A brief guide to Space Age

Space Age:
"The Space Age is a contemporary period encompassing the activities related to the Space Race, space exploration, space technology, and the cultural developments influenced by these events. The Space Age is generally considered to have begun with Sputnik (1957)." (Wikipedia)

But space age is much more than this, it's fashon, design, music and I love it.

Design:
A lovely Plymouth Tornado, an Egg, a fantastic fishtank, a cart (with a baby) and a very fashionable bike.








Fashion:
Think of Twiggy, mods, scooter dresses and asian button up shirts/jackets.
For more, why not have a search at ebay?

Hair:
Ok although I love the space age I have to admit I'm not a big fan of the hair. It might be that I've got tons of hair, too much, the thought of rolling it exhausts me. And I haven't got the slightest plan of ever cutting my hair short, which would be the other way to go to get a traditional 60's style. Either way, here it is:























Movies:
Stanley Kramer and Billy Wilder hit the big screen with stories about new ideas and ways of lives which especialy in Krames movies clashed with old ways of living. There's racism in "guess who's comming to dinner", conservative church upbringings vs science in "Inherit the wind" and in my favourite Kramer movie; "Judgement in Nüremberg" Spencer Tracy tries to deal with the aftermath of the 2nd world for the German people and everyone else.
Billy Wilder often portrays the modern 60's person. Often he portrayes sexually libarated people (for it's time), often they feel alone and often you get to see Shirley McLaine and Jack Lemmon team up in all their charm.
(see Stanley Kramer: Judgement in Nüremberg, Inherit the wind, Guess who's comming to dinner. Billy Wilder: One, two, three, Irma La douce, The apartment.)



Hitchcock had already made some great movies which he continued doing with both Psycho and Vertigo. Kubrick made Spartacus as it was a time for BIG pictures including Cleopatra and Ben Hur.

I like Arne Matsson, a Swedish director who made a series of five movies know as the Hillman pictures. Hillman is a the couple Hillman who run a ditective agency solving mysteries. There's nothing of the Ingmar Bergman complex since Matsson is more of a cross between Agatha Christie and Hitchcock. I tried to find some clip from these movies but could only find this one from another movie he made during the same time, it'll have to do. Look at the use of music and how well every shoot is planned. If you look really close you might also see a bare boobie. ; )
(More: Arne Matsson, The lady in black, Mannekäng i rött)



Other memorable movies are ofcourse Sidney Lumets masterpiece 12 angry men as well as these other highly recommended pictures: Breakfast at Tiffanys, Cool hand Luke, To kill a mockingbird, Witness for the prosecution, Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf, Our man in Havanna, Cat on a hot tin roof and the early Bond movies (Dr No, From Russia with love, Thunderball and Goldfinger).



Music:
One thing I find very intresting about space age music is that it doesn't sound like space age looks. Space Age music is: Exotica, Lounge music. Jazz with lots of carribean influences.
One of my favourites is Les Baxter, so I've included some music fro him. For more I found this great site right here.