Urbanization and Urbanization and Isolation in post-WWI Isolation in post-WWI

AmericaAmericaHonors American Literature Honors American Literature

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some of which you have not seen before, or at some of which you have not seen before, or at least we haven’t studied in detailleast we haven’t studied in detail

Instructions, Instructions, continuedcontinued

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follow the information, you will need to use follow the information, you will need to use MS Word or MS Word or

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print them out, if you wish.)print them out, if you wish.)

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O.K. – Let’s beginO.K. – Let’s begin

Impact of UrbanizationImpact of Urbanization

Recall that we discussed the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Recall that we discussed the impact of the Industrial Revolution on America at the end of the 19America at the end of the 19thth century century

We said that the most important transition was the We said that the most important transition was the shift from an shift from an agrarian to an urban cultureagrarian to an urban culture

Doing so changed the nature of work, time, family and social Doing so changed the nature of work, time, family and social relationships.relationships.– City employees worked in shifts, rather than from sunup to sundown. City employees worked in shifts, rather than from sunup to sundown.

This meant that (in the summer) they had “leisure time.This meant that (in the summer) they had “leisure time.– Because of this and because people rented apartments by the month Because of this and because people rented apartments by the month

rather than living on the family farm. Consequently, they developed a rather than living on the family farm. Consequently, they developed a “sense of the temporary.”“sense of the temporary.”

– This, plus the ready availability of leisure/entertainment led to “dating” (a This, plus the ready availability of leisure/entertainment led to “dating” (a temporary kind of social relationship) and an attraction to changing temporary kind of social relationship) and an attraction to changing fashions.fashions.

And in this genre painting, “Farmers Nooning” by William Sydney Mount (1836) we see something more.

Though mostly an idyllic view, it is also paternalistic: note that the white men lounge in the shade, while the black man sleeps in the sun, imputing a kind of laziness to the African-American which the other men tolerate with quiet amusement. One of the men reads, indicating his “intellectual superiority.” And the child takes the opportunity to make the black man an object of his humor, even ridicule. Benign, perhaps, and intended to be bucolic (simple and folksy) but the lines are clearly drawn.

NOTE: this slide has been kept in by request; you do not have to include it in your analysis unless you wish.

Photography’s ImpactPhotography’s Impact

Technology was one of the products of Technology was one of the products of urbanization. The availability of urbanization. The availability of newfangled objects attracted people to the newfangled objects attracted people to the citiescities

But, along with their personal experience But, along with their personal experience of war, the camera played a major role in of war, the camera played a major role in “de-Romanticizing” America…“de-Romanticizing” America…

Before the Civil War and the preponderance of battlefield photographs, the view of Before the Civil War and the preponderance of battlefield photographs, the view of warwar was was colored by the Romantic images of the Revolutionary War and other conflicts of the 18colored by the Romantic images of the Revolutionary War and other conflicts of the 18 thth century. century.

Benjamin West “Death of General Wolfe”

John Trumbull, “Battle of Bunker’s Hill”

Photograph of dead Confederate soldier at Spotsylvania Courthouse, 1863 (by Matthew Brady)

Instead, they saw this…

Photograph of dead Confederate soldier at Petersburg, 1865 (by Matthew Brady)

and this…

And, since technology is associated more closely with urban areas And, since technology is associated more closely with urban areas the the products of Industrializationproducts of Industrialization, , simply by simply by existingexisting, made cities attractive. , made cities attractive. To sum up, one such product – the To sum up, one such product – the camera camera –– also brought the horrors also brought the horrors of war to those who might otherwise not have witnessed it first-hand of war to those who might otherwise not have witnessed it first-hand (and in doing so, replaced the Romantic version of war depicted in the (and in doing so, replaced the Romantic version of war depicted in the paintings of Trumbull and West).paintings of Trumbull and West).

Photographs like the one above surely must have dispelled any belief in the bloodless death of General Wolfe.

The death of General Wolfe in Benjamin West’s painting is more reminiscent of a scene from “Camille” than a scene from war.

(Note: “Camille” was a play written in the 1840’s about a courtesan – i.e., high-priced prostitute -- dying of tuberculosis. The photo at right is from a 1936 film based on the play.)

O.K. – using O.K. – using WordWord, , open and read the story open and read the story “Horseman.” “Horseman.”

This is a short story by Ambrose Bierce – the full title is “Horseman in the Sky” This is a short story by Ambrose Bierce – the full title is “Horseman in the Sky” (Bierce also wrote “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”).(Bierce also wrote “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”).

Bierce’s story clearly underscores the Bierce’s story clearly underscores the beginning of a shift in American attitude: beginning of a shift in American attitude: from Romanticism to Realism…and yet, from Romanticism to Realism…and yet, oddly enough, it wasn’t a particularly oddly enough, it wasn’t a particularly morbid era.morbid era.

There are two competing and contradictory There are two competing and contradictory attitudes that run through America in the attitudes that run through America in the post-Civil War era: post-Civil War era: a sense of lossa sense of loss and a and a sense of exuberancesense of exuberance. The former . The former occurred as Americans learned the bitter occurred as Americans learned the bitter lessons of a war in which brother fought lessons of a war in which brother fought brother and father fought son. The latter brother and father fought son. The latter occurred as America grew into an occurred as America grew into an Industrial giant.Industrial giant.

As Richard Sears and his Catalog showed, As Richard Sears and his Catalog showed, America was a land America was a land where anything is where anything is possible, and where everything is possible, and where everything is availableavailable..

Open and read the two documents: “The Development of Mail Open and read the two documents: “The Development of Mail Order America” and “Growth and Change in America” (note: in Order America” and “Growth and Change in America” (note: in the second document, you only need to read the passages in the second document, you only need to read the passages in blueblue.).)

Though urban life had its advantages, clearly Though urban life had its advantages, clearly there were many problems and evils there were many problems and evils associated with city life: overcrowding, associated with city life: overcrowding, poverty, filth, disease, etc. Life was difficult poverty, filth, disease, etc. Life was difficult if you didn’t “make it big.”if you didn’t “make it big.”

But even those who But even those who werewere successful in the successful in the city would come to realize that there was a city would come to realize that there was a price to pay: as vibrant, alive and crowded price to pay: as vibrant, alive and crowded as the city would become, there was an as the city would become, there was an anonymityanonymity in life there. People would live in in life there. People would live in crowded apartment buildings, but not know crowded apartment buildings, but not know their neighbors.their neighbors.

Impact of UrbanizationImpact of Urbanization

In fact, it was more likely that In fact, it was more likely that successfusuccessful people would be the ones l people would be the ones to face this kind of isolation since poor immigrants created to face this kind of isolation since poor immigrants created ethnic ethnic neighborhoodsneighborhoods, and those places tended to be close-knit . In , and those places tended to be close-knit . In addition, the apartment buildings they lived in would more than likely addition, the apartment buildings they lived in would more than likely be home to several families who were related.be home to several families who were related.

The idea that successful men could live empty lives was best The idea that successful men could live empty lives was best summed up in “The Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot. summed up in “The Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot. Open that document Open that document and read.and read.

Isolation in the city would continue Isolation in the city would continue to fascinate writers, artists and to fascinate writers, artists and poets throughout the 20poets throughout the 20thth century. century.

Alfred Hitchcock explored both Alfred Hitchcock explored both voyeurism and isolationvoyeurism and isolation in the city in in the city in his classic 1954 film “Rear Window”his classic 1954 film “Rear Window”

The main character, played by The main character, played by Jimmy Stewart, is stuck in his Jimmy Stewart, is stuck in his apartment and watches his apartment and watches his neighbors (whom he does not know) neighbors (whom he does not know) all day. He tries to analyze their all day. He tries to analyze their lives, and we come to the lives, and we come to the conclusion that many of them are conclusion that many of them are lonely, troubled, or both.lonely, troubled, or both.

Perhaps the best artist to Perhaps the best artist to explore this phenomenon explore this phenomenon (isolation in urban America) (isolation in urban America) was Edward Hopper.was Edward Hopper.

His paintings are studies in His paintings are studies in dark and light, and many are dark and light, and many are scenes which are viewed scenes which are viewed through, or near, windows.through, or near, windows.

When his settings are in the When his settings are in the country, they are quiet and country, they are quiet and lovely. When they are in the lovely. When they are in the city, however, they take on a city, however, they take on a new perspective.new perspective.

Open the Word Open the Word document, “Image document, “Image Analysis of Edward Analysis of Edward Hopper” and read.Hopper” and read.

The essay is about The essay is about the painting at the the painting at the right, “Room in New right, “Room in New York”York”

So, ultimately we have said that the growth of urbanization was So, ultimately we have said that the growth of urbanization was prompted by a number of things:prompted by a number of things:– Even though farm life was considered the Even though farm life was considered the idealideal American occupation, it American occupation, it

was also (to some degree) one of the causes of slavery. Consequently, was also (to some degree) one of the causes of slavery. Consequently, it may have lost some of its luster through this association.it may have lost some of its luster through this association.

– Urban, industrial life seemed Urban, industrial life seemed superiorsuperior since it provided new and since it provided new and improved technology, some of which (the camera) hastened the end of improved technology, some of which (the camera) hastened the end of the Romantic era by exposing the horrors of war.the Romantic era by exposing the horrors of war.

– Even farming technology, by improving farm output, paradoxically sped Even farming technology, by improving farm output, paradoxically sped up the decline of the number of farmers in America while at the same up the decline of the number of farmers in America while at the same time increasing the number of farms.time increasing the number of farms.

– People like Richard W. Sears made urban life seem accessible through People like Richard W. Sears made urban life seem accessible through their catalogs of wondrous new goods.their catalogs of wondrous new goods.

And yet, urban life – in spite of the increasing number of people in And yet, urban life – in spite of the increasing number of people in cities – led to increasing isolation. cities – led to increasing isolation. Is it possible that technology is Is it possible that technology is the culprit? That it has not only contributed to this sense of isolation the culprit? That it has not only contributed to this sense of isolation but in fact has contributed to a but in fact has contributed to a desiredesire for isolation? for isolation?

What are the major technological products/innovations of the 20What are the major technological products/innovations of the 20thth (and 21 (and 21stst) ) century?century?

The TelevisionThe Television

The ComputerThe Computer

The InternetThe Internet

The Cell PhoneThe Cell Phone

The iPodThe iPod

To what degree do they each serve ISOLATION?To what degree do they each serve ISOLATION?

Read the three short articles on “technology isolation”:

•iSolation Nation

•iPod Isolation

•Technology Isolation Syndrome

Perhaps the best example is the iPod. Even that “i” serves the Perhaps the best example is the iPod. Even that “i” serves the SELF. It is a device that allows the owner to create his/her own SELF. It is a device that allows the owner to create his/her own playlists – each one unique to the owner, and to listen in privacy.playlists – each one unique to the owner, and to listen in privacy.

Last year, I predicted (wrongly) that the “customization” of iPods Last year, I predicted (wrongly) that the “customization” of iPods would be the next big thing. It didn’t happen. Is that because the would be the next big thing. It didn’t happen. Is that because the current styles allow iPod users to be “invisible” because they don’t current styles allow iPod users to be “invisible” because they don’t call attention to themselves?call attention to themselves?

Not only does the iPod Not only does the iPod devicedevice isolate the listener in content and in isolate the listener in content and in design, but the design, but the ads reinforce this notionads reinforce this notion::

There are even websites that allow you to create your own iPod ad:There are even websites that allow you to create your own iPod ad:

Or create a satirical parody:Or create a satirical parody:

ESSAY:ESSAY:– In an essay of 3-4 pages, address the followingIn an essay of 3-4 pages, address the following

In the late 19In the late 19thth century, America’s century, America’s collective psychologycollective psychology changed and it changed and it found itself slowly leaving the bucolic countryside, abandoning the farm and found itself slowly leaving the bucolic countryside, abandoning the farm and heading to the city. Once there, America became a different kind of country heading to the city. Once there, America became a different kind of country than the one envisioned by the Founding Fathers: more resilient perhaps, than the one envisioned by the Founding Fathers: more resilient perhaps, but also more jaded. but also more jaded. In the first part of your essay, explain this change, then In the first part of your essay, explain this change, then address the next part.address the next part.

Life in the city, despite its overcrowding, increasingly led to the isolation of its Life in the city, despite its overcrowding, increasingly led to the isolation of its inhabitants, an emotion that has been explored over the past 100 years by inhabitants, an emotion that has been explored over the past 100 years by writers, artists, poets and filmmakers. And yet, this isolating quality persists. writers, artists, poets and filmmakers. And yet, this isolating quality persists. Is it because our technological advances promote isolation by serving Is it because our technological advances promote isolation by serving individual tastes and desires? Or is it perhaps the case that modern individual tastes and desires? Or is it perhaps the case that modern Americans Americans preferprefer isolation? That we have sought out products and devices isolation? That we have sought out products and devices that increase our sense of individuality, and consequently our isolation?that increase our sense of individuality, and consequently our isolation?

Your essay Your essay mustmust contain references to the material provided in this presentation. contain references to the material provided in this presentation.

There is a copy of this prompt on the Moodle Site (“Urbanization Essay Prompt”) as There is a copy of this prompt on the Moodle Site (“Urbanization Essay Prompt”) as well as the rubric I will use to grade it. Essay due no later than the last day of classes.well as the rubric I will use to grade it. Essay due no later than the last day of classes.

Good Luck !Good Luck !