Architecture and interiors followed this trend with bright colours and intergalactic styles...

www.archdaily.com [accessed Nov 2014]

http://clickamericana.com/topics/featured/the-space-house-1956 [accessed Nov 2014]

www.historama.com
[accessed Dec 2014]

www.designboom.com [accessed Oct 2014]

Martin Luther King Jnr's restored home, courtesy AP Photo at http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/2003/nov/23/
[accessed Oct 2014]

Art (painting, drawing and sculpture):
The fifties saw a radical departure from traditional thinking and visually these efforts were quite polarised:
Colour field painting: large fields of flat, solid colour spread across or stained into the canvas with a flat picture plane. There's less focus on brushstrokes and more consistency pioneered by Kenneth Noland (US).

And Half by Kenneth Noland, 1959, www.kennethnoland.com/works/1950-1960.php
[Accessed 3 Dec 2014]

Abstract Expressionism: Typically look at Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko

Jackson Pollock in his studio www.neatorama.com
[Accessed 2 Dec 2014]

Dionysius by Mark Rothko, 1958 www.thelardnerreport.com
[Accessed 2 Dec 2014]

Graphic design (magazines, books, colours and moods)
Design had a utilitarian feel - with colours that could be described as sombre: tones of brown, faded blues, lots of washed out orange.

Note: POP Art was born in the 50's and is defined by -

Recognisable imagery, inspired by popular media and products.
Very bright colours.
Very flat imagery influenced by comic books and newspaper photos.
Images of fictional characters in comic books, ads and fanzeens.
Sculpture showed innovation in chosen mediums.

Colour, texture and pattern courtesy Thinkstock.com
[Accessed June 2014]

Book cover Typography www.amazon.com
[Accessed Dec 2014]

Colour, texture and pattern courtesy Thinkstock.com
[Accessed June 2014]

POP Art design patterns from the 1950's www.thinkstock.com
[Accessed Nov 2014]

Vogue magazine 1950 cover typography www.magazines.famousfix.com
[Accessed Dec 2014]

Advertising (selective posters) and film typography advertising movie trailers:

Observations: 1950's advertising strove to be quite informative, to back certain claims and promises. People were painted or drawn very realistically and colours, although bright lacked the intensity that technology delivers today. Typography tended towards italics as well as an angled 45 degree position for emphasis.

http://plenteousveg.com/government-health-posters/
[Accessed Sep 2014]

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-top-10-most-dangerous-ads/
[Accessed Dec 2014]

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-top-10-most-dangerous-ads/

[Accessed Dec 2014]

http://annyas.com/screenshots/warner-bros-trailer-typography-1950-1954/

http://annyas.com/screenshots/warner-bros-trailer-typography-1950-1954/
[All movie trailer adverts above accessed Dec 2014]

Transport (cars planes trains walking)
https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/america-by-air/online/heyday/heyday11.cfm says:

By the end of the 1950s, America's airlines were bringing a new level of speed, comfort, and efficiency to the traveling public. But as flying became commonplace and jet aircraft began to replace piston-engine airliners, the air travel experience began to change.

With the steady increase in passenger traffic, the level of personal service decreased. The stresses of air travel began to replace the thrill. Flying was no longer a novelty or an adventure; it was becoming a necessity.

Film and TV (plays movies sitcoms)