The Dust Bowl through photography Jenny Appel Dr. Ardito ED 524

Do Now: Write down your thoughts on the following What do you think of when you hear “The Bust Bowl” How can photography help us learn about the past?

Glimpse of the Dust Bowl http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/watch-videos/#2219206510

The Dust Bowl, also known as the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms that damaged the prairies known as the Midwest in the United States.

What can we interpret about the living conditions during the Dust Bowl?

Living Conditions during the Dust Bowl Individuals living in areas affected by the Dust Bowl “ate” and breathed dust for years on end; dust permeated homes and even found its way into their food and clothing There were few ways to mitigate for dust storms, since they could strike suddenly and without warning, much like tornadoes. The only thing people could use to protect themselves from the dust even in the middle of a violent storm was a wet handkerchief or bandanna pressed over the nose and mouth. This combination of factors made escaping the dust impossible and made complications from overexposure to dust inevitable.

What can we interpret about farming conditions of the Dust Bowl?

Farming conditions in the Dust Bowl Poor agricultural practices and years of sustained drought caused the Dust Bowl. As the droughts of the early 1930s deepened, the farmers kept plowing and planting and nothing would grow. The ground cover that held the soil in place was gone. The Plains winds whipped across the fields raising billowing clouds of dust to the skies. The skies could darken for days, and even the most well sealed homes could have a thick layer of dust on furniture. In some places the dust would drift like snow, covering farmsteads.

Importance of photography during the Dust Bowl The combination of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl put a lot of stress on the people of the region as well as the federal government, which sought to alleviate their suffering. The Farm Security Administration (FSA), which was a small group of talented photographers, documented the human, natural, and economic devastation of the region in photographs printed in federal publications as well as in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines.

Key Photographers of the Dust Bowl Dorothea Lange From 1935 to 1939, Lange’s photographs brought the plight of the nation's poor and forgotten peoples, especially sharecroppers, displaced families, and migrant workers, into the public eye. Her image "Migrant Mother" is arguably the best-known documentary photograph of the 20th century and has become a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity.

Key Photographers of the Dust Bowl Arthur Rothstein Rothstein's early role and technical abilities gave him considerable influence on the artistic direction of the federal program. His works were gritty, taking advantage of the ability of black-and-white film to capture the contrast between light and dark. His realistic style, seemingly documentary, was chosen to enhance the believability of his work.

What can we interpret about the Dust Bowl based on “Migrant Mother”

Your turn…analyze in groups Take a look at the following photographs and see what you can interpret about the dust bowl from them!

Exit Ticket- take out a piece of paper and answer these questions What was the Dust Bowl? Imagine you are a child growing up during the Dust Bowl, what are three unhealthy conditions you could have faced? How has photography helped us learn about cause and effect during the Dust Bowl?