According to Joshua Zeitz, the Jazz Age was defined by an ethic of what?

• A. Self-control
• B. Self-indulgence
• C. Moral discipline
• D. Community service

Answer: (B)

Joshua Zeitz portrays the Jazz Age as defined by an ethic of self-indulgence—the celebration of pleasure, novelty, and personal expression. After World War I, Americans sought relief from wartime restraint, and urban nightlife, jazz, flappers, and new fashions became outlets for carefree living. Prohibition unintentionally fueled indulgence, with speakeasies and secret drinks turning pleasure-seeking into a fashionable risk. Mass advertising, consumer goods, and entertainment industries encouraged spending on leisure and status, reinforcing the idea that personal gratification and experiences mattered most. This outlook stands in contrast to ideas of self-control or moral discipline, and it’s not centered on community service; rather, it emphasizes indulging desires and redefining social norms around gender, sexuality, and taste.