1. Learning Objectives: Section 4 - Culture in the 1930's
Standard Addressed: Students analyze the different explanations for the Great Depression and how the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government.
CH 15-SEC 4
Learning Objectives: Section 4 - Culture in the 1930's
1. Describe the entertainment provided by motion pictures and radio.
2. Identify some of the artists and writers of the New Deal era.

2. QUIZ!
First & Last Name
Fill in your
ID NUMBER!
CH-15-4

3. A BULLDOG ALWAYS
Commitment
Attitude
CARES
Respect
Encouragement
Safety

4. Culture in the 1930s Section 4
Motion pictures, radio, art, and literature blossom during the New Deal.
NEXT

5. AMERICA GETS BACK TO WORK
THE NEW DEAL
AMERICA GETS BACK TO WORK

6. SECTION 4: CULTURE IN THE 1930s
MOVIES:
By the late 1930s, 65% of Americans were attending the movies at least once per week at one of the nation’s 15,000 movie theaters
    Movies provided an escape from the hardships of the Great Depression

7. SECTION 4: CULTURE IN THE 1930s
MOVIES:
Comedies, lavish musicals, love stories and gangster films dominated the movie industry
    Movies provided an escape from the hardships of the Great Depression

8. MOVIE
STARS
1930s
A new era of glamour in Hollywood was launched with stars like Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich and James Cagney

9. FAMOUS FILMS OF THE 30s
One of the most famous films of the era was Gone with the Wind (1939)
Other notable movies of the era included The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

10. Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Gone with the Wind Clark Gable
Vivian Leigh
What was its theme?
What was it?
Who created or appeared in it?
Life among Southern plantation owners during the Civil War
Margaret Mitchell

11. FAMOUS FILMS OF THE 30s

12. Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
What was it?
What was its theme?
Film
Honest, Kindhearted people winning out over greedy special interests.
Who created or appeared in it?
Frank Capra

13. Shirley Temple (Black)
Most popular artist

14. NEXT

15. RADIO: THE ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT
Sales of radios greatly increased in the 1930s, from 13 million in 1930 to 28 million by 1940
Nearly 90% of American homes owned a radio
Families spent hours listening to the radio

16. ROOSEVELT’S FIRESIDE CHATS
FDR communicated to Americans via radio
His frequent “Fireside Chats” kept Americans abreast of the government’s efforts during the Depression

17. POPULAR RADIO SHOWS
Benny
Popular radio shows included comedies with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and the duo of Burns and Allen
Hope
Burns
Allen

18. POPULAR RADIO SHOWS
Soap operas (named because they were sponsored by soap companies) ran in the mornings, kids shows in the afternoon and entertainment at night

19. Radio Entertains

20. FAMOUS RADIO MOMENTS
Orson Welles created a radio special called War of the Worlds
It was an epic drama about aliens landing in America
Unfortunately, many thought it was a news broadcast and panicked

21. Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama War of the Worlds What was it?
What was its theme?
Play
Martian invasion of earth
Who created or appeared in it?
Orsen Wells
(H.G. Wells)

22. Radio Entertains

23. Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Waiting for Lefty What was it?
What was its theme?
Play
Labor struggles of the 1930’s
Who created or appeared in it?
Clifford Odets

24. WRITERS DEPICT AMERICAN LIFE
The Federal Writers’ Project (branch of WPA) paid writers to write
Richard Wright’s acclaimed Native Son was written for the project
Deals with issues of growing up black

25. Guided Reading: Art and Literature Native Son What was it?
What was its theme?
Novel
Difficulties faced by a young generation surviving in a racist world
Who created or appeared in it?
Richard Wright

26. JOHN STEINBECK RECEIVES ACCLAIM
American writer John Steinbeck received assistance from the Federal Writers’ Project
He published his most famous book, Grapes of Wrath (1939), as part of the program
Portrays the struggles of a family from the dust bowl.

27. Guided Reading: Art and Literature The Grapes of Wrath What was it?
What was its theme?
Novel
Difficulties of Oklahomans who left the Dust Bowl for California
Who created or appeared in it?
John Steinbeck

28. LIVE NEWS COVERAGE
Radio captured news as well as providing entertainment
One of the first worldwide broadcasts was the horrific crash of the Hindenburg, a German Zeppelin (blimp), in New Jersey on May 6, 1937
Such immediate news coverage became a staple in society
The Hindenburg caught fire and was utterly destroyed within a minute Of the 97 people on board, 13 passengers and 22 crew-members were killed

29. The Arts in Depression America
Artists Decorate America
Federal Art Project pays artists to make art, teach in schools
Aim to promote art appreciation, positive image of America
Murals typically portray dignity of ordinary people at work
Many outstanding works painted by artists, including Grant Wood
Federal Theater Project hires actors, artists
Continued . . .
NEXT

30. ART DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION
The Federal Art Project (branch of the WPA) paid artists a living wage to produce art
Projects included murals, posters and books
Much of the art, music and literature was sober and serious

31. PLAY – OUR TOWN

32. Guided Reading: Art and Literature Our Town What was it?
What was its theme?
Play
Warmth and beauty of small-town life in New England
Who created or appeared in it?
Thornton Wilder

33. ARTISTS HERALDED
Painters like Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, and Iowa’s Grant Wood were all made famous by their work in the WPA program
Photographer Dorothea Lange gained fame from her photos during this era (featured throughout this presentation)
Wood’s American Gothic is perhaps the most famous piece of the era (1930)

34. Artists Decorate America
Federal Art Project pays artists to make art, teach in schools
Aim to promote art appreciation, positive image of America
Murals typically portray dignity of ordinary people at work
Many outstanding works painted by artists, including Grant Wood
Federal Theater Project hires actors, artists

35. Grant Wood’s Fall Plowing, 1931

36. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks (1942)

37. Edward Hopper, Railroad Sunset (1929)

38. Mabel Dwight, In the Crowd (1931)

39. Thomas Hart Benton, Mine Strike

40. Thomas Hart Benton, Lord, Heal the Child (1934)

41. Nicolai Cikovsky, On the East River (c. 1934)

42. Guided Reading: Art and Literature American Gothic What was it?
What was its theme?
Painting
Two stern-faced farmers;
rural life during the Depression
Who created or appeared in it?
Wood Grant

43. GUTHRIE’S MUSIC CAPTURES ERA
Singer Woody Guthrie used music to capture the hardship of the Great Depression
Guthrie traveled the country singing about America
Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie sings of plight of poor
Woody Guthrie

44. The Arts in Depression America
Woody Guthrie Sings of America
Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie sings of plight of poor
Continued . . .
NEXT

45. QUIZ!
First & Last Name
Fill in your
ID NUMBER!
CH-15-4

46. Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
A – Why did you think movies were so popular during the Depression?
Movies provided realistic portrayals as well as escapist comedies and romances, all of which helped people to cope with the Depression reality

47. Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
B – Why did the New Deal fund art projects?
New Deal officials believed
-that art played an important role in the life of the American people.
-that artists deserved work relief just as other unemployed Americans did

48. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
C – In what ways did the New Deal deliver art to the public?
The Federal Art Project paid to produce public art.
It also promoted the teaching of art in schools and poster and mural paintings.
The Federal Theater Project assisted producing theater productions.

49. Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
D – How did the literature of the time reflect issues of the Depression?
Writers depicted the difficulties of the Depression Era, such as the Dust Bowl, working class life, racism, and hardships in America.