Culture in the 1930’s

Section 23*4pp. 716-720

Preview Questions

• What did Americans do for fun during the Depression?

• How did the New Deal help artists?

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

• Movies – Offered escape from harsh reality

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

• Gone With the Wind

• Stars: – Clark Gable – Vivien Leigh

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

The Wizard of Oz

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

Comedians

The Marx Brothers

The Marx Brothers - Swordfish

I. Motion Pictures and Radio

• Radio – Showed democratic spirit of the times

– Inexpensive family entertainment – Stars

•Bob Hope•Orson Wells: The War of the Worlds

II. The Arts in Depression America

• Federal Art Project – WPA program to support artists– Realism shows hardships of Depression

– Ex: Grant Wood’s American Gothic

II. The Arts in Depression America

• Federal Writer’s Project (WPA) – Richard Wright’s Native Son– John Stienbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath