Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1940s

An artwork is often linked to the historic events happening at the time of its creation. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski for this second online lecture in his latest series examining the art of specific decades. In this lecture, we will look at the 1940s and its cultural developments. Bracketed chronologically by the Great Depression and the postwar boom, the 1940s is among the most profound and widely studied decades of the 20th century. The most popular vehicle of the time, the Willys Jeep, had a ruggedness which coincidentally mirrored the temperament of a young Jackson Pollock, who had become perhaps the most famous artist in America by the end of the decade. Great art by European artists in exile also stands out for how it encapsulated so much of a moment in time. From Citizen Kane (1941) to Casablanca (1942), see how advances in film documented the era for posterity. Unpack why the phrase “keep calm and carry on” — a slogan coined in 1939 — says so much about the art and culture of the 1940s.

This lecture is the second in a series of four. To attend this full series, please also enroll in the other three lectures. The first is: "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1920s" (#25109) Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT, the third is: "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1960s" (#25165) Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT, and the fourth is: "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1980s" (#25168) Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT. The cost is $25 per lecture. Your online lecture will take place live over the course of 1-2 hours. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly. This live online experience uses Zoom Webinar, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. You will receive a confirmation email when you enroll, and a reminder email one week and one day before, as well as the morning of the event with a link and instructions on how to tune in. You will not be pictured on screen during the lecture, but you will have the opportunity to ask the instructor live questions using the Q&A box. Unless otherwise noted, all those who enroll in this program receive access to the live event as well as a recording of the lecture that you can watch any time within the two weeks following the live event.