Welcome to Your Dream House Homes of the future were predicted to be all about luxury and ease. People hoped that their lives would be made easier by automated tools in the home. People also were seemingly conscious about the impact on the environment the construction of homes could have. Some believed that people would be living in communal housing or that all homes would have electric energy, and these predictions proved true. However, some of the more interesting ones, while not entirely true, have still influenced our present lives. Rolling Houses In September 1934, Everyday Science and Mechanics proposed that people would be living in rolling, possibly floating, houses. This design would not only allow for easy construction, but would also allow people to move their homes in cases of disaster quickly and efficiently. Floor-to-Ceiling Entertainment In the late 70s, with the rise of the popularity of cinema, the mass commercialization of the home television, and the increasing interest in pop culture, people strongly believed that those in the future would be living in homes with floor-to-ceiling television screens serving as the walls, surrounding the occupants with whatever media their heart desired. Light as a Feather Homes In the 1940s, one group of architects predicted that homes in the future would be slowly molded and layered out of super-light “aerogel”, very similar to the 3D printing today. The homes would be constructed and transported easily and would cause less impact on the environment, proving both cheaper for the homeowner and better for the earth. The Bathroom Got Your Back- Literally In 1899, artist Jean Marc Cote was challenged to envision the world of the future and, knowing that many hoped that the future meant an easier life, and the labor of getting ready in the morning would be made simpler, he predicted the automated bathroom. Mirrors that adjusted to the angle without human touch, powders and makeups that were applied via mechanical arms, and scrub brushes that automatically reached those hard to reach places; this and more would hopefully be found in future homes to make morning prep much easier. The Whole-House Is A Roomba! In the 1980s, a woman in Oregon named Frances Gabe invented the “self-sluicing house”, a house that would clean itself- both wash and dry- enabling women to have more freedom and removing a bothersome chore. Despite the alluring idea, many women at the time were outraged by the idea, claiming it would rob them of their primary duties at home while their husband was off at work. QUESTIONS: 1) What was one safety benefit of rolling homes? 2) Why were floor-to-ceiling televisions predicted in the 70s? 3) What process is used today that was similar to the idea proposed in the 40s? 4) Jean Marc Cote believed people would have an entirely automated what? 5) Why was the “self-sluicing house” idea rejected by the people it was meant to liberate? Works Cited: “7 Houses of the Future, According to the Past.” Angie's List | Join for FREE to See 10 Million Verified Reviews, 16 Apr. 2019, www.angieslist.com/articles/7houses-future-according-past.htm. Dunn, Thom. “11 Ridiculous Future Predictions from the 1900 World's Fair - and 3 That Came True.” Upworthy, Upworthy, 1 June 2019, www.upworthy.com/11ridiculous-future-predictions-from-the-1900-worlds-fair-and-3-that-came-true. Frost, Natasha. “All Steel Everything, and Other Predictions from the Past about the Home of the Future.” Quartz, Quartz, 17 Oct. 2018, qz.com/1383674/allsteel-everything-and-other-predictions-from-the-past-about-the-home-of-the-future/. Uptas, Aušrys. “Here's How People In The 1900s Predicted Future Homes Would Look Like (7 Pics).” Demilked, Demilked, 16 May 2019, www.demilked.com/house-predictions-future-angieslist/. Mini Outline of how I would complete this essay Introduction: Some background information about how future prediction of homes focused on appealing to the consumer as well as being economically sensible. My thesis statement would be “Throughout the past, the predictions of future homes has been very diverse, but there are common threads throughout: a home should be practical, a home should be sustainable, and a home should put the homeowner at ease.” Body Paragraph 1: Explanation of the prediction of homes as practical and focused on providing the homeowner with a sense of security. In this paragraph, I would discuss the Rolling Homes from the 1930s that would help people avoid disasters and allow them to survive in a variety of situations. I would connect to how many homes today have security/safety measures in place, but nothing as drastic as a moveable, floating home. Body Paragraph 2: Explanation of the ideas of homes as sustainable objects with low-environmental impact. In this paragraph, I would discuss the 1940s vision of molded homes, which would benefit the consumer as well as the planet. I would explain the logic behind this type of home creation and how it would be a benefit. I would then connect this topic to today’s use of 3D printing, possibly mentioning how certain individuals print objects such as cars or elements for their home but I do not believe a 3D printed, sustainable home has come to exist yet. Body Paragraph 3: Explanation of predictions of homes as objects that ease the life of the homeowner. In this paragraph, I would focus on the ideas from the 70s, 80s, and 1899 that go through the house being one meant to relax and relieve the homeowner, removing the need for doing chores or brushing your own teeth. I would connect this to some of the modern things we have, such as flat screens, mechanical toothbrushes, and objects like the Roomba, which allow modern life to be less stressful. Body Paragraph 4: Explanation of other predictions not featured on the poster/visual. In this paragraph, I would focus on ideas such as the whole-house garden that allows you to live with your walls and ceiling covered in plants to increase oxygen and the toddler maid robot that would care for your children. I would mention how these are predictions that, similarly to the above mentioned, focus on easing stresses as well as caring for the environment. Conclusion: Connections of how the future (modern times) would be impacted if these had come true. In this paragraph, I would mention that I just as I have already touched on some of the similarities, such as flat screen TVs to the floor-to-ceiling screen concept of the 70s, many of these predictions have become elements of modern technologies and conveniences around the home. However, I would then focus on how, if these predictions had come true 100%, the future would potentially be a very different place due to less environmental impact, more affordable and sustainable housing, and less stress for people in their daily lives. The Man Who Had Something To Say: F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald was a man with a natural talent for writing and at the early age of 13, he was published. At 23 he reached his fame by writing a novel about something that truly touched the lives of all around him: post-World War 1 life. Fitzgerald focused on the duality of poor and rich, men and women, black and white, etc., exploring how these concepts could moralize his readers to learning some lesson about themselves along the way. He gained an audience who appreciated the authenticity of his stories and his idealism of “the green light”, however some dismissed him as simply a “flapper author,” writing only to appeal the youthful, party crowd; and as the “Roaring 20’s” faded, Fitzgerald’s popularity between to fade along with the American lifestyle of luster. Despite the modern popularity of his works, in his time Fitzgerald never felt adequate compared to his fellow authors and continued to push himself, writing until his deathbed to reach their level of success. A Focus on Duality- the Morals of His Work Ambition vs Loss Discipline vs Self-Indulgence Love vs Romance Money vs Class This Side of Paradise Fitzgerald’s first novel of fame that told the story of a soldier-in-training’s whose failures in love and college are not because of his own shortcomings, but instead is because of the setbacks of modern life. This novel gave a voice to the young people, telling their story and offering them a new perspective on what they could achieve in life given the limitations they faced. Fitzgerald and the Flappers Fitzgerald was often associated with flappers and flapper culture, portraying many of his female characters as such. Even after the fad passed, he continued to use this youthful, feminine persona in his stories. Don’t Satirize, Moralize Fitzgerald didn’t aim to mock the society around him; instead, he was belligerent and blunt in his portrayal of the world. While this tended to rub some people the wrong way, it also allowed him to help readers learn values and lessons relevant to their lives from his stories. Gatsby and The Green Light The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald’s most popular work and, while it can be slightly challenging to get through, captures the pursuit of the American Dream during the time. The Green Light Fitzgerald refers to throughout the novel represents a sense of hope and prosperity, something Fitzgerald wanted his readers to value and hold true, no matter their position in life. QUESTIONS: 1) The morals of Fitzgerald’s works focused on the concept of what? 2) Why was Fitzgerald’s novel, The Side of Paradise, popular with young people? 3) Why did Fitzgerald write about Flappers? 4) Fitzgerald wanted, not to mock the world, but do what with his novels? 5) What did the Green Light represent for Fitzgerald? Works Cited: “F. Scott Fitzgerald.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Society, F. Scott Fitzgerald Society, 6 Nov. 2018, fscottfitzgeraldsociety.org/about-us-2/biography/. Mizener, Arthur. “F. Scott Fitzgerald.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Dec. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/F-Scott-Fitzgerald. The Curious Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald by Kate O'Connor at http://writersinspire.org/content/curious-life-f-scott-fitzgerald. Accessed on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. “The Sensible Thing: Biographies.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/kteh/amstorytellers/bios.html. Mini Outline of how I would complete this essay Introduction: I would start with a quote by Fitzgerald and provide a brief overview of his life, touching on his early writing, his struggles with confident in his success, and his famed novels still used today. My thesis would be: “Although he struggled to reach his own personal goals for success, Fitzgerald provided his readers with literature that embodied his own struggles, encompassed the experiences of the 20s, empowered women, and encouraged them to learn from the lessons provided within his stories’ pages.” Body Paragraph 1: Explanation of Fitzgerald’s personal struggles and how they are relevant in his literature. I would connect to his own experiences as a soldier coming up in many of his stories, as well as his obsession with the roaring 20’s lifestyle and how many elements from this time period influence his books, even beyond the passing of the decade. Body Paragraph 2: Explanation of Fitzgerald’s depiction of the world at the time and how it was a real vision of the period. I would connect to how his characters, while fictional, represent real groups of people and how the conflicts he addresses were ones that people of the 20s would face daily. I would explain how his writing encompassed the experience of living in the 20s, and how this was relatable and meaningful to many readers, as well as relevant to readers today. Body Paragraph 3: Explanation of how Fitzgerald’s novels empower women. In this paragraph, I would connect his idolization of youth and beauty to the women’s movement at the time, discussing how Fitzgerald’s writing served to support the freedom and liberation of women in the 20s. Body Paragraph 4: Explanation of how Fitzgerald uses his novels to teach his readers lessons and moralize them. I would explain how the novels reflect real life and thus the characters and the experiences of the characters serve as an opportunity for the reader to learn through their observation of the events. I would discuss Fitzgerald’s desires to have all men (and women) become the best they can and reach their dream potential, although not easily achieved, as seen through many of his lessons taught. Conclusion: Connections of how information learned my impact the novel. In this paragraph, I might predict that Fitzgerald may have characters who are morally corrupt paired with characters who are “pure” to teach the readers a lesson about getting ahead in life without greed. I may also predict that Fitzgerald will discuss many things from the 20s that are out of date but still interesting, as they have led to elements of modern times- for example, I predict he will have some flappers in this novel, and they are a great representation of the first real steps in the women’s liberation movement.
