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Hard Times
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Cormac McCarthy gives us a look through a window into a period of American history that remains remarkable in its sadness and heroic in its testament to the triumphant nature of the human spirit.
This musical show gives an intimate first person look into the depression era with a focus on the even harder hit Midwestern dust bowl of the mid-1930’s.
Using stories and monologues to explain the economics that followed the great crash of 1929. this show puts a human face on the history and events of those times. The stock market crash and the resulting chain reaction: a diminished demand for goods causing the manufacturer to reduce the work force, leaving less money to buy the goods and pulling the economy into a downward cycle.
It also explores FDR’s assimilation of Keynesian economic theory to stimulate the economy through federally funded work projects. All in an understandable, folksy way.
Woody Guthrie’s classic songs describe the hardship of these times with great humour and optimism. They chronicled the times he lived in. Listening to one of his great ballads is like opening a door and walking into another time and place and seeing it through the eyes of those that lived it.
This program is designed for grades 7 through 12 and is adaptable for college students and adults. Superb suppplementary and photographic materials are available from the Library of Congress for educational use.
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