In the 1930’s the United States really started harnessing technologies to produce mass broadcasting, talking films, and photographs. . “The decade of the Thirties was a most dramatic era of sound and sight…examples of…national radio…The photograph and the film, too, changed the nature of cultural communication in America.”[1] Photographs, radio, and film changed the cultural communication in the United States essentially by uniting people through common broadcasting and cinema. People were now able to hear of news happening across the country through broadcasting. People all across the country were viewing the same films in movie houses. People could see clear images of those who lived in different parts of the country and understand their way of life a little better. “This shift to a culture of sight and sound was of profound importance; it increased our self-awareness as a culture; it helped create a unity of response and action not previously possible…”[2] These forms of media triggered a sense of community and group moral that inspired American to work to help each other and prosper together.
Herbert Hoover emphasizes this idea of comradely in his speech, “Challenge to Liberty.” At a time when the United States was in shambles, Hoover suggests that instead of putting energy into bettering one’s own situation, it is better to focus on the greater picture and attempt to ensure everyone’s situation betters. His proposal to keep all children in school and out of factories is one example of focusing on the greater picture of bettering to United States. “We want children kept out of factories. We want them kept in school…Freedom can march only upon the feet of educated, healthy, and happy children.”[3] Essentially Hoover is saying that in order to ensure the countries prosperity, it is important to make sure that all individuals are cared for and educated at a young age, in order to foster a better tomorrow.
Hoover suggests that the economic problems of the country can also be fixed through national teamwork. He suggests a plan for making production cheaper by developing better machinery and modes of production. He hopes that will create more jobs and make it easier for the lower class to purchase goods. Hoover calls upon privately owned businesses to do this, as he maintains the government is not capable of this alone. “We hold that this can be done only by private industry and not by government. We hold it can be done only by rewarding men for skill and merit.”[4] By emphasizing that this can only be done by privately owned companies, Hoover is encouraging organizations to take some responsibility for the country’s well being.
Laurel,
ReplyDeleteI think you are off to a good start. The argument that I see in your paper really is said in the first sentence of your final paragraph. “Hoover suggests that the economic problems of the country can also be fixed through national teamwork.” To me, this sentence tells the reader what you are going to talk about and argue. In that same paragraph you then continue with your argument by stating ways in which Hoover planned on helping the country as a whole. Maybe you can further develop these ideas and have paragraphs designated to the different ways in which Hoover helped build national teamwork by implementing practices to help the economy. You can use Susman by talking about the ways people came together during this time and how the media helped bring people together. I like your usage of quotes in each paragraph. They help bring out the points you are trying to make in each paragraph.
Ailey
Laurel,
ReplyDeleteYour first paragraph is well written, however you are arguing too many things. For instance, when you say "As the Great Depression continued in the United States people began to feel a sense of discouragement and hopelessness." This is an argument to a paper you are not writing. You cannot argue about how people felt, unless that is what you are writing your paper about. Furthermore, your thesis is very close. you state: "Herbert Hoover utilized this concept of comradely and responsibility for one’s fellow man in his campaigning speech “Challenge to Liberty” during the 1932 election." This is good. just put in something about the way in which this was portrayed in the media and youre good. Overall i feel you have good evidence, but you have to weed out personal opinion. An example of one without opinion would be (and im just coming up with this here) "During the depression of the 1930's, the american identity was changing and becoming more united . In a speech Hoover argued "we will not go quietly into the night, we will not vanish without a fight, were going to go on, were going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day." This portrayal of American pride and unity continually demonstrates this ideal of nationalism growing in the 1930's.
Josh