Culture in the 1930s
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/culture-in-the-thirties/
Course Readings: History of Recorded Music | Fall 2019
Course blog for Dr. Stan Renard's Fall 2019 History of Recorded Music course at UT San Antonio.
I am truly impressed how Americans in the 1930s responded to the great depression that crippled our nation. Despite many losing both their money and jobs, surprisingly, American culture actually grew in both diversity and art. What really stood out to me with all these cultural changes, however, was the emergence of swing dance/music. Originally a African American style of music, despite the prominent racism of that time, swing music became a global phenomenon. A happy and uplifting style of dancing and music everyone enjoyed, swing showed the world, despite racial differences, there was common ground that could be found between white people and people of color.
Here is an article displaying how swing dance came about and helped people keep their minds off the troubles of their day.
https://www.dance-america.com/swing-dance-history-83.html
It’s interesting to me that it wasn’t until the Great Depression that “ethnographic and archival projects” were created. I can only assume that since all Americans were hit equally hard at this time that the “aim to preserve American history and cultural legacy” was done as a means to try and unify people of different backgrounds. Slavery was abolished in 1865 and yet the government didn’t put stock in collecting the oral histories of freed slaves until the New Deal, when it was useful to them. The government stuck it’s hands in every aspect of American life during this time and no doubt used the systemic persecution and suffering of blacks and people of color to temper the growing despair of whites. Trying to appropriate blues and jazz as a “uniquely American contribution” is shameful on the governments part because it minimizes the pain, suffering, and sorrow that birthed these genres. Prior to the Great Depression whites had been claiming credit for the contributions of people of color for years (i.e. The Original Dixieland Jass Band), and although the government was trying to show the commonality between all Americans, in my opinion it failed in doing so.
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/connections/narratives-slavery/file.html
Despite living during the era of the Great Depression, the Americans of the 1930s were still able to find comfort in a variety of forms of entertainment. These individuals would seek out all genres of film, including comedies and musicals, in what was described as the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. Despite the popularity of art, literature, and film, I would argue that the radio was the most important item of the 1930s. This piece of technology allowed lots of Americans to enjoy music from the comfort of their homes, but it was the dissemination of the news that also caught the attention of these citizens. Whether President Franklin D. Roosevelt was hosting his usual “fireside chats,” or whether his opponents were spreading their ideas, everyone realized just how impactful the radio was in a decade marked by despair.
Below is an article mentioning other forms of the entertainment found during the era of the Great Depression.
https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_14.html
It’s interesting that during the Great Depression, entertainment could almost thrive, even going as far as to call it “the golden age” of Hollywood. At this devastating time, the American people were able to find some sort of solace in literature, art, music, and Cinema. The radio helped the music industry specifically, with the new emergence of styles like swing, which was broadcasted nationally every evening.
Here is a link on some information I found about the swing era,
https://www.jazzinamerica.org/jazzresources/stylesheets/9
Entertainment definitely thrived during the Great Depression & American people did find comfort in the arts. The radio helped the emergence of jazz through swing, but with the coming of WWII, swing died. As people’s salaries escalated, music deteriorated, plus there was a 20% tax on entertainment. Music thrived shortly, but then continued to struggle as times changed.
Due to the tragic economic crisis that took place in America during the 1930s, multiple astounding artistic “inventions” came alive. America found happiness in the new-found creations of music, cinema, arts, and literature. The US government promoted these new artistic expressions through the New Deal under the PWAP (Public Works of Art Project) and FAP (Federal Art Project). These projects intend to help artists of all sorts financially, but also preserve American history through their music, literature, and art work.
Although beautiful art was created, many artists wanted to focus on social inequality and injustice through their work (realism). Some misconception took place through photographs and did not fully depict that black Americans were truly suffering the most out of all the racial groups.
Technologies such as the radio and sound film did not go unnoticed especially during the “golden age”. During the period where film just started, the movie industry struggled to make a success up until popular genres such as comedies, monster movies, etc. were introduced. Of course, sound itself played a large roll in attracting the masses. Radio made accessibility extremely easy and thus was the main source of entertainment and information for the American people.
Below is my article in regards to how the war and politicians took away funded programs for artists:
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/new_deal_for_the_arts/text_introduction.html
I always thought it was rather interesting that during the Great Depression, Hollywood was in it’s golden age. Of course, a major reason for that is because seeing other characters on screen and experiencing all sorts of things takes your mind off of the harsh reality that you face in the real world. Back then, movie tickets were priced at only 35 cents and was really- the only escape Americans had then. Now, it’s shown that movie attendance have been on the decline ever since. This is partly due to the high cost of tickets and all the different types of platforms available nowadays to stream movies.
Here’s a link which describes the decline of movie theaters and why it is:
https://www.businessinsider.com/movie-attendance-over-the-years-2015-1
Its very interesting to learn about the 1930’s, because usually we think about the hard times that the Great Depression had brought. We often overlook the “Golden Age” which took place during this time. It makes sense that this was considered the Golden Age, because through all the distress that the Great Depression had brought, it is understandable that many people turned to cinema and music in order to get their minds off of what was happening. It also makes sense that most of the music from that time was upbeat and happy sounding, usually to dance to. I assume this is to lift the spirits of those who had been struggling.
https://www.retrowaste.com/1930s/music-in-the-1930s/
After reading the article, I found it very interesting how the radio became a tool to attract supports. For instances, in the 1930s, politicians used the radio to give speeches on how they were going to better the United States. For this reason, I was also interested to find out about how the radio helped artists to promote their music. For example, Queen used the radio as a tool to promote and increase their exposure by playing their single “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the radio. Ultimately, culture in the 1930s helped build a foundation for people to find more exposure through technological advances.
Read more on how Queen used the radio to increase their exposure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_(band)
Since the economy surrounded by Americans was dwindling during the Great Depression people tried to distract themselves with pop culture and modern experimentation. For example, Martha Graham developed modern dance and William Faulkner experimented with the “stream-of-consciousness.” Due to the constant state of worry during this era our nation also looked for heroes in pop culture such as Superman and Batman in comic books.
If you would like to read more on how Americans distracted themselves with their own creativity at this time check out the link below.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3452
Its amazing to hear that despite the Great Depression, the culture flourished in this age! I believe the most important invention was the Radio though considering that it brought millions of americans closer together and more informed about their own country. Not just for that, it gave many people the opportunity to listen to music and provide noise to entertain them while doing everyday tasks such as chores. The article below goes over the radio during the great depression.
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma05/macdonald/radiosfx/bg_radio_sfx.html
This article was extremely interesting. I’ve always looked at the Great Depression as a “deserted” period in time where nothing was happening, and people were just waiting to get out of a ditch. This really showed me the multiple artistic projects and cultural impacts this period provided. Most closely to my heart would be the Golden Age of cinema. As a big movie lover, I’m disappointed I never realized some of my favorite movies such as King Kong, Robin Hood, Wizard of Oz, and even Snow freaking White all came out during this horrible period in time. But what really made me keep thinking about the article long after reading it, was the realisation some the worlds most useful and creative ideas come during the worst times. It seems like when humanity is put in the worst positions possible, it comes up with the best most creative inventions and artworks. Just look at the impacts of wars on technology, or the strengthening of communities after natural disasters. “Pressure makes diamonds”
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/culture-in-the-thirties/
One of the first authors of great literature during this time was John Steinbeck. Among the different pieces of literature he wrote the one that stood to me was “The Grapes of Wrath”. The story takes you through the struggle of a family living through the Great Depression, and their migration from Oklahoma to California in hopes of work. When arrival through there is no jobs except day to day labor. This story also shows how the Great Depression broke many families apart, and just how struggle can change behavior of even the closest to you.
Source:
https://www.arts.gov/national-initiatives/nea-big-read/the-grapes-of-wrath
I think that Americans nowadays could learn something from this. Even though these people living in the 1930’s were going through a horrible time during the Great Depression, they made something good out of it. They inspired each other and themselves to be creative and they made so many beautiful things. It’s crazy that the Great Depression was Hollywood’s Golden Time. Like they made something so great from something that they could have been so upset and angry about. One of the best parts is is that artists actually got employed and made some money doing what they loved. They got to bring happiness to thousands of Americans who were facing hardships.
The video I have included is sort of like a quick explanation of the major studios during this time and the movies that they were producing during the Great Depression.
https://youtu.be/6KfBNrHU_SY
I agree with this statement, especially if you consider YouTube and many of its creators today. Since many creators on YouTube are young and do not experience many “regular” life experiences, they usually are not able to relate to their audience like they once did after they reach a certain point of popularity. Going through the Great Depression was something everyone in America had to experience together, and through art we today are now able to comprehend a fraction of what they went through (literature, writing, etc..
Although there are many things occurring in the world that are hard and are being discussed, there are still many things being talked about by a more wealthy minority (such as YouTubers) that we as the audience cannot relate to. Loss of relatability does not always equal the questioning of validity- everyone has the right to complain, this just may cause for some backlash.
The Great Depression was indeed a time for art to be blunt, but it also showed us what it was like to continue without much to say, even through the hardest of times.
While most people would think that the Great Depression was a time where economy was not that great, for Hollywood it was like a “golden” time. The 1930’s were blossoming with art in literature, music, movies, and technology in devices like the radio. Objectives falling under this art were being used to give to America, it came with projects that involved real-world situations/the latest news that the citizens could either relate or escape to. Hollywood was booming left and right to assist the people of America with anything to make the situation of their economic status better. In the link below exhibits types of entertainment that was made to capture the audience in difficult times and how the 1930’s were just the beginning of the evolution to what it is today.
https://youtu.be/211SzJKWtao
It’s amazing how the American people persevered through the great depression in the 30’s, and how the culture and art of the people continued to flourish despite the hardships. The radio itself allowing for the sharing of these arts and inspiration for other artists to create, which served as a distraction during the trying era. There’s a point to be made in the success of the business of entertainment even through a period of financial struggles and hardships, it really shows what’s important to people: keeping spirits up when things seem hopeless. The power the radio has encouraging others to carry on through their endeavors shows the importance of this medium. Overall very interesting, and when we witness another inevitable economic collapse, it will be interesting to see what brings us as Americans most comfort.
xroads.virginia.edu/~MA05/macdonald/radiosfx/bg_radio_sfx.html
This article provides great information on how the culture of America grew after the great depression. Many facets of culture, such as art, literature, and music, thrived during this time. I find it inspiring that after one of the lowest times in history, America was still able to recover and create some very impactful pieces of art. Louis Armstrong and the creation of jazz music specifically interested me as I have heard his music before, but never knew he was the leading creator of the genre. Overall, the 1930’s took big steps in cultural development and helped bring the country together during the recovery of the great depression.
Here is a biography of Louis Armstrong, the pioneer of jazz music.
https://www.biography.com/musician/louis-armstrong
In the 1930s after the hit of the great depression, Americans turned to cultural trends in areas such as literature, music, and cinema. With the help of new deal programs such as FAP and WPA, projects were allowed to be created with paid artists. With all of this support, Hollywood went into its “golden age.” Creating iconic movies and developing new genres, some of the most influential works in cinema occurred during the 1930s.
http://www.environmentalhistory.org/revcomm/cinema-clips/golden-age-of-hollywood/
Though economically America was facing hardship, that did not prevent anyone from seeing the kind of impact the arts can have on an individual. The influential assoects of literature, music, arts, and cinema flourished in a time where everything seemed to be dreary and hope seemed to be lost. It’s astonishing the lesson that can be learned from one of the most memorable times of hardships in America. Moreover, it is inspiring how one of the most difficult times allowed a rise in one of the most influential ideas on the planet.
https://taylorferber21.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/influences-of-the-great-depression-2/
This article was very interesting because it highlighted the bright spots in the wake of the Great Depression. It’s so cool to see how art, literature, music, cinema, and more flourished at a time when people were feeling hopeless. Artists of all kinds were joining together and using their talents to provide entertainment for everyone who was struggling to find happiness. It was also interesting that these artists used their mediums to showcase aspects of society that people hadn’t really noticed until then, such as the Social Realism art movement that focused on the lives of the working class and the poor. Even though racism was still prominent, everyone accepted and enjoyed jazz music, created by African Americans, all together. The Great Depression was a hard time economically for everyone, but it allowed culture and the arts to flourish.
https://www.theartstory.org/movement/social-realism/
To me I find it absolutely fascinating that during a time of such turmoil in this country, such beautiful and highly regarded art could have been so abundant. And even more beautiful was the way that under the new Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), artists of the time were able to project the realness that was clearly looming over all those living through it. This is a trend that of course has flowed through history as explained in this article here, https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/journals/2012-07/music-and-history-our-times . The beauty of the art made during this time is astounding to me and finding beauty in such a dark time in history is testament to the endurance of man.
I found it interesting how individuals in the 1930’s coped with the great depression through cultural trends that were being established. The new deal also had programs specifically for supporting artists of all types. It is interesting to see how this helped to build american culture, but it also brought more light to people who were suffering the most. Hollywood’s development during the 1930’s was fascinating to see especially since many classical movies came from that era. Below is a link that goes more into detail about the history of Hollywood and its era of the golden age.
https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/hollywood
It’s fascinating that even while America was going through an extremely catastrophic event in history, the Hollywood business was still thriving. Many people had the mentality of using forms on entertainment to distract themselves, making their life better, momentarily. It’s also very interesting to see how far we have come in movie production. Mainly now because we don’t have the restrictions the PCA placed on all movies in the golden era. To go from no kisses beyond three seconds to films such as Midsommar depicting full nudity as well as sexual scenes is crazy.
If you’re interested in learning more about movies that tested the limits of the PCA, here you go:
https://www.history.com/news/classic-films-that-ran-afoul-of-hollywood-censors
The 1930s was an interesting time for all sorts of art efforts. The goals to capture the American spirit were prevalent because Americans needed help in recovering from the Great Depression. However, the decade is best recognized for radio; it is known as its golden age. In an era of emerging art projects and widespread forms of expression, radio was a shining star. It provided programs people became invested in well before television was invented. Radio was something that united people in common knowledge in the wake of the Great Depression. These art efforts were what people relied on the creativity of others for. These small acts were beneficial in helping Americans live better lives.
https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/radio-in-the-1930s/
It’s interesting to see how economic downturn can have a major impact on art and change the whole dynamic of what people want to see. Another cool thing is how Hollywood and entertainment continued to be profitable and grow as people turned towards it to deal with the problems of reality. It is also interesting to see how movies and music has changed from then to day.
This link is more info on entertainment in the Great Depression Era.
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/depwwii/art/
The Great Depression impacted Americans in many ways but that didn’t stop them from coming together and creating new things/opportunities. Many programs were able to help artists out and create jobs, causing the employment rate to go up. An example is when they started allowing artists to get paid to help the government with specific projects that could be displayed around the community. Even with all the hardships caused from the Great Depression the people came together and used multiple forms of art to help the community and the people in it to grow.
Here is a link that shows an example of what kind of work some artists were asked to do during this time: https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/artists-of-the-new-deal
The years prior to the second great war were in part depressing and refreshing all at once; in the era of Franklin Roosevelt dictating the news of the world for an unprecedented 12 years, his “New Deal” skyrocketed production and moral during turmoil with acts giving hope for a generation of new artists. One of those acts came in the form of the Federal Music Project, which employed the likes of some thousands of musicians in form of relief concerts, classes, and organizing the Composers Forum Lab, hosting new festivals and creating nearly 40 new orchestras. The job of the FMP was not only to build a new music market, yet research the music itself, in a new process called ethnomusicology, or the study of music from a cultural and social aspects, such as American Folk music and Jazz. In hopes of cultural enrichment, Roosevelt was the first President to use federal money on culture, at the time it was probably a shock, using federal relief funds to ensure that new musicians were treated fairly! If you look at it now, it doesn’t seem all to bad, take Korea for example, one of the nations most technologically advanced civilizations, spends most of their government allotted funds on culture and the aspects of pop culture such as film and song. A quote from a correspondent in the Department or Ministry of Culture states that “eventually the North and South with be brought together by Hallyu.” Hallyu which translates to Korean Wave, is the pop culture phenomenon that we witness today with the rise of boy bands such as BTS. So, if you look at the FDR situation, maybe he was just ahead of his time, maybe pop culture is something that everyone can rally behind, just maybe.
livingnewdeal.org/glossary/federal-music-project-fmp-1935-1943/
Art always seems like the best escape or past time for anyone living in an unwanted situation. This can be proven by how much people depended on music and art and film during the great depression. It’s crazy to see that even living in such horrible conditions and time people still had something to look forward to and a way to entertain themselves with such limited technologies at the time. I also think it’s interesting that there was funding from the government in art and also the artist. I wished they would do something similar now where funding would go towards in schools or in communities to give those a chance to express themselves.
Here is an article breakdown of ways the government funds art through contest and partnerships.
https://www.arts.gov/news/2019/more-80-million-arts-funding-awarded-across-nation
The 1930s was a turning point for America. New Deal programs were made to support all types of professionals like artists, writers, actors/actresses. A lot of movies started being produced. Cultural trends that set what the traditional American values would look like. Ex: literature, movies, art, and vehicles. For Hollywood, the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 was established to regulate and provide rules for what can and cannot be put into movies.
here is more information on the history of hollywood.
https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/hollywood
It’s incredible how some things turned out. The fall of the economy boosted the rise of Hollywood, literature, arts and music. The Great Depression helped America flourish in different ways which people would think it’s the opposite. This was the era that gave Americans lots of motivation to move up in the most difficult situation. The arts really helped people cope with the situation at hand while making it widely available The 1930’s built the foundation for what the U.S. has in store to follow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930s
It is fascinating to see how, despite traumatic events such as the Great Depression, America was still thriving in the music culture. During the 30’s, big bands and swing music were rising in popularity, with stars such as Duke Wellington and Ben Goodman leading them. It also led to the rise of the king known as Frank Sinatra.
During the Great Depression it was hard to stay optimistic. People turned to find hope in music, but it was hard for them to express their feelings into words. It is interesting to see what kind of songs people turned to for hope. One popular musician was Bing Cosby who released “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” in 1930. This really connected with the audience as they were trying to make ends meet during the depression. Another artist was Dick Robertson who wrote “If I Ever Get a Job Again”. This song focused on the regret people had for not saving their money and yearning for some stable employment. It also emphasized the distrust people had in the economy. In addition to music, dancing was a popular activity did to forget the hardships of the Depression.
If any of you are interested this link contains more information as well as videos to the songs mentioned above:
https://www.smore.com/94a6r-music-during-the-great-depression
The Great Depression a period viewed as to be devastating to America is really exposed with this article demonstrating the advancements which took place during this era. Instead of letting the biased opinion of popular belief that the Great Depression was all bad, the article helps shed light into the back stories and better truths which took place during the same time. I think it is interesting that something so devastating helped generate this idea of mass media in the sense of the widespread efforts to diffuse information in the form of Hollywood, radio, literature and arts throughout all of American to bring the hurting nation even just a glimpse of hope.
This article expands on the development of Social Realism:
https://www.theartstory.org/movement/social-realism/
The great depression was a hectic horrible time in the world which allowed people to not stress as much because the world of music existed. During the 30’s there was an increase in movies and in dance which set the rise of a new era during that time in america. This kind of art changed the way people viewed the downfall in the world, this was the golden age.
Below is a video of music that was played and sung during the great depression
https://www.smore.com/94a6r-music-during-the-great-depression
I find this article interesting in the sense that although our country was striving during the great depression, there were still organizations that not only gave jobs to artists but allowed for the entirety of the art culture to be expressed evn through those tough times. During this time, however, art signified the everyday lives of ordinary people. This period in art was recognized as “realism”. Although this time period may have lived as the
golden” times of theatre and movies, many studios were striving and losing a lot.
Much like the Roman Empire, the United States implemented a tactic of diversions using entertainment during the Great Depression. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the government distracted the mass from the failure with circuses and gladiators. During the Great Depression, millions of Americans faced economic tragedy and loss. Yet, the film, art, and cultural industries prospered. This can be traced back to the idea of ‘avoiding one’s problems by escaping reality’. Today, we continue to avoid our problems with different forms of escape such as video games, movies, television shows, and much more. The average American consumes blindly, oblivious to the issues around them. Find out more about distractions here:
https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/like-romans-politicians-pacify-and-distract-the-masses/article_377ba599-451b-5978-b393-c373c9cba8cf.html
The great depression was one of the most devastating times in history, music encouraged others not to be sad and dance at the same time during the great depression, it made people view the world as a greater cause just to see the bright side besides thinking about the hard times because of the great depression. During the 1930s some people left there towns in order to get away from the war that was going on and a few stayed while it was going on. Some people were happy during everything that was going on, but eventually suicide rates rose even more.
https://www.smore.com/94a6r-music-during-the-great-depression
America as a nation has over come many bumps in its development as a nation. The Great Depression was a time in which the crash of the stock market set off a chain of unfortunate events that plunged America into the longest economic crisis in the history of The United States. Despite Americans loosing their jobs, homes, and struggling to feed their families the Great Depression did not bring only tragedy. The Great Depression caused sorrow that many expressed through music, art, and dance. The popularity of the Blues and swing became the escape from reality for many. “Swing Jazz, dancing became the rage” (Culture and Arts during the Depression). The depression allowed people to be free in their expression of dance and music as the country for the most part was on the same economic level.
If you would like to read more on the Cultural effect of the Great depression please check out the link below.
http://depts.washington.edu/depress/culture_arts.shtml
An interesting aspect in this article is that despite the crippling poverty that took the country by storm, the arts and entertainment industries flourished. This can be contributed to the majority population’s desire to “escape” their lives that are plagued with hardship and instead go to the movies and watch a film. Of course, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats significantly contributed to the popularity of the radio and the desire to have it in every home throughout the United States. Another event that allowed to distract from the Great Depression was the 1936 Summer Olympics, which was the first televised Olympics and the radio broadcasts were played in 41 countries. The following link goes more in depth about the 1936 Summer Olympics and even includes the names of the athletes who competed that year.
https://www.olympic.org/berlin-1936
Culture throughout the thirties flourished when the economy couldn’t. Much of this had to do with FDR and his New Deal policies. Economic effect of New Deal policies aside, programs such as the Federal Art Project and the Hollywood Production Code of 1930 shape the way we express ourselves through the arts today, without fear of our rights being infringed upon. However the most significant force in the 1930’s had to be radio. The 30’s was really the first decade where radio was used as a platform for politicians. With FDR’s “Fireside Chat” advocating New Deal policies, and his opposition’s rebuttals both being broadcasted to the living room of ordinary Americans, it allowed American’s to be more informed than ever before (or more misinformed depending on your point of view). This, coupled with the endless entertainment now available on radio, gave Americans hope in a time where it seemed out of reach.
Check out this article on the importance of Radio in the 30’s
https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/radio-in-the-1930s/
The 1930s were an amazing time culturally for the U.S. and the rest of the world. Technology such as radio and motion pictures played a huge role developing a cultural identity for the country. As music and other art forms became available to more parts of the country, they created a common sense of identity, now referred to as popular culture. Additionally, the first films of major international sporting events were able to disrupt views of racial supremacy in front of a worldwide audience (shout out to Jesse Owens, and Joe Louis).
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/culture-in-the-thirties/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Louis_vs._Max_Schmeling#Prelude_to_second_fight
I find it incredibly patriotic how the Great Depression brought people together, of course it was a difficult time for Americans but in the end they got through it; the fireside chats that FDR had with the public is incredibly inspiring and should be looked on as one of the greatest moments in American History because it shows the patriotism and the will to not give up even though times are hard. This article goes more in depth of the fireside chats.
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/fireside-chats
What I found particularly intriguing was the resilience that Americans demonstrated in the dark times during the Great Depression. In almost every aspect American culture became to head in a different direction and actually laid down the foundations for what we have in the modern age. The Harlem Renaissance introduced a powerful interest in Jazz with new cats like Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller, to name a few. This sound was unique to only the African American community and added to their extensive culture and background, and helped more blacks become successful in the North. In 1936 the Summer Olympics also hailed one of the most interesting and lesser known fact. Hitler, at the prime time of the Nazi regime, hosted the Olympics as a sort of racial fueled supremacist narrative, hoping to show that the Aryan race was the best of all. Jesse Owens, a black American, defied those beliefs and winning four gold medals and breaking world records.
TO learn more about Owens and his achievements, look into this article:
https://www.biography.com/news/jesse-owens-adolf-hitler-1936-olympics
The Great Depression affected many Americans substantially but surprisingly, the entertainment industry continued to thrive, going as far as calling it “the golden age” of Hollywood. During the devastating time of the depression, the people still were able to make themselves content withe their art, cinema, music, and literature. Therefore, programs were created to help out artists and create jobs. Thus, causing the employment rate to go up. On top, the radio helped out the music industry itself, with the new styles like swing, which ultimately got broadcasted every afternoon. Even with everything that happened during the Great Depression, people came together, used different forms of art to help out their communities and the people in them to prosper.
As a cinema fanatic I believe that films should be expressed by whichever way the creator pleases. I do not agree with the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 because of the restrictions it imposes on the thinking process of a creator. If you try to give a movie writer or director very strict guidelines to follow, they will not be able to create very good movies. The code breaks the purpose of the movies, which is to have the freedom to make whatever you want.
https://productioncode.dhwritings.com/multipleframes_productioncode.php
I think it’s so amazing how Americans used fine arts to lift their spirits up during something so tragic as the Great Depression. I feel like that is a trend that still exists today, many people lean on music during sad times. I had no idea that Hollywood thrived so much during the thirties either, so much so they even called it the “golden age.” That’s honestly very ironic to me. It’s amazing how music, films, photography, and art can play such an important role in history. Included is an article about popular music during the thirties.
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG03/Jukebox/front.html
Its hard to believe that during the great depression that it was the golden age for movies and hollywood. the fact that most of the blockbusters we’re filled with low budgeted movies was astonishing. With all that was going on the movies had a boost and become one of the only financial stable businesses in the US. In this article you’ll see that the major companies we know today such as warner bros is what really profited off of the great depression making their low budget films a highlight for the economy.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/how-the-great-depression-inspired-hollywoods-golden-age-26481978.html
I found this article interesting because it talked about the good that came out of the Great Depression. Even though this was probably one of the hardest times for Americans at the time, but they all still came together and at the end of the day they created something so beautiful. All different types of artists were coming together and used their talents to provide those who were struggling entertainment and tried to make them smile. The link that I will be providing is a documentary of the different types of voices and music that were heard during the Great Depression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwOqrnpfYww
It amazes me that, at such a terrible financial state the Unites States was in, citizens were able to be able to express themselves with art, music, literature, etc. The Great Depression influenced the arts tremendously and got people to use their skills to capture what it was like at the time, especially with paintings and photography. Even Hollywood kept making films. The people of the United States were given opportunities to show their talents with acts such as the Public Works of Art Act. Because of the influence the arts and film had on the culture of the U.S., this time period was known as “The Golden Age,” particularly in Hollywood. I provided a video to show what the studios and atmosphere in Hollywood were like back in the 1930s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykEMKUfFSHE
I thought that it was rather interesting to learn that there was such a large amount of support for the Production Code of 1930 through the great depression. In recent times, it seems that people have definitely become a lot more lenient on what they view as topics that should be avoided. It seems odd that during such a melancholic time, the code sought to restrain the freedom of the arts that were meant to allow people to express themselves in whatever way they felt necessary. I do think that in today’s time, such a feeling is resurfacing in terms of “political correctness,” but this unspoken code also allows art to criticize it, as it should.
Here’s an article about the dislike towards political correctness – https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/large-majorities-dislike-political-correctness/572581/
The Golden Age of Hollywood started in 1930 and ended in 1940. The arts industry was able to pursue new creative directions throughout this decade. Through the first years of the Great Depression, most of the major studios suffered losses. In the mid-1930s, they began to record profits. While the late 1920s witnessed the commercialization of a sound film, both popular and more ambitious cinema became more well-known in the 1930s.
http://www.environmentalhistory.org/revcomm/cinema-clips/golden-age-of-hollywood/
When the economy was failing and America seemed to have no hope, in The Great Depression, Shirley Temple was able to gain her fame. Even president Roosevelt at the time said “When the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time during this Depression, it is a splendid thing that for just 15 cents, an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles.” It’s impressive that Shirley, as just a child, was America’s top box office revenue from 1935-38, even beating out adult actors and actresses. Even when the movie market was losing money they found ways to draw back their ticket sales and Shirley played a key role in this. For more information about Shirley Temple’s legacy click the link!
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/shirley-temple-child-star-who-helped-the-us-through-the-depression-and-went-to-on-serve-two-stints-9122305.html
It is impressive to see how some positive things came from a time of struggle to american during the 30’s. A massive spike of media was being supported to bring arts and culture to the public. Hollywood produced some all-time classics, while the art of the time was considered to be some of the best and meaningful works in the country. Despite the economic depression that fell onto the nation, there some things that helped move the country forward during the time.
Below is a examines how modern mass culture spread during the Great Depression
https://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/471921.html
It is very intriguing how film and art took off during such a low point in United States history. Thankfully, due to the bright policies produced during this point in time, artists were pushed to be more proactive in their production of masterpieces. This may have been one of the very few times where government officials pushed to stimulate the moral of US citizens through art and other areas of recreational purposes.
Here is a link on some of the impacts of the governmental policies passed during this time in United States history .
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/
I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like for people going through the great depression without art and radios. In a way, I believe that the the Great Depression helped the expansion and also the demand for entertainment. Therefore artist had to produce for the people, which I think made them push their limits, and become very successful.
https://www.npr.org/2009/10/23/113844245/remembering-the-great-depressions-sunny-side
Knowing that music during the great depression was a hit makes very much sense. People were going through desperate times, and entertainment was a must in order for citizens to get their minds off of depression. Music and radio was at an all time high during this time, being called the “golden age” of radio due to the high audience and high percentage of families who owned radios during these tough times. Families got rid of furniture, jewelry, personal items, and even land, but one thing was for sure, they did not let go of their radio so easily. Not only for entertainment purposes, but we also have to remember this was their only way to know what was going on in the country stuff like news and updates on the national dilemma other than just reading the newspapers. Below is a link that explains how substantial entertainment during the great depression was pivotal to keep american culture alive through a nationwide crisis.
https://culturalhistoryus.weebly.com/sports–entertainment/sports-entertainment-during-the-great-depression
History repeats itself. The 1930s saw the emergence and necessity of new age music that ultimately built the foundation for many genres today. During The Great Depression, the evolution of swing and jazz music was seen as this new form of music crossed racial boundaries. Much like jazz, rap was born and while mostly seen as an African American style of music, it crossed boundaries and entered into mainstream American media. Most producers during the birth of rap thought it would die and that it was just a fad but much like jazz, it stuck around and grew to shape the era.
https://colemizestudios.com/how-did-rap-start/
It’s amazing how despite being in an era of depression the united states as a whole found joy in entertainment. This era was respectfully known as the golden era of Hollywood which would end up being significant in history. The radio was a big part of this era as it brought many forms of communication and entertainment to America in a time of such darkness for a society. Examples of how great the radio was during this era include, FDR fire side chats, music, news, and etc.
below is a link to more information on how important the radio was during the golden age.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Golden-Age-of-American-radio
Despite the sadness brought upon the Americans during the 1930’s Great Depression era, many of the arts flourished during this time. This was because people needed something to distract from the world around them. Some might say they sang the blues to stop from being so blue.
It was really interesting to learn about the effect of the radio on the exchange of information and particularly music. Not only were musical genres evolving, but the means by which music could be exchanged was growing and evolving, and the cultural exchange grew exponentially. This revolution was so iconic that radio is still the most used form of listening to music today…
https://www.vox.com/2015/5/11/8577937/radio-future-music
During the Great Depression, L.A was in it’s Golden Age. A major reason for that is because you can see other characters on screen and experience fun and some time off from the real world. Back then, movie tickets were very cheap and was the only escape Americans had then. Now, it’s shown that movie attendance have been on the decline ever since. This is because of the high cost of movie tickets and the different types of streaming websites.
With the Great Depression happening in the 30s, the surprise in rising of radio had a major influence on the cultural aspect of our country. Radio had the ability to past music around the country. This created a mass spread of blues, swing, and jazz music to a larger audience. And since about 90% of homes in America had radios, the music industry took a boom unlike ever before.
https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/radio-in-the-1930s/
There were many crucial and important events that happened during the Great Depression but one minor one was music during this time period. In the 1930s there were new technology emerging and modern types of activities and art forms. An example would be the “golden age”, which was similar to the “Gabtsy Era”, where music and movies were becoming popular. More producers and directing were becoming well known which was a good thing. There were also many musicals that were produced. I linked a snippet from a 1930s movie called “That’s Dancing!”
Link: https://youtu.be/4K5AB4FqWN0
During the 1930’s a lot changed. The stock market crashed, Hollywood entered it’s golden age, classic paintings such as ‘American Gothic’ were created. Some movies that became classics during this era include The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the wind. While the movie industry was doing very well the rest of the country and world landed on hard times.
https://www.culturecraze.net/history/2018/7/8/culture-of-the-1930s
Many times when the best things come out of the darkest times. The great Depression is a great example of this. I believe that being in such a desperate state allows for true artistry to flourish. One aspect of this was painters and photographers. There are many examples of beautiful artwork of this kind from this time.
https://www.nga.gov/education/teachers/lessons-activities/uncovering-america/great-depression.html
During the 1930s Americans were going through rough patches economically also known as the Great Depression. Although the society was not thriving economically, America was rather growing culturally. The fine arts department was growing and the 1930s were known as the ” golden age” for Hollywood. The 1930 was an important era, for Hollywood and American literature.
Music in the thirties is a very peculiar thing despite the circumstances people during that time were facing. In the midst of the great depression many Americans were listening to and dancing to what is known as swing. Despite the gloom surrounding the great depression many young people were listening to the fast paced and upbeat sound of swing.
https://www.britannica.com/art/swing-music
It was interesting to me to know how the Americans suffered during the Great Depression but also how they survived and flourished. They turned from the physical aspect of values to a more moral value. The things that were not so high on the list before the Great Depression, like art, music, and cinema became the focus of the population. Radio, movie stars and the golden age of Hollywood became the focus of the Americans during this time frame. The art that was produced during the Great Depression is some of the most memorable art to this date.
https://www.nga.gov/education/teachers/lessons-activities/uncovering-america/great-depression.html
In a devestating era in America, the people were still able to find entertainment. The films were becoming more complex and the people began to go out more, in order to feel better. Much great art was made during the deppresion, and the gilded age began,
https://www.nga.gov/education/teachers/lessons-activities/uncovering-america/great-depression.html
The resiliency of Americans and musicians throughout the 30’s shows how integral the culture from that time has helped build a foundation for what we know as modern entertainment. A major impact of the 30s was also the radio. The radio helped build communication and a sense of comfort during a time of economic and social despair.
I do not believe I will ever understand how awful times were for many Americans in the 1930s but I can read accounts given by those who did experience it. I think that artists at this time had a huge job on their hands, they had to somehow find a way to make American’s rough economic and social state a little easier by creating music or TV programs that put a little smile on their faces. This just shows how big of an impact music truly had on our culture throughout all of history. And it shows us that American’s can work together for a common good, which is something we rarely see in our country today unfortunately.
Here is a link to understand more of the importance that entertainment played back then:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/depwwii/art/
As someone who has played an instrument for most of her life, I can say music is a big part of my life. Reading this article and seeing what a huge impact fine arts and creative culture had in this point in history, is not surprising. In today’s world, we are fighting to keep fine arts in schools funded because it’s so important and I love how this article showed that.
https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/legislation-policy/legislative-issue-center/arts-education-policy-and-funding
The 30’s were a dark time for America in the sense of the economy and rampant poverty spreading through America. However, that didn’t stop people from discovering ways to have a good time. With the introduction of upbeat swing music, people had something enjoyable in their lives once again. It helped keep moral overall higher and allowed people to unwind after a stressful day. Swing music also paved the way for future music genres like it.
Below you’ll find an article further detailing the presence of swing music in the great depression.
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/history-homework-help/87939-swing-music-during-the-great-depression/
After reading the article, I think the 1930s had a huge increase in the arts due to the need to publicize what was going on at the time and the fact that the Great Depression led to there not being much other to do than create. The flourishing of arts in this time was mostly contributed by artists who wanted to depict the life of the poor and the social injustice. Its hard for me to imagine if a situation like the Great Depression were to happen in this year, how everyone would react, and if the arts would emerge again.
This article was interesting to read, because it really depicts what motivates people to create art (i.e., music, literature, photography, etc). A common theme among all great works of art is realism. The most iconic poems are those which tell a relatable story with a bit of a twist. The link I included is to Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” I feel this poem portrays the greatness that comes from mixing realism with flare and perspective.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48860/the-raven
The great depression affected people’s financial life which wasn’t healthy. The radio was a way for people to be distracted from their struggles. such as.comedy programs like Amos ‘n’ Andy, soap operas and sporting events. Swing music encouraged people to cast aside their troubles and dance. Bandleaders like Benny Goodman and Fletcher Henderson drew crowds of young people to ballrooms and dance halls around the country. radio has to do with most of the cultures characterization.
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/1930s
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/1930s
When humans are at their bottom I feel like creativity flourishes. The Great Depression proved this with its long lasting effects on the industry. Whats wild is just the sheer amount of music that would eventually see mainstream appeal during the years to come. The Great Depression was a weird time in the industry because radio had reigned supreme over how people consumed music. What’s crazy is that TV would soon shake the foundations of the industry and spawn millions of jobs in the form of many exclusive areas of the music industry. Linked below is a video talking about the upcoming wave of the music industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laedW6U4RL8
In the 1930’s many Americans were met with severe economic hardships that haven’t been seen before. The Great Depression which lasted from 1929-1939, was the worst economic downtown in the history of the industrialized world. This is a different experience for most Americans because the lack of jobs affects many families. We can also see that many important cultural trends like music, art, media, literature, and movies grew into true American traditions and values. During this time period New Deal Programs were implemented. These Programs allowed artists and musicians to produce creative works that could become easily available to the general masses. This has led to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood, which was when many cinema studios were in creative control of the content they were producing. This was a time period when media produced by media companies were not regulated until the Hayes Code of 1930 put strict rules on what could be allowed on TV shows and Movies. Photography was something that was important during this time period, it was documenting the American life during the economic depression that was captivating America. Although the New Deal Programs were brief we can see that it led to many cultural influences that defined American values. Some of the programs included the Public Works of Art Project, and the Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration. This was also the crowning moment of the Art Deco design period, during this era made many everyday objects to huge large scale buildings like the Chrysler Building in New York. It made beautiful builds that paid attention to detail throughout to create magnificent and grand looks that haven’t been seen before. Americans wanted to create to their own unique qualities to call their own, they stole the idea of Blues and Jazz from African Americans. Many white musicians copied black artist songs. At first when Jazz and Blues was released white Americans were not licking the music and tried to oppress it as much as possible. White musicians they started doing covers of the song which the mass white public liked which created many careers. Ultimately they oppressed many African American musicians and took their music and passed it as their own. During this hard economic depression many Americans started to like radio and films which added to their forms of entertainment. Many events were televised, a controversial event was the 1936 Olympics which included athletes from the Hitler regime. Radio allowed for a lot of information to reach a wide and broad range of people which was unheard of at the time. People are being fed mass amounts of information and get to form their own opinions.
During the Great Depression, visual arts, literature, music, and the radio flourished. This was a way of demoralizing and distracting many Americans on what was happening economically. One main source of entertainment was the radio. The radio became more and more popular and accessible to everyone. The radio in the 1930s had content from comedy, news from politicians, and radio shows. Literature represented the American life and told stories about the struggle of poor men. In Hollywood, major studios began seeing profits and movies like King Kong and The Adventure of Robin Hood became big successful hits. Even when the country was struggling economically, the nation found new passions and distractions as forms of coping mechanisms in the arts. Personally, I love music, and when I’m struggling, I just play my favorite artist. It is crazy to see the impact the arts can have on people.
This article talks about the artists of the New Deal:
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/artists-of-the-new-deal
The Great depression was a tough time for everyone. There were no jobs, very little food and resources, and most of all there really was no middle class. The only thing these people had that gave them hope was the radio. The use of the radio during this time really brought an upbringing in broadcasted entertainment. When all hope was lost, they had the radio. Its because of these hard times we are where we are at.
During America’s worst economic crash in it’s history so far, Hollywood and entertainment found a way to flourish. Hollywood had it’s golden age and the great migration of African Americans popularized jazz, blues, and gospel music in the north. Despite racial inequalities these genres of music still became the most popular music of its time period becoming named the swing era.
This article is about Jazz, Blues and Ragtime in the first half of the 1900s
It is really surprising to see how the United States still flourished despite the Great Depression that was a real chaotic period in the country. In fact, the Great Depression inspired the emergence of the American culture in many domains and also inspired the technological advances, including radio and sound film. It’s wonderful to see that in such a difficult period, the Americans still found a way to enjoy even though the majority of them lost almost everything. Here is a link of some of the positive impact of the Great Depression.
https://humanevents.com/2009/04/14/was-the-great-depression-good-for-us/
The 1930’s hit america hard, no one had money and many were starving but the american spirit prevailed. Many works of art were done in cities across the country, national parks were being made accessible to traffic by the new deal programs. In these dark times the arts prevailed, many flocked to ballrooms and clubs to listen to the newest jazz bands and concerts via radio broadcasts.
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/1930s