Day 20 Mid-Century Existentialist Context (A Block) by

Day 20 Mid-Century Existentialist Context (A Block) by https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm With your group, you will do research to post on the Padlet to help us understand some of the context surrounding the mid-century existentialist thinkers. Your posts should include: - pictures! - important events/figures/facts - a short statement (3-5 sentences) about how you imagine this context influencing existentialist writers and artists. -hyperlinks to your resources en-us 2022-10-31 02:32:00 UTC 2026-03-22 22:38:09 UTC hello@padlet.com Aftermath of World War II in Europe https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368733100 2022-11-03 16:04:22 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368733100 https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368743881 2022-11-03 16:10:43 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368743881 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AyRlWNS31xJLa6WJ-r1S3XsmdIuobzDToz67lGuZV0A/edit?usp=sharing https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368745802 2022-11-03 16:11:46 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368745802 ww1 https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368746531 2022-11-03 16:12:09 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368746531 Art world https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368748483 France was the center of art. French artists, led by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, pioneered paintings with the broad application of bright color and Cubist style arts.
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism that dominated French art at the end of the 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th-century_French_art]]> 2022-11-03 16:13:23 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368748483 Political and Social Life in France in the first half of the 20th century https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368756471 2022-11-03 16:18:17 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368756471 Post WW1 https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368761469 France was in ruins. Their economy was destroyed, with hyperinflation and a lot of their agriculture land was wrecked. There was also a loss in manpower due to all the deaths. WW1 also caused incredibly infrastructure damage to many cities in France.

However, by the late 1920s, France made great changes economically and socially. By 1926, France centralized their economy, which introduced a lot of new wealth.

Effects of World War I on France | SchoolWorkHelper

Historpedia - Post WWI France (Fall 2012) (google.com)]]> 2022-11-03 16:21:24 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368761469 French Third Republic https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368762373 Third Republic, French government from 1870 to 1940: A provisional government of national defense was set up in 1870 and took as its first task the continuation of the war against the invaders.
France during the Third Republic was politically very unstable. This instability was caused by rivalry between monarchists and republicans.

There were a number of scandals that threatened the existence of the Republic but it survived longer than any other regime since 1789. It was also a period of imperial expansion and scientific and artistic achievement.

]]> 2022-11-03 16:21:57 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368762373 French film https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368772673 - 1920s, French film became globally popular
- due to Poetic Realist movement: depict characters suffering in realistic situations eg. poverty + fruitlessly hoping for a better life
- ended in tragedy and inability to reach what they want
- significant directors: Abel Gance 1930, Marcel Pagnol 1940

https://indiefilmhustle.com/poetic-realism/
https://www.britannica.com/place/France/The-cinema]]> 2022-11-03 16:28:11 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368772673 Pre-WW1 https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368773906

Entente Cordiale (French and Britain concluded their ancient rivalry): Frane gave up opposition to British rule in Egypt and Britain recognized French rights in Morocco

Led to the isolation of France

An alliance between France and Russia — French loans to rebuild Russia's shattered armed forces

Triple Entente (France, Britain and Russia)

France = continental security apparatus

government of a progressive mix of centrists and socialists
(guaranteed freedom of religion and the complete separation of church and state; decreed free and compulsory education for all French children; introduced a progressive income tax)

https://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/france/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/20th-century-international-relations-2085155/Militarism-and-pacifism-before-1914

]]> 2022-11-03 16:28:57 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368773906 https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368786930 future security against German attack
financial crisis - needed to pay for the war largely by domestic and foreign borrowing and inflation in adition to the cost of rebuilding
industrial crisis - worsened the shortage of coal for industralization]]> 2022-11-03 16:36:53 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368786930 Satre’s life: https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368793737

Jean-Paul Sartre
Born June 21, 1905, in Paris France.
His father passed when he was a young boy and he was raised by his grandfather
When he was young he believed that the world had rejected him but his imagination kept him company
Settled partnership with Simone De Beauvoir
AFTER WORLD WAR II
Showed great concern for the poor
EMPHASIZED the importance of community and collective responsibility !!
Interested in French political movements
Admired the Soviet Union and believed marxism = good
In his late years he did very little writing, he believed “commitment is an act, not a word,” He partook in rioting, left wing literature, and encourage revolution
Link: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Paul-Sartre/Political-activities

STATEMENT: Jean-Paul is one of the many existentialists of the time. His work was clearly influenced by his concern after World War II, where his concern and emphasis on community is depicted in his writing. Later on he was influenced by the societ union and marxism.

]]> 2022-11-03 16:40:39 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368793737 Post War France https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368794011 During post-war France, there were many difficulties with reintegrating soldiers into society, and many people were grieving as well. After soldiers were dismissed, they struggled with employment and also felt as if they were not truly represented in society. France also lost 3.5% of its post-war population, and so most people had lost family or friends, causing the population to be grieving for a long time. They were unable to keep up with a quickening modern society. This may have impacted existentialism because people felt differently about their relationships between other people as well as within society. ]]> 2022-11-03 16:40:50 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368794011 The Constitution during Third Republic https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368795449
The President was the head of state and had little political power:

He had the right to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies with the support of the Senate.
He had the right to nominate the new head of government
He played an important role in foreign affairs.

The Senate was elected by mayors and councillors in departments (counties) throughout France.

It was nicknamed the “Chamber of Agriculture” because the countryside was over represented.
Senators were elected every nine years.
Conservative, rural interests dominated in the senate and were thereby able to block progressive legislation in the areas of women’s rights and worker’s rights.

The Chamber of Deputies was chosen every four years.

It contained 600 members elected by universal male suffrage.
It chose the government or ministry. There was no organized party system although there were four main political groupings in the Chamber:

]]> 2022-11-03 16:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368795449 Division of Europe https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368796502

Return of all Nazi annexations
Reduction of German territory and expulsion of German living outside new border in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary
Recognition of the Soviet-controlled Polish government
Europe split into two superpowers: U.S, along with British and French, as the Western Europe, and Soviet Union as the Easter Europe.

]]> 2022-11-03 16:42:20 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368796502 European Economy Aftermath https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368800297

Central/Eastern Europe - lack of workers for industrial labor (CEPR)

Large expulsion of ethnic Germans (Holocaust aftermath)
Upper-middle class move to other places
Fell behind not because of socialism, but more so because of lack of reconstruction dyamics

Western Europe - labor halted by destruction of transport infrastructure (CEPR)

Extremely resilient, was able to return back to pre-war era economy
Institutional/geopolitical factors were the things that halted economic growth
American aid - money help, but in exchange wanted trade liberation

Germany - an absolute mess

Holocaust destroyed economy
Marshall plan aimed to make Germany the main industrial site for European reconstruction

https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/recovery-and-reconstruction-europe-after-wwii

]]> 2022-11-03 16:44:22 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368800297 conflicts between the church and state https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368801763 Law of separation of Church and State was passed in 1905: ended the Concordat of 1801 and ended all ties between Church and State.

State salaries for priests and Bishops were ended and in theory all Church property was now controlled by the State.
Two people were killed and many injured when Catholics staged sit-ins to prevent the state from assessing Church property. In some remote regions bears were chained to church doors.

]]> 2022-11-03 16:45:14 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368801763 Global Decolonization https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368803196 2022-11-03 16:46:06 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368803196 How Decolonization Might Influence Existentialists https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804242 As countries previously colonized by European powers regained an independent identity, the questions they faced as an autonomous body reflect some of the same questions that existentialist writers ask about personal existence. I can imagine that in a time when a former colony is figuring out how to exist on its own in the world, defining their identity as a country and community outside of the confines of imperial rule, that this would intensify cultural through about what it means to exist on a personal level. Also, with the structures around them shifting, failing, and regrouping, I can imagine that existentialist thinkers would be forced to contemplate the implications that these power/government structures have on the existence of individual members of the community. Many of the thinkers we have studied have been interested in defining what it means to be autonomous and authentic, which would be heightened during a time when the leaders of their countries were asking the very same questions. ]]> 2022-11-03 16:46:50 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804242 Decolonization in the 20th century https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804304

Following World War II, most European nations lacked the resources and political support required to quell distant uprisings. In addition, they encountered opposition from the newly emerging superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, both of which had declared their opposition to colonialism (britannica).

Colonial nationalism, politics and ethnic movements, and international pressure play the main role in the transformation to decolonization.

Newly independent countries: Korea from Japan (1945), Philippines from the US (1946), India from Britain (1947), Palestine from Britain (1948), Egypt from Britain (1956), Hong Kong from Britain (1997), Vietnam from France (1954), Angola and Cape Verde from Portugal (1970s) (britannica)

British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan contributed to the start of decolonization of British colonized countries (Gov).

There were some areas that were calm and organized. In numerous other countries, independence was only attained following a protracted revolution. Some newly independent nations almost immediately established stable governments; other nations endured protracted civil wars or decades-long dictatorships (Gov).

Due to entrenched economic problems and disparities between the northern and southern globe, the political system instability of decolonized countries was one of the outcomes of decolonization, in which countries after independence often struggle with constant civil riots and economic inability. (Beihami)

Shifted power balances of newly developed countries within the United Nations. The new member of states shared commonalities in that the, they were non-white, beginning to develop economies, internal structuring problems from their past (Gov).

]]> 2022-11-03 16:46:53 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804304 french foreign policies https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804818 The major aims of French foreign policy in this period were:

To regain the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine (Revanche) lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war. This idea was never very far from the minds of French policy makers during this period.
To end her isolation in international affairs after the Franco-Prussian war.
To expand her colonial empire and regain some of her prestige lost after the Franco-Prussian War.

]]> 2022-11-03 16:47:14 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368804818 French literature https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368807039 - took on a solemn tone, common themes were loss of innocence, time lost, vanity of human ambition, emptiness of human relationships, sin and despair overcoming the world, negative emotions
- À la recherche du temps perdu (1913-1927) by Marcel Proust set the tone for all other lit

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcel-Proust/Legacy
https://www.britannica.com/place/France/The-arts]]> 2022-11-03 16:48:35 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368807039 Prime Minister Harold MacMillan https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368807725 2022-11-03 16:49:01 UTC https://padlet.com/Webbhumanities/mo591wi5duw321tm/wish/2368807725