ESSAY 3 ROUGH DRAFT

As times change so does the way men and women look at life and what they need to do to stay successful. In the 1930’s the approach turn to participation and belonging. (Susman, 172). The country is going through many changes as jobs opportunities are different. Many people in the nation will have to find a way to fit into this new culture. Franklin D. Roosevelt believes that in order to help solve the situation the American approach to work and success will need to change. FDR realizes that it is not the fault of the population for their failures, but that of the government. With the government’s guidance, society can grow by not only more successful people, including gender and race, but also by working together and completing greater feats.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech creates a sense of unity just like Warren Susman creates in his perception of the culture. FDR’s ways in which he goes about to achieve this unity breaks away form the ideological government that Susman describes as a government whose sole purpose is to maintain security, nationally and domestically. FDR looked to change the way the government interacted with the people by looking at the American experiences from the past. He points out the importance of labor throughout American history and how the country was cultivated and prospered through that manner until the industrial revolution. This era brought a change to the social and economical situation in America, a situation that FDR felt needed to be fixed. He agrees that was individualism is a good quality to have as an American. Through tough times Americans could get themselves out of a bad situation buy selling labor. Even though he believed that individualism was important, it was worse for society to let many people fail in these times. The country had changed and how to become successful had changed. He knew it was time for society to accept the change, but many had issues with accepting the fact that everyone would be on an equal playing field. This political change in government causes distress to those from the right. The countries followers of Hoover would see this as a change from what is America as it becomes more socialist. Roosevelt looked to “provide jobs, help the unemployed, assist young people with education and work, care for the young and old damaged by a breadwinner’s unemployment, salvage homes and bank accounts, and also build the social infrastructure that capitalism ignored” when times got bad. When society didn’t provide the opportunities for the un-wealthy then the government should step in to make sure the country stays strong. He is looking to protect their individualism by keeping them in the American culture. The idea of having a stable country will create a close bonding culture, which Susman sees as important in society because it creates security.
The second picture is called Security of the Family by Seymour Fogel. The title suggests the families need to be protected in these times of change, which Fogel tries to express in most of his works. The picture is very socially correct with FDR’s image of the new working class culture in America. It is true depiction of the New Deal as you can see different genders and races assuming new roles in society. He also includes the cause of this change in the background where the skies are very dark and grey hovering over the construction site. This symbolizes the change the country is going from the agricultural business to the new industrial factories there is a dark cloud. A dark cloud that can create struggles for many Americans. Fogel proceeds to contradict the idea that this mural is about the downfall of workers by presenting a new generation of the working class.
The people in frame are very unique as their actions are somewhat altered from what is normal for their gender and race. This “family” demonstrates the new positions men and women, white or black can have in America. On the right hand side there is what appears to be an African American male who seems to be leisurely sitting and reading the newspaper at a table. This is a change from the normal perception that a black man should be working in agriculture or in factories, but instead he can sit at home and relax and does what he wants to do. This goes to show the FDR’s New Deal doesn’t fully alter ones individualism. Even though they are being helped to be successful, their success is what allows them to be able to read and formulate their own expressions and identities. There are other characters to this story that also show the change. The girl on the left seems to be either designing something or doing some work on the chalkboard, instead of her playing with dolls, or clothes. There is more a work/business aspect when you look at the girl. As well as the mother in the middle. It is clear she is a mother with the baby in hand, but the way she is dressed and the stance she has makes her look like a business women. She is definitely the dominant figure in the picture, standing tall in the middle of the frame. It is the first sign of change that women are now taking more control in work. It gives a message to all mothers that they can still have a family and work through the New Deal. Attached to the mother is the baby which represents the new generation, but has a connection to the past. It appears the baby is holding onto a branch of the tree and the tree symbolizes the agricultural way of life. The baby is used to show that as America continues to go from generation to generation they will always have that connection to this successful time and what they used to be. This is main point that FDR points out, he doesn’t want to change the public, he doesn’t want to change who they are as an individual, he just wants to create more opportunities.
The New Deal was change the lives of individuals by providing more opportunities, which creates a new more powerful workforce. In “Construction of the Dam” by William Gropper, Gropper is quick the show how a culture that works together can achieve great goals. What stands out in this picture is this massive structure being held high in the air. Looking at it you can see a very difficult task at hand as it hangs in the open air with the mountains in the background. The little glimpse of context lets us understand the location and how to deal with the situation. In the bottom right corner of the frame is the most important part of the mural, the construction workers that are helping in this task. This group looks like they are hard at work trying to get that part of the dam complete. The most effective way to get that done is by commitment and working together, which they seem to be doing. In this group of men is not only white men, but also black men. The assimilation of the blacks, whites and the commitment to working together will allow you to to do more than any individual can do on his own. FDR points out that individualism can take so many places so far, which is why this mural depicts that unity can push the limit of capabilities. It is the governments responsibilities to get as many people working as possible, the more people working the more money is being circulated. In following that idea, the government can give people jobs in construction like in this picture. It is just one of the many ways in which the government can help the situation.
Thinking outside the frame of what is shown, there is numerous possibilities for anyone continued throughout. The mural is of a worksite which contains many jobs and possibilities. The entire complex could be filled with these employees doing little jobs. However it is more important to choose this frame because it captures the essence of the New Deal. Susman talks about the culture of the 30‘s as being close bonding community. In this work environment all the men are bunched together on the hill guiding the tube and preparing its placement. The job itself would not have been gotten done without all the men involved. This picture also maintains individuality as almost each man has a unique job. They are either digging, planning or navigating. However the most symbolic man in the photo would have to be the man standing on top of the tube. Raised high in the sky over this monstrous piece of concrete, he symbolizes success, he is conquering his job. It goes to show anyone who works in any field that they can be the man standing on the top. There exists success within a larger group of people, which Roosevelt tries to keep with the New Deal.
Through these murals you see the change that FDR wants to incorporate into the American society. No individual can build a dam. He needs the group. A group that continues to expand as more and more people enter the country, both men and women. The more people working successfully the more stronger the country gets. A strong country does not consist of individuals, who when they fall find it difficult to get up. In these strong societies no one can fall to far. Overall participation and commitment from all will push the possibilities of communities but the entire country.