Timeline of Art, Culture, and History by Marisa Avila

1830 - Native Americans Forced Out

marisaavila1 — 2024-09-07 22:46:35 UTC

Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and Choctaw were forced out of their land, moving to states like Oklahoma.

1919 - The Start of Hearst Castle

marisaavila1 — 2024-09-07 22:50:39 UTC

The construction of Hearst Castle begins, serving as a monumental stepping stone for women in architecture because of Julia Morgan's design.

1920 - Access to Women's Suffrage

marisaavila1 — 2024-09-07 22:53:19 UTC

An important step towards equality between men and women, where women are granted the right to vote. This is, however, still pretty exclusive to white women at the time.

1936 - Migrant Mother Photograph

marisaavila1 — 2024-09-07 22:57:21 UTC

Dorothea Lange takes a photograph of Florence Owens, a Cherokee woman born in Oklahoma, with her three children. This becomes a powerful symbol of migrant workers and results in government aid. It is also a testament to the 1830's event where Cherokee Indians were forced into Oklahoma.

1939-1945 World War II

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-12 22:32:28 UTC

A rough time period for Americans after the Great Depression, where minorities continued to face major discrimination and segregation even in the service.

"Negroes, by far the largest racial minority, were as segregated and discriminated against during the war as before it" -Minorities and Women reading

1943 - Zoot Suit Riots

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-12 22:35:36 UTC

Mexican American youth and communities of Los Angeles were targeted by white sailors and servicemen, creating tension and violence between them.

LAPD played a huge role in the discrimination against Mexican Americans. Zoot Suits were worn as a form of protest and confidence.

1950s - Consumption Boom

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-12 23:43:49 UTC

After WW2, consumption of goods increased rapidly because more people had money from war production jobs; more money in American pockets meant more spending on things like houses, cars, televisions, etc.

Consumer culture started to become the patriotic way of life, a way to be a good citizen and contribute to America's success.

1963 - The Feminine Mystique

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-12 23:48:00 UTC

A book written by Betty Friedan to criticize the way consumer culture targeted women, acting under the assumption that women were meant to stay home and buy things.

The discourse of the mystical feminine persona where, if you are truly feminine, you should be satisfied by doing housework, taking care of your family, not working or getting a higher education.

This book was culturally significant in the social assumptions made about women.

1966 - Black Panther Party

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 00:30:50 UTC

The Black Panther Party was created in Oakland to fight against the system racism experienced by Black communities. They were an organization for self defense and helped the community through programs for free food, literacy, and transportation.

They also created a newspaper to report on the real news in Black communities, the first issue being to rally a protest against the murder of Denzil Dowell by police–an engrained conflict in America. A huge opportunity for political art through the voices of Black people.

1969 - Alcatraz Occupation and Protest

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 00:35:36 UTC

Native American Indians fought and protested against how the American government constantly stole land and broke treaties.

Natives peacefully occupied the abandoned Alcatraz prison as a form of protest and taking their land back; they wanted to turn it into a place for environmental studies until it was invaded by the government and the Indians were forcefully removed.

late 1960s to 80s - Women's Liberation

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 01:27:50 UTC

Throughout this time period, women fought to be respected through feminist protests and critiqued the traditional roles of women through art spaces.

Women fought to have a voice and right to body autonomy, protested discrimination inequalities; Roe v Wade success in 1973 for reproductive freedom.

1972 - Womanhouse

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 01:33:48 UTC

The first Feminist Art Program to highlight the voices of young woman artists, allowing them to have a gallery space to show their work and put on performance pieces.

Infamous works like Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party as well as Eggs to Breast by Vicki Hodgetts as pictured.

April 22, 1970 - First Earth Day

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 03:42:57 UTC

The First Earth Day commences with an estimated 20 million, organized in various parts of the world, as a demonstration to celebrate Earth; groups protested for nearly a century to address issues related to contamination on Earth from industrialization.

Environmental activists and books like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962 exposed the contaminants, pesticides, and chemicals in our environment, which put human and animal lives at risk.

Earth Day has since become a global, annual movement as we still fight and organize against pollution and contamination.

1970 - Spiral Jetty

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-13 03:45:30 UTC

The Spiral Jetty created in Great Salt Lake, Utah.

Robert Smithson documents his journey to moving rocks and mud into a spiral, creating a conversation between nature and human intervention that will change over time.

1968 - Assassination of MLK Jr.

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-19 23:04:46 UTC

MLK Jr. was a political activist that preached peaceful protest, taking part in historical events like The March on Washington and bus boycotts in response to Rosa Parks. His assassination created an uproar in America and led to more racial violence, something that Marvin Gaye’s song "What's Going On" is written about.

"War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate"

-Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"

1971 - What's Going On

marisaavila1 — 2024-10-19 23:09:45 UTC

Sung by Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On" is written about peaceful protest and the oppression towards Black communities in America during a time where they were fighting for their rights.

It's a song meant to inspire and comfort Black communities, through their conquering of hate and violence through love; an important and beautiful song that speaks about the political-social issues of America.

1970s - Hip Hop Emergence

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 01:24:47 UTC

The culture of Hip Hop emerged in the 70s, where the "urban youth took to the streets for recreation and self expression" because businesses weren't closing.

Launched an entire global phenomenon that influenced all realms of culture: music, fashion, language, education, etc.

1980 - Recession Affects Black Communities

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 01:30:14 UTC

In the late 1970s and early 80s, recession and deindustrialization in America leads to failure to the rising Black Middle Class. Jobless people were recruited into the Army and civil unrest spread due to empty promises made by the government.

1980s - Reagan

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:04:26 UTC

With Ronald Reagan becoming president, he promoted materialism and neoliberalism, which influenced society and politics.

He also began supporting a rebel group called the Contras, selling arms illegally and aiding in terrorist/war crime affairs.

1992 - Fred Wilson's Institutional Critique

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:08:25 UTC

Wilson stages an institutional critique at the Maryland Historical Society, exposing the hidden artifacts in the museum that describe the Black experiences through slavery and history. He critiques the institution for showing a biased, white male view of history; it evoked strong emotions for the public that some were offended by and others appreciated for displaying reality.

2001- 9/11

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:39:04 UTC

The events on 9/11 brought major shifts in America for global trading, travel, and foreign policy.

The also led to the War on Terror and the Patriot Act, increasing presence in Middle-East countries and surveilling phones without privacy.

2001 - First iPod

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:42:03 UTC

The first Apple iPod was introduced into American consumer culture, transforming technology, music, and social media.

It's crazy how much technology was created after this point to meet the rising online culture and art.

2022 - Poet Warrior

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:48:54 UTC

The book Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo was released in 2022, a memoir sharing her experience as a Native girl who finds her place in the world of words and poetry. She reflects on historical issues of colonization, patriarchal norms in America, and more.

1836 - Trail of Tears

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:53:27 UTC

Through 1836, Native Indians were forcibly removed from their land so the European settlers could expand and colonize, ensuring a world of power and racism.

Many Natives died on the harsh conditions of the 1200 mile journey by land and water, by murder, and by sickness.

2005 - Ride in Honor of Dakota 38+2

marisaavila1 — 2024-12-15 02:58:31 UTC

In 2005, an annual ceremony of a 300-mile ride by horse commemorates the Dakota men who were hanged on orders of Abraham Lincoln.

Although many carry anger from this tragedy, the ride serves as a spiritual and healing ritual for their community. It reunites them with their Native history and allows for possible reconciliation with white people to promote forgiveness.