Thursday, April 19, 2012
Between World Wars Era Discussion Question 1
In the years following World War I and before World War II, people many nations struggled through economic hardship that brought about political change. During this time there were people who were willing to give up some freedoms for economic security. Others were fighting for greater freedom within their communities. Explain how artists in your era showed an awareness of these societal changes.
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People changed their arts to shape with the social changes of the world. Under the name of Paramount Pictures I created a many number of films during that short period of peace within turmoil between the wars. When I saw peace within turmoil I mean that their was no direct claim of war but their was fighting and suffering. I made movies following, not only the worldwide Great Depression, but also following the crises in Europe such as Mussolini's Italy, Nazi Germany, and Imperial Japan.
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ReplyDeleteI think artists from all the arts were very aware of what was going on after the war.I remember it was a very important time. Radio and films, thanks of course to Mr. Zukor and his colleagues came onto the scene. The television made it's first appearance at the world trade exhibition in 1929. There was great economic growth and that gave Americans money to buy art for their homes, that was good news for me! Sixty new museums opened up. In 1929 the Museum of Modern Art opened in New York exposing the public to contemporary painting, sculpture, film, architecture and design.
ReplyDeleteAmericans became very interested in money and many artists despised this new culture . William Faulkner, F Scott Fitzgerald wrote about rich Americans looking for happiness in a culture were the arts are secondary to money.
Ben Shahn a very fine artist and an important person to document social events at that time completed a fine series of work about Sacco and Vanzetti. It was a sad affair in American history . These two Italian anarchists were executed in Massachussetts for crime they didn't do. They were set up because they were militants and involved in labor strikes. Ben Shahn retuned to the theme over and over again in his life working on drawings and murals about this injustice.
I entered a mans world and had lots of opposition. I didn't try to copy them ; I created in my small way a path for other women artists to follow. It wasn't a huge political statement but it was mine and I think I did make a difference.
I believe that many different artists expressed the way they felt about these changes through their art. For example movie writers might have made a movie about the social changes and added their opinions into it. Dancers might of made a dance that portrayed their feelings through the many movements and styles. Musicians, such as myself, might have made music dramatic, sad, angry, sensitive, and put all those characteristics into the music giving the music power and strength. Forgive me if I did not did not interpret these arts correctly, for I am not too familiar with professions other than mine.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many ways to change your art. Your are always being affected by the world around you. The world, and art in it never sleeps, it is always changing, evolving to new and more creative forms.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Mr. Zukor. Look at how much film and music have evolved today. You have high-tech and 3D movies.
DeleteExactly, people used to watch silent films. They were an interesting concept but I find that there is more art in regular films. They have musical score, actors and actresses, different technical aspects, writers who write the scripts. The movies combine so many arts into one gigantic showing of so many different creative commodities.
DeleteYou use the world around you for inspiration.
DeleteJazz artists, I've noticed have always written music based on events going on in their life. So I would say that in this style of music and this time era, where generally African Americans were still not accepted, it made jazz musicians and vocalists connect more with the situation.
ReplyDeleteIn Russia, during our harsh times: with a corrupt government and selfish leaders, we didn't have many options to express ourselves the way we wanted to. We had to make what the government wanted us to make. If we went beyond the criteria/ bounds, we were arrested and prosecuted. Most of us (including me) made some works in private and later published them when we were able to.
ReplyDeleteI did not know this Mr. Shostakovich But this is very interesting. Did this make things harder for you?
DeleteI also believe I have went beyond the form of classical in my music. All that went on in the Soviet Union after WWI really affected my composing. My music had a contemporary feel to some of it, that was influenced by the (social/ political) events occurring in Russia.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Dmitri. I wouldn't say that the wars, Great Depression and what was all going on at the time was a bad thing. I saw it as just a obstacle in the way and I just needed to get pass it. The wars influenced me a lot. Especially my choreography. I started to create this deep unique and emotional style to my dance, so all the emotions and feelings I had about the war and what I had experienced I wanted my audience to feel the same, but in a more artistic way so that I could hopefully pull them into what was really happening.
DeleteI believe artists in our time expressed themselves through their art if its music, art, or acting. So I think artists showed awareness by singing about it or painting about it.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out there could be other ways too, but yes those are the typical ones people think of. I am surprised you forgot about writing or even dancing, considering Ms. Valois is at our table.
DeleteI think it was a good time for woman's rights and that gave me the courage to make my work look like woman's art and not copy of my male contemporaries. Fellow male artists ridiculed me and tried to make light of my work. I called them "the boys" they didn't like a different kind of art and they felt threatened by this!
ReplyDeleteI like how your standing up for the whole women's rights. In one of my pieces that I choreographed is called the Checkmate, and usually in ballet the men have very dominant roles and in Checkmate I wanted something different that would keep my audience in suspense. In Checkmate the ballerina assumed the dominant role as the Black Queen bent on the destruction of the White King. So I agree with you not trying to follow your male contemporaries.
DeleteI see, Miss Valois, your piece was reformed in 1937. It must have been exciting to see. During that time I was working in Bisi Badlands, New Mexico producing landscapes and flower paintings. We were both working on new and interesting things in different disciplines and in different parts of the world but I am sure there are connections!
DeleteI am sure life was sometimes difficult for you as it was for me. We still lived in a mans world but it was a interesting time for the arts
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DeleteMs. Georgia, I very much agree with you on the fact that men didnot appreciate our work. I acted during the silent movie era. Alot of men and some women said I would never make the change to talking film, but I did.
DeletePeople and artists in our era had to sacrifice their own and freedom from economic security, and some had to fight for what they needed in their communities. I mean when you look back at it we had the Great Depression. That was pretty harsh I mean it lasted for a good amount of time. It started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930's and some what early 1940's. You had unemployment and homeless. It was all over the United States and some other countries too. People didn't recover from it till later on. Not only effecting families and people, but it effected artists. I mean were starting from painters, musicians, actors, and dancers. During that time I had went through a horrible time when WWII was going on and wars were just breaking out my dance company had gotten destroyed and i've lost about everything at the time and I have had to start from scratch.
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting Ms. Valois I had no idea that dance companys were effected that way during the Great Depression.
DeleteIndeed, art is a very effective way to cheer people up during depressing times. Just look at Ms. Temple. Her job was to be cute and offer a positive out look on life. Art is a way to let out your feelings, they being positive or negative. The best artist there are use the times and their feelings to convey their message.
DeleteArtist during this time would express themselves through their art. I personally didn't make sad movies or movies that made people aware of their problems. I actually did tge opposite. I made movies to make people smile, as did many films and musicals.
ReplyDeleteSorry i am late! I believe that an artists make art to express themselves and to help explain the troubles of the world around them. Or some people like myself, make art for peoples entertainment.
ReplyDeleteVery true Mr. Robeson
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