Orson Welles' infamous War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938 dramatized the near destruction of the world by invading Martians. The broadcast ended with the Martians vanquished by bacteria their immune systems had no defense to, but many of the listeners had already stopped listening and were panicking. They prepared to move, contemplated killing themselves, and swarmed the streets, all because of a radio broadcast. Many of the listeners later stated that they had only believed the hoax because "they had learned-- appropriately, many felt -- to have faith in the radio". The radio was increasingly important in the 1930s. "Listeners formed imagined but meaningful relationships with radio voices. Through radio, listeners remade the frightening public sphere in comfortable and comprehensible private terms."
It is no surprise, then, that President Roosevelt's famous "fireside chats", broadcasts sent out in order to speak directly with the masses, were so effective, as the radio was "the most direct means of access to the American people". His first "fireside chat" was used to reassure the American people that the banks were safe once more, that money could, once again, be put within them. Hearing the President, a voice of sure authority, talk to them personally, must have reassured many Americans, as the banks slowly recovered afterward as people deposited their money again. Roosevelt's use of the "fireside chats" persisted through the Great Depression and into World War I, and served as a way for him to get his ideas directly to the public and address the concerns of the people in an almost "private" manner.
Alvina, this is a very well written post that illuminates one of the most important methods of communication during the early 1900s. Your hook, the War of the Worlds broadcast, presents a very effective way to lure your audience in. It's quite interesting how much of an effect technology has on the human race, from electricity to radio to computers. Throughout history technology has continually revolutionized the way humans live, and especially after reading your post I realized that we give radio much less credit than it deserves now that computers have swarmed the stage.
ReplyDeleteThis must have changed the relationship of the average person with the president a lot. Before the radio most people would never have seen or heard the president, so he must have seemed much more distant and probably not as influential either. The radio changed the people's perception of authority figures since it let them feel as though they knew them, and it let authority figures really spread their messages to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWas there an increase in the number of people involved in politics after the radio became common? I hadn't thought about it, but this must have been another sort of New Democracy, where authority had to answer to the people even more. THanks, this was an interesting post!