Great Depression

Definition

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, characterized by a dramatic decline in industrial production, widespread unemployment, and significant drops in consumer spending. This era profoundly impacted society and culture, leading to new forms of artistic expression and documentation that aimed to capture the struggles of everyday people and societal changes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The stock market crash of October 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression, leading to widespread bank failures and loss of savings.
2. Unemployment rates soared during the Great Depression, reaching around 25% in the United States at its peak.
3. The Farm Security Administration (FSA) was created as part of the New Deal to provide financial assistance to struggling farmers and document their plight through photography.
4. Social documentary photography emerged as a powerful tool during this time, highlighting the harsh realities faced by individuals and families affected by economic hardship.
5. Street photography gained prominence as artists sought to document urban life, capturing candid moments of struggle, resilience, and daily existence amidst economic turmoil.

Review Questions

• How did the Great Depression influence the themes and subjects of photography during this period?
  • The Great Depression had a significant impact on photography, leading photographers to focus on themes of struggle, resilience, and social injustice. Projects like the Farm Security Administration photography project aimed to document the experiences of displaced farmers and highlight their hardships. This focus on real-life struggles helped create a visual narrative that connected viewers to the human experience during a time of economic despair.
• Analyze how street photography evolved as a response to the social conditions created by the Great Depression.
  • During the Great Depression, street photography evolved as artists began capturing candid moments of life in urban settings, reflecting the daily realities faced by individuals amid economic hardship. Photographers like Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange documented both despair and resilience in their subjects. Their work not only provided a visual record of social conditions but also aimed to raise awareness about poverty and inequality, effectively turning art into a form of social commentary.
• Evaluate the impact of documentary photography from the Great Depression era on contemporary social awareness.
  • Documentary photography from the Great Depression era has had a lasting impact on contemporary social awareness by establishing a precedent for using visual media to address social issues. The powerful images created during this time continue to resonate today, inspiring modern photographers to document social injustices and human experiences. By connecting past struggles with present-day challenges, this form of photography encourages ongoing discussions about poverty, inequality, and resilience in society.

Related terms

Dust Bowl:

A series of severe dust storms during the 1930s that greatly damaged agriculture in the U.S. Great Plains, exacerbating the economic hardships of the Great Depression.

New Deal:

A series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Documentary Photography: A style of photography that captures real-life events or conditions, often used as a means to tell stories about social issues and the human condition.