Escapism

The economic devastation of the Great Depression ushered in a harsh standard of living for many Americans throughout the 1930s. Yet, despite the worsening economic downturn, Americans found themselves engrossed in entertainment that distracted them from hardship. Popular culture served as an essential escape from the harsh realities that faced Americans. The public engaged in various forms of escapism throughout the thirties to make life a little easier. Continue reading to see how escapism impacted the American way of life.

Escapism Definition

Although escapism is a psychological coping mechanism, it is not considered a disorder.

Fig. 1 A pregnant woman during the Great Depression in California.

The Great Depression ushered in the worst economic disaster in modern history, impacting every aspect of American life. In response to the downturn, many Americans distracted themselves with pleasure and entertainment. Hence, escapism became popular throughout the 1930s as a way to escape or avoid the harsh realities of everyday life.

Causes of Escapism

Let's explore the key causes of escapism in the 1930s.

Great Depression

One of the leading causes of escapism was the Great Depression.

Fig. 2 Men out of work sitting at the docks in New York City during the Great Depression.

In 1929 America saw the worst economic disaster in modern history. Homelessness, loss of income, high unemployment rates, and a sluggish economy racked the American lifestyle. However, many Americans continued to seek some form of cheap entertainment to distract themselves from the hardships of the Great Depression. Therefore, escapism became ingrained in the popular culture of the 1930s.

Changing Culture

In the 1920s, American culture was shifting to reflect material success, individualism, and self-reliance. By the time the 1930s arrived, Americans had new technology, music, radio and tv programs, and dance styles that contributed to a culture shift. The sense of community and family morals and values stayed at the heart of American art throughout the twenties and thirties. Yet, the Great Depression took a drastic toll on families, and many American family norms became strained.

Escapism Behavior

Throughout the 1930s, severe human suffering confronted Americans, which triggered nationwide escapism behavior. John L. Longeway describes the purpose of escapist entertainment:

Fig. 3 Title screen of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Movie.

So, what is escapist behavior? From a psychological perspective, escapism is the tendency to seek distraction or freedom from unpleasant realities through entertainment or other fantasy. Escapist behaviors can be any attempt to avoid or delay something in reality. This behavior could be mental (like daydreams or fantasy) or physical (withdrawing from a particular stimulating event, place, etc.). Escapist behavior can severely impact individuals depending on the level of behavior. There are levels of severity and different types of escapism that can affect individuals.

Escapism Types

Popular culture in the 1930s became saturated with escapist entertainment like music, movies, radio programs, tv shows, magazines, and books.

Music

The lyrics from the song "Happy Days are Here Again" are a perfect example of an escapist tune of the thirties.

The song was written in 1929, at the start of the Great Depression. Though the song's theme is happiness and joy, the economic turmoil continued in the country for an entire decade.

Musicals also became a popular form of entertainment in the thirties. The themes of these musicals embraced beautiful showgirls, light-hearted music, and huge dance numbers. If attending a musical was not an option, many Americans gathered around a smaller musical production by neighborhood children. Based on the popular culture of the thirties, Americans wished to forget their worries and enjoy entertainment that distracted them.

Hollywood and the Movies

Despite the debilitating Great Depression, Hollywood's thirties was one of the best decades. Movie genres began encompassing social and political themes concerning the nation's economy. This form of entertainment became one of the most popular in the thirties.

Fig. 4 The King Kong Movie from 1933.

Generally, a night show would cost twenty-five cents, with matinees costing roughly ten cents. This allowed Americans to "escape" for a moment and get away from the hassles and drain of everyday life. Jayne Karsten describes the extent of the desire for this entertainment:

Even though the film came to be an "escape" from reality, it also began documenting the realities of the American people. Hollywood wanted to embrace the theme of unity and bring awareness to the American people that they were not alone.

Radio Programs

Radio programs and TV shows also played a prominent role in escapist entertainment. Radios were in most American homes at the start of the thirties and became integral to uniting the country.

Fig. 5 Advertisement for the Lone Ranger radio show.

Many radio shows like the Lone Ranger and the Shadow became a point of inspiration and a place to promote American values. The radio also embraced fireside chats and news programs that linked the country and provided a link to other Americans in the country.

Magazines/Books

Magazines and books were also popular forms of cheap entertainment throughout the thirties. Some of the most popular magazines of the era were Life, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue. Pulp fiction magazines were also trendy throughout the decade with mystery, western, and romance themes.

Both pulp fiction and fashion magazines were cheap entertainment that brought a larger-than-life reality to many poverty-stricken Americans.

Fig. 6 Poster from Gone With the Wind movie in 1940.

Writers during the decade embraced both escapist and realist themes in their books. For example, John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath embraced the harsh reality that migrants faced when fleeing the Dust Bowl. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, which kept audiences mesmerized with a dramatic plot of a wealthy Southern belle and her love interests.

Escapism Effects

The need and desire for escapism directly correlated with the high unemployment rate of the Great Depression. As the unemployment rate increased, so did the increase in leisure time. In the 1930s, escapism gave the American people an avenue to escape from the harsh realities and suffering of the decade.

Fig. 7 Men waiting for bread and soup in Chicago during the Great Depression.

The American cry for escapism greatly impacted the course of popular culture in the thirties. Historians argue whether popular culture fixated more on escapism or conveyed traditional American ideals of success and consumerism. Various media depicted both sides of American culture in the thirties. Movies, radio programs, and books focused on the harsh realities of the Great Depression and the escapist themes that were popular throughout the era.