Social Realism In Hooverville

The 1933s was a period in great the depression. Everyone in Americans were hurt by the onset of the Depression. Many were unemployed and lived in shanty towns or Hooverville’s. Arts during this time reflect the struggle the nation faced to meet daily needs. For instance, this was illustrated by art work that shows people’s lives in shanty town. Namely, the piece Hooverville was painted depicting “desperation [which] is reflected in the flat color and barrenness of the land.” In addition, other popular arts depicted unemployed men moving across the states as hobos. In contrast, McEvoy’s piece taxi taxi was a social realism which “focus on communal identity and less on the formal personal focus of self-portraits.” The art content was essentially

An image of a male and a female appears. This image shows the woman in the passenger “permitting [her] male companion to nuzzle her neck.” Not only are the passengers relaxing in the taxi, they are also allowing themselves to have intimacy or fun. Their actions suggest that they are living in the moment. They are seeking romance and perhaps love in the midst of chaos. This contrast to the action of the majority people outside whom are in rush to get to work or worrying in search for jobs.

Shifting the view towards the outside, there are colorful buildings, pedestrians, and a small gray dog. On top left corner, there is a green open top, double-decker, mass transportation vehicle. All this is presented from the perspective of tilted car suggesting the car is in motion. The use of actual motion and traffic makes the piece more dramatic and essentially compliments the idea that the American people are living the busy life. The piece encourages the people of that time to stay active despite the

Although there is a vanishing point, the eye travels everywhere not just the center. This is achieved by providing variety by painting the inside darker colors and the outside of the cab more colorful. This allows viewers to pay attention to details aside from the passengers in the inside. All three individuals in cab seem unbothered by the rocky motion of the car and the outside. In contrast, the outside is more hectic as shown by the pedestrians and dogs trying to escape the traffic. In addition to the crowded street with more cars “one [is] apparently broken down with a man kneeling to fix it” thus providing an example of workers active in the work field. Essentially, the content of the art is not only provided by the actions of the passengers, but also by what is shown in the crowded busy street. Considering this painting depicts everyday life encourages people to go out and seek a product lifestyle. In other words, it opens their mind up to a different perspective of the current circumstance. In a sense, it provides the viewers to have a more positive outlook of the time. People in this time period could view this art piece and gain a sense of hope for the nation. Knowing that American are living a product busy lives and not at home sitting in despair is positive message McEvoy