One of America’s bleakest chapters produced some of the 20th century’s most enduring cultural images, says critic Morris Dickstein. In his latest book, “Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression,” Dickstein, distinguished professor of
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English at the CUNY Graduate Center, writes about this 1930s paradox. “The arts provided a powerful psychological stimulus,” he said, referring to the iconic film classics “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “They injected a potent dose of imaginative energy into a period or relative stagnation and inactivity.” In a discussion moderated by jazz critic Gary Giddins at the Graduate Center, “Making Sense of Hard Times: Cultural and Crisis in the Great Depression,” Dickstein joined fellow panelists including film critic Molly Haskell and author Peter Conn.
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