Media History – 1900s
The 1900s saw several developments and changes in media. Film, music, advertisement and photography are some of the things that were developed or evolved a great deal in these years. Although the first motion films were created towards the late 1800s, it is in the 1900s that mass and cheaper production of the film was achieved (Berkin, Miller, Cherny & Gormly, 2015). Color films were introduced at the beginning of the 1900s but were least preferred by filmmakers due to their still rudimental nature. By the end of the 1900s, color films were the norm of filmmaking. The sound in film was also not well incorporated until 1926.
The most common film genres in the 1900s were comedies, crime films, drama films, fantasy films, science fiction, and fantasy films. However, towards the late 1900s when Hollywood had experienced significant growth, many other genres came into existence. With technological equipment, films could also be shot with better sound and video qualities. Special effects could also be added to the movies leading to an overall improvement in their appeal. Film photography also developed alongside film technology (Berkin, Miller, Cherny & Gormly, 2015). The Kodak Company was responsible for most of the development in film photography. Color photography and digital photography developed during this century.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Minorities were stereotypically portrayed in film. Some of these portrayals were negative leading to the stigma that they faced. For instance, some were cast as criminals. This unconscious racism of the media misrepresented the reality on the ground. People that had never met the minority usually believed the stereotype portrayed in films.
Operas, burlesque shows, and operettas were the main source of musicals before the 1900s. The musical systems continued at the turn of the century. There were theaters in both the United States and Europe. The Broadway, in particular, became popular during these years and had since then always been. Soon, music found itself in films in the form of musicals. Towards the end of the late 1900s, musicals were still used in films especially in children animation films.
At the turn of the twentient century, advertisement became hugely necessary and important due to the vast development in industries. Companies and organizations became more creative and focused on promoting their products to the public. Further development in the media such as in printing, television, and radio also catapulted advertisement into the mainstream.
Women History – 1400s-1900s
Women have for a long time faced oppression. For instance, it is not until the 1800s that women rights movements began to emerge. The first ever convention on women rights was held in 1848. Prior to this, women had various grievances but had no channel where they could raise them. The constitution itself was not favorable to them. They were not allowed to take leadership positions leave alone participating in voting. In 1869, a movement labeled the National Women Suffrage Association was formed by Elizabeth Cady and Susan Antony. Its aim was to lobby for a constitutional amendment that would, at last, allow women to vote. Other women joined in the push for women rights and by December the same year, the territory of Wyoming became the first to pass women’s suffrage laws which allowed women to serve on juries (Berkin, Miller, Cherny, & Gormly, 2015).
As the movement grew, so did the pressure on the right to vote. It is only in 1893 that women got the right to vote in Colorado. Other states followed suit in the preceding years. Finally, an amendment to the constitution to allow women to vote was signed into law in 1920. Efforts were also made by women leaders to ensure they receive fair wages and were provided with good working conditions. The other thing that women fought for was the need for birth control mechanisms. Birth control pills were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration until 1960. Discrimination and segregation against women were also addressed during this period and shaped the present perceptions towards women. Some of the women that were involved in the fight for women rights are Joan of Ave, Lucy Stone, Mary Church Terrell, and Alice Paul.
Traditionally, women’s role revolved around household chores. Women were not employed, unlike their male counterparts. The industrial revolution changed this. Women were able to work outside their houses for waged jobs. This opportunity, however, presented hardships to the women such as poor working conditions, lack of education, and lower wages in comparison to those taken home by the male counterparts. Stereotypes against women such as their perceived inferiority also affected their jobs during the industrial revolution.
Reference
Berkin, C., Miller, C., Cherny, R., & Gormly, J. (2015). Making America: A history of the Boston, MA: Cengage advantage books.
