Chapter 9: Section 4 Culture of the 1930s
United States History Ms. Girbal Thursday, March 26, 2015 Timeline for Chapter 9 Thursday, March 25- Section 4
Get Chapter 9 studyguide Monday, March 30- Review for Chapter 8 & 9 Test Wednesday, April 1- Chapter 8 & 9 Test Chapter 8 IDs due Chapter 8 & 9 studyguide due Homework for this weekend?? IDs, studyguide and start studying! Objectives Trace the growth of radio and the movies inthe 1930s and the changes in popular culture. Describe the major themes of literature in theNew Deal era. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Frankenstein Top Hat
Most Americans went to the movies to escape their worries. The Wizard of Oz Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Frankenstein Top Hat Gone with the Wind In the early 1930s, gangster films such as Public Enemy reflected the publics distrust of government. As the New Deal restored confidence, films such as G-Men began portraying government officials as heroes. Director Frank Capra focused on the triumph of the common man over adversity in such films as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Radio was a vital part of everyday life.
Radio networks such as NBC and CBS entertained millions. People listened to comedy, drama, news, and FDRs fireside chats. Orson Welles 1938 radio drama War of the Worlds was so realistic that it caused a national panic when listeners thought that Martians were invading. Radio disc jockeys played the latest tunes on shows like Your Hit Parade and Make Believe Ballroom. VIDEO-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6YNHq1qc44 Swing music played by big bands topped the charts.
Music provided a happy diversion and a serious outlet for social concerns. Swing music played by big bands topped the charts. Latin music and dances like the rumba and the samba were popular. The folk singers focused on the harsh lives ofAfrican Americans. Woodie Guthrie wroteballads about the Dust Bowl and the Okies. 7 Artists painted giant murals in public buildings across the nation.
During the New Deal, the federal government provided funding for the arts for the first time in history. The Federal Art Project, Federal Writers Project, and Federal Theater Project were all funded by the WPA. WPA writers created a series of state guidebooks that recorded the nations history and folklore. Artists painted giant murals in public buildings across the nation. Photographers like Dorothea Lange created powerful images of impoverished farmers and migrant workers. 8 In Native Son, Richard Wright explored racial prejudice.
Depression-era writers reflected the concerns of Americans from all walks of life. In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck told the story of an Okie family escaping the Dust Bowl. In Native Son, Richard Wright explored racial prejudice. Lillian Hellmanportrayed strong women in her plays. Comic strips and comic books also were very popular. A Popular Culture Time Capsule
Mini Group Project A Popular Culture Time Capsule Introduction: While the economic foundations of the nation were shaken during the Great Depression, popular culture continued to evolve and grow. Movies, radio, fashion, music, literature and sports became even greater parts of American life. Objective: Examine 1930s popular culture and identify ideas, people, or objects that might interest a teenager. Task: As a class we will create a time capsule of what we think would best represent the interests of a young American during the 1930s. As a group you need to come up with ONE thing that you would want to include in the time capsule. Process: Using your textbook, the provided resources (handout with links can be found in our class website) and the Internet, identify ONE object that a young American living in the 1930s might have put into a time capsule. You need to put together a 2-minute visual presentation and include the following: write a description of what it represents, its importance in the 1930s, and a justification for its inclusion in the time capsule. Make sure to include pictures! YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THIS!!