Behind the icon, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother

Smarthistory

30 Dec 201906:52

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses Dorothea Lange's iconic 'Migrant Mother' photograph, capturing the struggles of Florence Owens Thompson during the Great Depression. The image symbolizes the plight of migrant workers and the broader socio-economic challenges of the era. It explores the dual nature of photography as both a document and a fine art, highlighting Lange's empathetic storytelling and the impact of the image on public perception and policy.

Takeaways

📸 'Migrant Mother' is one of the most iconic images in American history, capturing the essence of the Great Depression era.
🌾 The Great Depression was triggered by both a financial and agricultural crisis, with overplanting in the Midwest leading to the creation of dust bowls.
👩 Florence Owens Thompson, the subject of 'Migrant Mother,' was a migrant worker who moved to areas with available work, such as Northern California.
💼 The Resettlement Administration, part of the Roosevelt New Deal, commissioned Dorothea Lange to document the plight of migrant workers.
📷 Lange's photograph tells a personal story alongside the broader economic and political narrative of the time, emphasizing the struggles of the working class.
👀 The image was taken during a moment of hardship for Florence, who was at the pea picker camp due to a freeze that halted work.
👶 The photograph depicts Florence with her children, symbolizing her as a mother bearing the weight of her family's survival during tough times.
🎨 Lange's work blurs the line between documentary and fine art, creating an intimate and emotionally impactful narrative.
🗞️ The photograph had an immediate impact, leading to aid for the pea pickers and broader recognition of migrant workers' struggles.
🌐 'Migrant Mother' became a universal symbol of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and migrant labor, resonating with the American public.
👣 The story of Florence Owens Thompson is also tied to the historical migration of the Cherokee people, known as the Trail of Tears, adding depth to the image's significance.

Q & A

What is the significance of the photograph 'Migrant Mother' in American history?
-The photograph 'Migrant Mother' by Dorothea Lange is significant as it captures a moment during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, symbolizing the struggles of migrant workers and becoming a powerful emblem of that era.
What were the main causes of the Great Depression mentioned in the script?
-The script mentions a financial crisis and an agricultural crisis as the main causes of the Great Depression. The agricultural crisis was due to overplanting in the Midwest, which led to nonfertile fields and the creation of dust bowls.
Who was Florence Owens Thompson, and what was her role in the context of the photograph?
-Florence Owens Thompson was a migrant worker and the subject of the famous photograph 'Migrant Mother'. She moved to areas where there was work, such as Northern California, and was depicted by Lange during a visit to a pea picker camp.
What was the impact of the Great Depression on the American workforce?
-At its height in 1932, the Great Depression led to 25% of Americans being unemployed, which is a quarter of the workforce at that time.
What is the term 'Okies' mentioned in the script, and why was it derogatory?
-The term 'Okies' referred to migrant workers from Oklahoma and surrounding regions who moved to California during the Dust Bowl. It was a derogatory term used by Californians to describe these workers.
What was the role of the Resettlement Administration and the Farm Security Administration in the context of the script?
-The Resettlement Administration, which later became the Farm Security Administration, was a US government entity that provided support and policies under the Roosevelt New Deal. Dorothea Lange was on assignment by these administrations to document the conditions of migrant workers.
How did the photograph 'Migrant Mother' contribute to the perception and aid of migrant workers during the Depression?
-The photograph 'Migrant Mother' was reproduced in newspapers and helped to raise awareness about the plight of migrant workers. It led to immediate aid for the pea pickers who were on the brink of starvation and contributed to the social programs being put into place as a social safety net.
What is the debate surrounding the identity of photography as presented in the script?
-The script presents a debate on whether photography is solely a document of reality or if it can also be considered fine art. It suggests that photography can be both, as it can capture truth while also creating a narrative or emotional impact.
What was Dorothea Lange's assignment directive from Roy Stryker, and how did it influence her work?
-Roy Stryker assigned Dorothea Lange broad topics such as cooking, sleeping, praying, and socializing to document. This directive allowed her to capture intimate and emotionally moving images that told a story and could be considered both documents and fine art.
How did Dorothea Lange's personal background and experiences influence her photography?
-Dorothea Lange's personal background, including being a third-generation American and having suffered from polio, likely contributed to her highly developed empathy. This empathy is reflected in her photographs, such as 'Migrant Mother', which capture the struggles and humanity of her subjects.
What is the additional historical context provided by the script regarding the subject of 'Migrant Mother'?
-The script provides the context that Florence Owens Thompson, the subject of 'Migrant Mother', was of Cherokee descent. Her birth in Oklahoma is likely due to the forced migration of Cherokees in the 19th century, known as the Trail of Tears, adding a layer of historical complexity to the image.

Outlines

00:00

📸 The Impact of Dorothea Lange's 'Migrant Mother'

This paragraph delves into the historical context and significance of Dorothea Lange's iconic photograph, 'Migrant Mother,' taken during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. It discusses the economic and agricultural crises that led to widespread unemployment and the plight of migrant workers, particularly those from the Midwest forced to move westward, known derogatorily as 'Okies.' The narrative focuses on Florence Owens Thompson, the subject of the photograph, who represents the struggles of migrant workers during this period. The paragraph also touches on the role of the Resettlement Administration and the Farm Security Administration in documenting and addressing the issues of the time, as well as the broader implications of Lange's work in both documenting history and creating art that evokes empathy and action.

05:01

🌟 The Enduring Legacy and Symbolism of 'Migrant Mother'

The second paragraph explores the lasting impact of Lange's 'Migrant Mother' as a universal symbol of the hardships faced by migrant laborers during the Great Depression. It highlights the personal background of Dorothea Lange, including her education and personal struggles with polio, which may have contributed to her deep empathy for her subjects. The discussion extends to the broader historical context, linking the migrations of the 1930s to the earlier forced migration of Native Americans, such as the Cherokee people, during the Trail of Tears in the 19th century. The paragraph concludes by pondering how the perception of the image might differ if it were titled differently, suggesting the importance of narrative and context in shaping our understanding of historical events and images.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡LACMA Study Center

The LACMA Study Center refers to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's facility dedicated to the study and preservation of artworks, specifically photography and works on paper in this context. It is the setting for the video script, where the discussion of the famous photograph 'Migrant Mother' takes place, highlighting its significance in American art and history.

💡Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange was a prominent American documentary photographer, known for her work during the Great Depression. She captured powerful images that humanized the struggles of the era. In the video, Lange is credited with taking 'Migrant Mother,' a photograph that has become emblematic of the hardships faced by migrant workers during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

💡Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s. It had profound effects on the economy, society, and politics of the time. In the script, the Great Depression is mentioned as the backdrop against which 'Migrant Mother' was taken, illustrating the widespread suffering and the desperate conditions of the era.

💡Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl refers to a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. It was a significant factor contributing to the Great Depression. In the video, the Dust Bowl is discussed as the environmental and agricultural crisis that forced many, like Florence Owens Thompson, to become migrant workers.

💡Migrant Worker

A migrant worker is someone who moves from place to place to find work, often in agriculture. In the context of the video, Florence Owens Thompson is described as a migrant worker, highlighting the itinerant and precarious nature of her employment, which was a common plight during the Great Depression.

💡Okies

The term 'Okies' was a derogatory term used to refer to the people from Oklahoma and surrounding regions who migrated to California during the Dust Bowl. In the script, it is mentioned to illustrate the social stigma and hardship faced by these migrant workers, who were often blamed for the economic difficulties in California.

💡Resettlement Administration

The Resettlement Administration was a U.S. government agency established during the New Deal era to help struggling farmers. It later became known as the Farm Security Administration. In the video, Dorothea Lange's assignment from this administration is discussed, showing the government's role in documenting and addressing the plight of the migrant workers.

💡New Deal

The New Deal refers to a series of programs and projects initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help the United States recover from the Great Depression. It included economic relief, public works, and financial reforms. The script mentions the New Deal as the context within which the Resettlement Administration and the Farm Security Administration operated, aiming to alleviate the suffering of the American people.

💡Fine Art

Fine art is a visual art developed primarily for aesthetics and pleasure, as opposed to applied art, which also has to serve a practical function. The video script discusses the debate over whether photography can be considered fine art, using 'Migrant Mother' as an example of a photograph that transcends mere documentation to become a work of art.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In the context of the video, empathy is highlighted as a key element in Lange's photography, allowing viewers to connect emotionally with the subjects of her images. The script suggests that Lange's own experiences with polio may have contributed to her deep sense of empathy.

💡Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee, from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to present-day Oklahoma in the 1830s. The script mentions this historical event to provide a deeper context to the story of Florence Owens Thompson, who was of Cherokee descent, and to draw a parallel between the migrations of the 1830s and the 1930s.

Highlights

The LACMA Study Center hosts the famous photograph 'Migrant Mother' by Dorothea Lange, depicting the struggles during the Great Depression.

The Great Depression was caused by both a financial and agricultural crisis, leading to the creation of dust bowls and impacting the farming community.

Florence Owens Thompson, the subject of 'Migrant Mother,' was a migrant worker in Northern California during the pea picking season.

In 1932, 25% of Americans were unemployed, highlighting the severity of the economic downturn.

The term 'Okies' was derogatorily used for migrant workers from Oklahoma and surrounding areas who moved to California during the Dust Bowl.

Dorothea Lange was on assignment by the Resettlement Administration, later known as the Farm Security Administration, part of Roosevelt's New Deal policies.

The photograph captures both a larger economic and political story and a deeply personal biographical narrative.

The Farm Security Administration records provide insights into the photo shoot's process and Lange's empathetic storytelling.

Photography's role in conveying truth and creating narratives is discussed, with Lange's work as an example.

The image of 'Migrant Mother' shows Florence gazing into the distance with two children by her side, evoking empathy.

A third child, a baby, is barely visible in the photograph, further emphasizing Florence's role as a mother providing for her family.

The Depression's impact on cities was visible through food lines and strikes, but the plight of migrant workers was less known.

The photograph raises the question of whether photography can document reality and be considered fine art.

Lange's close lens creates an intimate portrayal of Florence, evoking empathy and highlighting the need for social programs during the Depression.

The photograph was reproduced in newspapers, leading to immediate aid for the pea pickers on the brink of starvation.

The image became ubiquitous, symbolizing the struggles of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and migrant labor.

Dorothea Lange's personal background, including her battle with polio, may have informed her empathetic approach to photography.

The subject, Florence Owens Thompson, was of Cherokee descent, linking the photograph to the historical forced migration of the Trail of Tears.

The anonymity of the title 'Migrant Mother' may have influenced how the image was perceived and its widespread impact.