In the 1920’s and 30’s unemployment was definitely a social issue. Our nation’s economic crisis affected millions of Americans in many aspects of life. With such a large number of people unable to find work, some Americans became overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness; while others were inspired by the depression, igniting creative action. Photographers, painters, writers, actors, poets, singers, musicians and entrepreneurs found a way to make a living by entertaining society during these depressing times. Many of these artists felt the need to capture the uniqueness of this time period, primarily because society was flipped upside down. In this paper I would like to reintroduce many forgotten artists of this time period. I plan to break down the impact of their social work along with their regional influence. It’s also important to learn and understand the government’s influence towards the entertainment and arts industry.
In the 1920’s many musicians had some highs and lows; of course many people were out of work, so one would think that artists would be performing less. In fact, it was the opposite. A PBS article and film titled “JAZZ” speaks about The Great Depression and the economic effect on the music industry. Cities like Chicago had several record labels during those times and many went out of business due to decreasing record sales. The Victor Company made record players and they were forced to make radios and radio programs, because people couldn’t afford to buy albums. According to the PBS article, the Depression meant that millions of people all over the world would now be able to listen to music (Burns). It was said that all artists during the 1920s and 30s played music for free. I found it interesting that music was evolving during this time. Jazz became known as Swing. This new innovative sound was a little more up tempo and incorporated additional instruments. The new Swing music increased records sales by 1939 and was used by major entertainment companies (Burns). Holly wood used this new sound in many movies; juke boxes and radio stations got many request to play this music as well. Benny Goodman is a Jazz musician known as the King of Swing; his music lead the time period and captured the hearts of many music lovers. Music was used as a way to forget about the hardships of the time period, and many songs mentally took people to a better place.
Many young photographers during the depression made a name for themselves capturing homelessness, unemployment, poverty and despair. Pictures have a way of saying a thousand words, allowing the world to semi-experience that moment in time. To understand the structure of this particular artwork it takes a talented artist to illuminate the harsh realities of that time. Dorothea Lange was known as one of the leading photographers able to do this. She is well known for one particular photograph titled the “Migrant Mother” (Luxembourg). The Migrant Mother was a still shot of a poor mother with her two children hiding their faces. Edward Steichen also took many photos of displaced people in the mid-west. The Dust Bowl ironically happened right around the economic collapse. Years of drought along with poor agricultural management destroyed farm land, homes, crops; and made the region an inhabitable place. People were not able to make a living due to soil erosion, so they moved away. Other photographers were also inspired by the depression of the 1930’s, capturing rolling dust storms, Hobos, and unemployment lines wrapped around a building. Dorothea Lange was one of the greatest to me, because she inspired many people. She was one of the few if not only professional women working during that time for the FSA as a professional photographer. Dorothea Lange brought to light what could have been lost in time if not for the tremendous amounts of work she completed.
In the 1920’s many musicians had some highs and lows; of course many people were out of work, so one would think that artists would be performing less. In fact, it was the opposite. A PBS article and film titled “JAZZ” speaks about The Great Depression and the economic effect on the music industry. Cities like Chicago had several record labels during those times and many went out of business due to decreasing record sales. The Victor Company made record players and they were forced to make radios and radio programs, because people couldn’t afford to buy albums. According to the PBS article, the Depression meant that millions of people all over the world would now be able to listen to music (Burns). It was said that all artists during the 1920s and 30s played music for free. I found it interesting that music was evolving during this time. Jazz became known as Swing. This new innovative sound was a little more up tempo and incorporated additional instruments. The new Swing music increased records sales by 1939 and was used by major entertainment companies (Burns). Holly wood used this new sound in many movies; juke boxes and radio stations got many request to play this music as well. Benny Goodman is a Jazz musician known as the King of Swing; his music lead the time period and captured the hearts of many music lovers. Music was used as a way to forget about the hardships of the time period, and many songs mentally took people to a better place.
Many young photographers during the depression made a name for themselves capturing homelessness, unemployment, poverty and despair. Pictures have a way of saying a thousand words, allowing the world to semi-experience that moment in time. To understand the structure of this particular artwork it takes a talented artist to illuminate the harsh realities of that time. Dorothea Lange was known as one of the leading photographers able to do this. She is well known for one particular photograph titled the “Migrant Mother” (Luxembourg). The Migrant Mother was a still shot of a poor mother with her two children hiding their faces. Edward Steichen also took many photos of displaced people in the mid-west. The Dust Bowl ironically happened right around the economic collapse. Years of drought along with poor agricultural management destroyed farm land, homes, crops; and made the region an inhabitable place. People were not able to make a living due to soil erosion, so they moved away. Other photographers were also inspired by the depression of the 1930’s, capturing rolling dust storms, Hobos, and unemployment lines wrapped around a building. Dorothea Lange was one of the greatest to me, because she inspired many people. She was one of the few if not only professional women working during that time for the FSA as a professional photographer. Dorothea Lange brought to light what could have been lost in time if not for the tremendous amounts of work she completed.
In 1934 the New Deal supplied funding for many artists and painters. Harry Hopkins was the man in charge of the Relief Act. The plan was to stimulate the economy in every way possible. In order to do this he had to make provisions for the arts and cultural side of the workforce. The Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) was geared towards the arts, providing 3,749 artists with jobs, which produced 15,663 painting, murals, prints, crafts and sculptures for government buildings (Adler). This much need project was necessary for our country at this time because it did inspire the next generation and did employ a large amount of Americans during a time when very few had a job. Mark Rothko made a strong impact during the 1930s as a prolific painter. His works can be found in museums across the U.S. and in other countries; places like the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, Hamburg Kunsthalle in Hamburg, The Tate modern in London, and Solomon Guggenheim Museum in New York (Mark Rothko Paintings, Biography, Quotes). Jackson Pollock was another exceptional painter; his work was symbolic and personal. He was one of the artists that participated in the Public Works of Art Project. He was paid $24.86 to work 20 hours a week. Another artist by the name of Charles Kassler chose to use the Public Works Administration as his theme. In his work he captured other painters while they were working on a project. Many of his works are consider a matter of historical record because of his approach (Steven M. Gelber). Most of Kassler’s inspiration came from his desire to solve the unemployment problem in America. A constant battle that went on for years was only going to be resolved if the everyday person was aware of the current circumstances; I believe that the painters had a lot to do with this process. Many painters had their own unique style and contributed many works of art during a time when hopelessness and poverty suffocated the country.
The Great Depression was a time when our country was in despair, lost with little to no way of knowing how our great nation would recover. The Dark Ages in England was nothing like the Great Depression, although some similarities were evident. People starved during the Dark Ages and dealt with diseases, hunger, war, and poverty issues. Even though it was a time when almost all hope was lost, something different and innovative birthed from this dark period. The Renaissance was immediately after the Dark Ages and lasted from the 14th to the 17th century. In this time frame many changes took place. The Renaissance was a new cultural movement where educators, inventors, artist and musicians got the chance to make a dramatic impact for that era. Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were just a few of the great minds that contributed to the Renaissance (R. A. Guisepi).
I believe that the artist of the Middle Ages inspired nations and young people to use their minds and creative thinking in order to interject change into society. It is something about artwork and music that takes a person to a place where they could see beyond their own hardships and rise above their negative circumstances. Just like in the Great Depression, some of the same types of artists got the chance to record history through their art work, allowing society to see beauty when surrounded by tragedy.
Bibliography
Adler, Jerry. "1934 The Art of the New Deal." 10 June 2009. Smithsonian. 27 April 2014 <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/?n...>.
Burns, Ken. PBS-Jazz. 24 April 2014. 24 4 2014 <http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_depression.htm>.
Luxembourg. "The Economist." 22 Oct 2012. Economist. 27 April 2014 <http://www.economist.com/blogs/propero/2012/10photographs-great-depression>.
Mark Rothko Paintings, Biograhphy, Quotes. Mark Rothko Paintings, Biograhphy, Quotes. 12 May 2011. 27 April 2014 <www.markrothko.org/>.
R. A. Guisepi. History of the Renaissance in Europe . 28 April 2014. 28 April 2014 <http://history-world.org/renaissance.htm>.
Steven M. Gelber. Public Arts Programs in the 1930s. 10 April 2014. 24 April 2014 <http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=public_arts_programs_in_the_1930s>.
I believe that the artist of the Middle Ages inspired nations and young people to use their minds and creative thinking in order to interject change into society. It is something about artwork and music that takes a person to a place where they could see beyond their own hardships and rise above their negative circumstances. Just like in the Great Depression, some of the same types of artists got the chance to record history through their art work, allowing society to see beauty when surrounded by tragedy.
Bibliography
Adler, Jerry. "1934 The Art of the New Deal." 10 June 2009. Smithsonian. 27 April 2014 <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/?n...>.
Burns, Ken. PBS-Jazz. 24 April 2014. 24 4 2014 <http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_depression.htm>.
Luxembourg. "The Economist." 22 Oct 2012. Economist. 27 April 2014 <http://www.economist.com/blogs/propero/2012/10photographs-great-depression>.
Mark Rothko Paintings, Biograhphy, Quotes. Mark Rothko Paintings, Biograhphy, Quotes. 12 May 2011. 27 April 2014 <www.markrothko.org/>.
R. A. Guisepi. History of the Renaissance in Europe . 28 April 2014. 28 April 2014 <http://history-world.org/renaissance.htm>.
Steven M. Gelber. Public Arts Programs in the 1930s. 10 April 2014. 24 April 2014 <http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=public_arts_programs_in_the_1930s>.