Art as a Mirror of American Society Since the Gilded Age

Art as a Reflection of Society: The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age was an epoch of immense societal change and economic growth in the United States. It was a period of rapid industrialization, during which the nation transformed from one founded on agriculture into one that was urbanized and industrialized. This encompassed the construction of roads and railways, advancements in science and technology, and the development of major businesses. All these transformations can be tied to the dynamics of evolving wealth and its growing influence. With all these changes in society, art was inevitably affected as well. Art became something of a reflection of the society around it, changing at a radical pace (Arnesen et al., 2006). Subsequent to the Gilded Age — through the civil rights era and into the present day — art has been strongly used to portray and mirror society. Representations of art such as graffiti, for instance, are used across the globe to express societal feelings and perspectives. Paintings and cartoons have also been widely employed in magazines and newspapers to express the prevailing economic and political state of society, outlining what ought to change for the better.

According to Marley et al. (2016), in the realm of art, the introduction of French Impressionism to America completely altered the manner in which artists captured the world around them on canvas. Instead of focusing on the recreation of illusionistic spaces in the studio — as artists of the preceding era had done — American artists in the Gilded Age sought to create impressions of life, painting with unmodulated colors and employing sketchy brushstrokes. In turn, artists reacted to this period of change by producing works that mirrored urban reality, capturing overcrowded cities, rapid industrialization, and the fast-growing immigrant cultures of the era. Art also became a reflection of society in terms of emotions and feelings, personal and communal struggles, and the events taking place at a given point in time. When society called for change or experienced it, art largely complied. The painting of urban regions and the realities of industrialization is one such example; the paintings and graffiti of the civil rights period — created with the express purpose of voicing social emotion and the spirit of upheaval — is another (Labedzki, 2009).

Art and Social Justice Movements in the 20th Century

The 20th century saw numerous social justice movements seeking equity within American society. During this epoch, art played a significant role in not only challenging but also shaping the nation. These social movements aimed for a better alignment of the political and social order with the values of freedom, fairness, and opportunity for all. Art was employed to embolden social change, entrench commitment, communicate social issues to the community at large, and generate solidarity among activists. Moreover, art played a vital role internally — reinforcing values and ideologies within movements — and externally, as an effective means of communicating movement principles to those outside it (Milbrandt, 2010).

According to Frank (2014), in the 1960s and 1970s, the United States was permanently changed as the campaign for civil rights stimulated unity, protests, and radical action. As in preceding eras of social and political upheaval, artists were at the forefront of this revolution, contributing vivid imagery that both documented and motivated the nation. Art was instrumental in directly advancing the goals of the social movement — inventing, expressing, and reiterating the movement's history. These works of art conveyed emotional responses and issued a challenge for change. Through drawings, paintings, and graffiti, art mirrored American society to generate awareness, nurture imagination, and inspire individuals to promote social change. Through music, people could communicate their feelings — particularly their pain and desire for change — helping to grow a movement that could no longer be ignored and thereby instigating lasting transformation (Jasper, 2008).

In sum, art played a vital role in social justice movements and changed America into what it is today. From the civil rights movement to abolish slavery, to the women's rights movement to secure fair representation in voting and government, art was a fundamental element. Through placards, portraits, murals, and paintings, these art forms offered a visual representation of how society was supposed to change. Music played an equally key part, as folk music and gospel songs were widely used by African Americans throughout the civil rights movement (Power, 2014).

References

Arnesen, E., Barrows, R. G., Les Benedict, M., Campbell, B. C., Carlson, W. B., Cordery, S. A., & Fry, J. A. (2006). The Gilded Age: Perspectives on the origins of modern America. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Frank, P. (2014). 11 African-American artists who helped shape the civil rights movement. The Huffington Post.

Garfias, R. (1991). Cultural diversity and the arts in America. In S. Benedict (Ed.), Public money and the muse. Norton.

Jasper, J. M. (2008). The art of moral protest: Culture, biography, and creativity in social movements. University of Chicago Press.

Labedzki, A. (2009). Art is a reflection on society — A perspective. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Art-is-a-Reflection-on-Society---A-Perspective&id=2283547

Marley, A. O., Cozzolino, R., & Kaplan, E. (2016). American art at the turn of the 20th century: Impressionism, Ashcan and the Gilded Age. PAFA. Retrieved from

Milbrandt, M. K. (2010). Understanding the role of art in social movements. 1, 7.

Power, K. D. (2014). Musical influence on apartheid and the civil rights movement.

Wright, S. (2013). The art of life: How arts and culture affect our values. Common Cause Foundation.