Highpoint of 20th Century American Culture?

[Savonarola]

1920s. For Charlie Chaplain, Walt Disney, Al Capone, the birth of radio and TV, transition from silent movies to talkies. The OP does ask about culture. Hollywood and Mickey Mouse.

The birth of radio, tv and the start of talkies is hardly a high point. You have to let things simmer a bit and develop.

Radio already was a developed medium by the 1920s with regular shows.  The Grand Ole Opry started broadcasting then (as did Amos and Andy.)

The start of talkies was all but a catastrophe for Hollywood.  It's amazing how dynamic the 1928 Academy Award Winner "Wings" (a silent film) was and how lifeless the 1929 winner "Broadway Melody" (a talkie) was.  That being said, though, the 1920s were a great era for silent films.

[Gups]

60s for music
40s or 70s for film
90s for TV
20s for architecture
30s for books

[merithyn]

The decade when women knew their place.

1940's and in the work force, right?

No, man.  The 80s.  Big hair, shoulder pads, leggings.

Watching my daughter and her friends, it's back. My daughter even asked me how I made my hair "so cool" when I was in high school. 

[CountDeMoney]

Lol, today's word is "Aquanet".

[derspiess]

  I hated the smell of that stuff.

[crazy canuck]

The 80s were the height of civilization.  Everything went downhill from there. 89 was the most hopeful year ever.  Communism was essentially defeated.  The future was limitless - well until we screwed it all up so badly.  But that was another decade or two in the making and does not taint the wonder that was the 80s.

[CountDeMoney]

89 was the most hopeful year ever.  Communism was essentially defeated.

Lol, the Beijing University Student Government Association courteously disagrees from their prison cells and graves.

[Eddie Teach]

89 was the most hopeful year ever.  Communism was essentially defeated.

Lol, the Beijing University Student Government Association courteously disagrees from their prison cells and graves.

Communism was defeated in China with the death of Mao. They just decided to keep the totalitarian part.

[CountDeMoney]

Communism was defeated in China with the death of MaoDeng. They just decided to keep the totalitarian part.

[Eddie Teach]

Isn't he the one who said "To be rich is glorious"?

[CountDeMoney]

Deng was a progressive communist, but still a communist.

And Mao came from wealth, so don't even go there with his fake ass.

[Eddie Teach]

Mao did a pretty good job of stifling economic growth while he was alive. Communist economies don't get 10% annual growth rates.

[Admiral Yi]

And Mao came from wealth, so don't even go there with his fake ass.

Eh?  I think he came from a modest background.  Country schoolteacher, something like that?

[CountDeMoney]

His father had money--as far as Chinese farmers went.  Hated his father, though. Then agian, so did Chiang.

Hated their Dads, loved their Moms.  Typical strongman meme.

[grumbler]

And Mao came from wealth, so don't even go there with his fake ass.

Eh?  I think he came from a modest background.  Country schoolteacher, something like that?

He "came from money" only in comparison to the poorer peasant families than his; his dad had the equivalent of $10 buried in his back yard.