http://www.fandor.com/films/new_york_broadway_at_union_square
You might also be interested in American art:
This is a painting of New York City by the "Ashcan" artist George Bellows.... Is this a similar NY to Cahan's? How so? It's from 1911.
[A side note: anybody know what Ashcan means? Why American art in the 20C started with Ashcan artists?]
I think this picture could depict the life in which Yekl lived in New York, simply because of the sheer fullness of everything involved. Jake lives in a world where everything is moving so fast toward new and better and more interesting ways to live and he's simply trying to keep up with the crowds. Though this may not be the exact place in which the story is set, the feel of New York is portrayed, which is what Jake is trying so hard to be a part of throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree. This picture shows the crowing and chaos of the city, which is similar to the setting in "Yekl." This is especially reminding me of the later chapters in the book, when Yekl/Jake storms out of his apartment to meet Mamie. He seems panicked to win her affection and pleads with her to stay with him. The story also describes Yekl roaming the streets during this time, which this scene also reminds me of. I think overall, this picture shows the stereotypical chaos of the city, which in turn is similar to Yekl.
ReplyDeleteAshcan art, or "Ashcan School," is a style that became popular in the early 20th century, best known for portraying scenes of daily life in the poorer cities of New York. George Bellows was part of "The Eight" - a group of ashcan artists that all exhibited their works together at the Macbeth Gallery in 1908. They wanted their art to portray the gritty, filthy urban life and use it as a form of journalism.
ReplyDeleteI can view this painting and appreciate it because the "ashcan" artist painted a realistic view of the poorer parts of the city and we in the future can see how people really lived going about their day in the filth that was their home. The artist did not sugar-coat or make living in the city seem like a dream as we can see was not the case. As the comment says above mine, to use these paintings as a form of journalism to make the public who live in the better parts of the city see the truth that some people must live in and can no longer be swept under the rug.
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