Era of 1920s

1621 Words4 Pages

Even though politicians and historians view political cartoons differently, historians can now look back and truly capture the minds of the American people during the 1920s. This political cartoon, “The Modern Devil Fish,” illustrated by Victor Hugo, was published in a 1925 issue of the Chicago Tribune. This specific cartoon was used as propaganda to promote the Prohibition Party and encourage the support of voters by addressing the usual arguments against the legal status of alcohol. It also was used as propaganda to show the far reaching effects of its use on American society, as demonstrated by the labels on each of the octopus’ tentacles, ranging from ‘partnership with thieves’ to ‘traffic in girls’ to ‘political corruption.’ The fight for prohibition had been an ongoing one, but it had become clear to those rallying to ban liquor that the power of the vote would be the only way to ‘slay’ the saloon monstrosity – pictured here as the knife labeled ‘votes,’ driven into the head of the creature by a hand bearing the name of the Prohibition Party. By destroying the center of the problem, saloons, the knife wielding political party is destroying all of the problems connected to it. In reality, the issues on each tentacle were far from solely the fault of alcohol consumption, but the Party was making an effort to get votes and inspire support, thus exaggerating the point of the prohibition issue. The hope of Hugo as he illustrated this cartoon was clear – that people who understood it would recognize the evils of a nation which does not prohibit saloons and the like subjects itself to by not utilizing the ‘knife’ of Prohibition Party votes. The cartoonist with his drawings could say more in one cartoon than could be said by a spee...

... middle of paper ...

...e pervading racial stereotypes and promote racial and social integration. Porgy and Bess is one of the only pieces of its time that allowed African-American artists the opportunity to perform, creating that integration. Gershwin music is still played today by orchestras. As a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, I have played “Summertime” and “I Got Plenty of Nuttin.’” Although the music is played by my string instrument, I can still feel the jazz and the groove that Geshwin created. The music in it is really beautiful and has memorable melodies that people have held on to. Porgy and Bess is a wonderful American musical work that is significant and has launched the careers of many African American artists.
The early 1920s, referred to as the Roaring Twenties, were characterized by economic prosperity and tremendous social, artistic, and cultural dynamism.

More about Era of 1920s

Open Document