If you could live at any time in history, when would it be?

[Derf]

OK you 40's and 50's folks if I had to pick a time in recent history (since 1900) I'd say the 1910's - 1920's, great times, vaudeville, the Ziegfeld Follies, early autos and airplanes, early radio and nickelodeons and not to mention the high style of Art Deco and Art Nouveau which I think has not been surpassed in style and design, although the early 50's Machine Age is close. However, I'd prefer to be gone by Oct 1929 pretty much down hill for a while after that. Granted that hold prohibition thing was kind of insane, but it didn't seem to slow anyone down.

I will definitely agree with your assessment of Art Deco and Art Nouveau. In fact, I just finished making my own weekly planner this morning (yes, I'm anal enough that I make my own planner so I can get exactly the format I want), and the artwork is all Nouveau (I couldn't find anything that would work with my layout in the Deco style). I chose the '40s mostly because of the music, national optimism, and clothing style, but for art and architecture, the '20s-'30s is definitely a wonderful period.

[Jack]

I'd like to go back to the early 1700's and listen to Johann Sebastian Bach perform in person.  He worked in a church in Leipzig, church services lasted half a day and there was tons of music.  He wrote all new music for the services almost every week, which was an unheard of feat.  He did this using a quill pen dipped in ink, and he even had to draw his own musical staff lines on the paper before he began.  They tuned the instruments differently back in those days, it's said that if any of those old composers were to hear music today in our modern tuning system, they would probably become ill.  So it would be a real experience to hear hm play, in the old tuning system.  The chance to chat with him for a minute and see what he was like would be quite incredible.

Don't think I'd like to stay there for too long though, what with half the children dying before they were 5 because of the lack of advanced medical care and stuff.

[asimpson2006]

There are several time periods that I would like to visit.

Acient Greece
I always though that Acient Greece was really interesting and the gods they worshiped and the legends and myths from that time really interest me.

The 1920's
Prohibition-era America is my favorite part of American History.  I'm not sure why it is my favorite but I think it has to do with the fact that liquor and alcohol across the board was banned, but how every still drank it.  I was also interested in seeing the rise of certain crime groups and fugitives. 

1970's (Probably after Vietnam)

There are several reasons why I would go to this time period.

The TV shows that were one.
The music from certain groups that I enjoyed.
The cars that existed at the time.
To see how America was after Vietnam ended.
To see my Karate instructor before he lost his eye, and to see what type of fighter he was back in the day.

[CheezeFlixz]

1970's (Probably after Vietnam)

There are several reasons why I would go to this time period.

The TV shows that were one.
The music from certain groups that I enjoyed.
The cars that existed at the time.
To see how America was after Vietnam ended.
To see my Karate instructor before he lost his eye, and to see what type of fighter he was back in the day.

Believe me the 1970's weren't that great, really bad fashion, as much political divide as there is today, most cars were really ugly, it was only after you spent a small fortune on them did they look good and then the gas shortage started bringing an end to the muscle car, (Thanks Mr Carter). However, the Bi-Centennial is one of those things I am glad I was around for.

[indianasmith]

Of course, if I could pick my age and occupation, I would give anything to have been a fighter pilot for the Royal Flying Corps, along about 1917 or so, right after the Sopwith Camel and the S.E. 5a were introduced.  Dogfighting the Red Baron would be an incredible way to shuffle off this mortal coil!

[asimpson2006]

1970's (Probably after Vietnam)

There are several reasons why I would go to this time period.

The TV shows that were one.
The music from certain groups that I enjoyed.
The cars that existed at the time.
To see how America was after Vietnam ended.
To see my Karate instructor before he lost his eye, and to see what type of fighter he was back in the day.

Believe me the 1970's weren't that great, really bad fashion, as much political divide as there is today, most cars were really ugly, it was only after you spent a small fortune on them did they look good and then the gas shortage started bringing an end to the muscle car, (Thanks Mr Carter). However, the Bi-Centennial is one of those things I am glad I was around for.

I know some of the fashions were bad then, I've seen lots of pics and heard lots of stories from my rents about 70's fashion.  The one pic that really was wacky was seeing a picture my dad with a full head of hair wearing a black Leisure suit in the basement of our house.  Now that was creepy.

Bas Fashion is funny to me, for some reason.  I really get my kicks out of 80's fashion, that was awful.  The only thing good I can say about that was that I was just a toddler through the 80's so I don't remember having to enduring the fashion of then.

[CheezeFlixz]

I know some of the fashions were bad then, I've seen lots of pics and heard lots of stories from my rents about 70's fashion.  The one pic that really was wacky was seeing a picture my dad with a full head of hair wearing a black Leisure suit in the basement of our house.  Now that was creepy.

I have photo evidence of bad 1970's fashion, most of it locked away never to be seen again, I have pictures with HUGE lapels, platform shoes, elephant bottom pants, leisure suits (lite blue polyester with white thread and buttons ) the let it be hair style, and let's not forget Disco and disco  clothes .. ah the 1970's how I miss them ... not!



However there were a thing or two great about the 1970's ...
which was the tube top and hot pants. Those work regardless of the decade.

[JaseSF]

1950s. The best sci-fi movies ever!! Cool leather jackets and wonderful rock n' roll music. And the Drive-in!!

[Patient7]

I would choose medieval Europe because of the whole sword and no pollution thing.  Also the blindness towards the workings of the human body and other scientific stuff would have put things into a more philosophical perspective.  And the only drive bys were the joust.

Or the 1980's, good music, good movies, delorians.

[CheezeFlixz]

I would choose medieval Europe because of the whole sword and no pollution thing.  Also the blindness towards the workings of the human body and other scientific stuff would have put things into a more philosophical perspective.  And the only drive bys were the joust.

Well you had that whole Black Death thing, and the crusades, raiders and pillagers, the ever looming threat the inquisition. It's a time in history I'd like visit, but I'd keep a low profile and take a first aid kit. 

[indianasmith]

It would be fun to go back to the Middle Ages or the Renaissance with several crates full of modern pharmaceuticals and reference books and become a royal physician . . .

"OK, King Henry, I'll heal the abcess on your leg - but I want my own palace and Anne Boleyn's younger sister!!!!"

[Patient7]

I would choose medieval Europe because of the whole sword and no pollution thing.  Also the blindness towards the workings of the human body and other scientific stuff would have put things into a more philosophical perspective.  And the only drive bys were the joust.

Well you had that whole Black Death thing, and the crusades, raiders and pillagers, the ever looming threat the inquisition. It's a time in history I'd like visit, but I'd keep a low profile and take a first aid kit. 

I thought about that when writing it, but at least back then we didn't have people complaining that food was too fattening.  They were just happy to have food.




OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I shouldn't have said that.

[CheezeFlixz]

It would be fun to go back to the Middle Ages or the Renaissance with several crates full of modern pharmaceuticals and reference books and become a royal physician . . .

"OK, King Henry, I'll heal the abcess on your leg - but I want my own palace and Anne Boleyn's younger sister!!!!"

As I'm sure you know, it is amazing the wide range of malities the elite had, most of which cause some form of mental illness. From the Egyptian Pharaohs, Emperors, Kings, Queens and the lot. Many were just a social step away from being locked up.
But you just don't read about that many normal, well adjusted, physically and mentally healthy leaders of antiquity. There were a few but most were just mad, or at the least thought faking it (i.e. Claudius) 

But true most ailments of old are what today is thought to be a easy home cure, what a difference a discovery makes, huh?

[Shadow]

1950s. The best sci-fi movies ever!! Cool leather jackets and wonderful rock n' roll music. And the Drive-in!!

Ditto!

Karma, for reading my mind!

[dean]

But you just don't read about that many normal, well adjusted, physically and mentally healthy leaders of antiquity. There were a few but most were just mad, or at the least thought faking it (i.e. Claudius)

Arguably one could say the same about leaders in general, current or ancient!