New Deal Website
I sorta skipped around the website and found a few little interesting tid bits. It interested me to see that the WPA, or the Works Progress Administration, hired artists to paint fresco murals in the city, almost like those of Diego Rivera. A WPA branch in Milwaukee put women to work making dolls for children in nurseries, schools, and hospital. These WPA dolls are actually quite popular with doll collectors of today.
I also came across a man named Rondal Patridge who was a photographer. Patridge took photos in the west, in California. I found one photo particularly interesting; it was a Hoovervile in Sacramento. Right next to the Hooverville was a sign that said, "Dump no Rubbish here." Patridge also took photos of men and women waiting in line for food, and he took some interesting rodeo pictures as well. It was different to see the effects of the depression in the west, because when it comes to the Great Depression I usually think of big urban cities like New York. Patridge photos reminded me alot of the scenes the Steinbeck writes about in The Grapes of Wrath.
I also came across a man named Rondal Patridge who was a photographer. Patridge took photos in the west, in California. I found one photo particularly interesting; it was a Hoovervile in Sacramento. Right next to the Hooverville was a sign that said, "Dump no Rubbish here." Patridge also took photos of men and women waiting in line for food, and he took some interesting rodeo pictures as well. It was different to see the effects of the depression in the west, because when it comes to the Great Depression I usually think of big urban cities like New York. Patridge photos reminded me alot of the scenes the Steinbeck writes about in The Grapes of Wrath.
posted by BrentM | 8:23 AM
3 Comments:
I agree with the mind-set you have when it comes to thinking of the setting of the Great Depression. In my mind, it doesn't really identify with Steinbeck's scenes (and actually not big urban cities, either)--or anything, for that matter. I just can't picture it. Maybe my inability to identify with the Depression shows the gap between our generation and that of our parent's parents.
THe photos really help me to understand what the life was like during the Depression. I also find it interesting that people were hired to paint murals in cities. I saw some photos of the murals they painted in the photos section.
The photos on the website helped me to paint an image of the Great Depression in my mind; I almost can empathize with the people back then, though I will never truly understand how people felt back then. It's funny how you should mention Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, assuming that you already knew that he published the book around this time because I think that is a good example to use for the depiction of the Depression in literary works.
Post a Comment
<< Home