Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1950s

Art and its influences can often be linked to the historic moments happening at the time of a piece’s creation. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski for his latest online series examining the art of a specific decade. In this lecture, we will take a look at the space-age events of the 1950s. In the 1950s, art and culture merged more, and on a global scale, with each side reflecting the other. The “space age” was in, and with it came tailfins on cars, sci-fi on television and Sputnik’s launch in 1957. A postwar economic boom fueled rapid suburbanization and a culture increasingly hooked on television and mass-production. “Atomic age” anxieties from the Cold War triggered poignant art of all kinds, inspiring a flourishing moment for creativity and especially for improvisation, with Jackson Pollock’s drips flowing to the same beat as Jack Kerouac, Martha Graham and Charlie Parker. The decade really was “far out.”

"Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1950s" (#25217) on June 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT is in a series of four lectures held on Mondays in June 2025. To learn about art of other decades, we invite you to enroll in "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1910s" (#25199) on June 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT, "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1930s" (#25233) on June 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT, and "Online Lecture: Eras in American Art & Culture — the 1970s" (#25235) on June 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT, each at a cost of $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.