Culture in the contemporary period 1867 – present (#3)HIST 404 #1

MS. J . RUDOCHVILOW

HTTP://MSRUDOCHVILOW.WEEBLY.COM

AgendaDaily DocumentReview : Capitalism,

Reformism, FeminismCapitalism & Mass

CultureChurch ConservatismVideo: Montreal’s

Belmont Park.

Capitalism

• British business class invested in industrialization and generated profits

• Created major social inequality

Reformism

• Created by elite English and French women in response to the poverty created by industrial development.

• Responsible for the creation of associations and initiatives.

Feminism

• Resulted from the women reformists who did not have the right to vote.

• Campaigns for the right to vote and access to education.

Industrialization of Quebec in the late 19th century

Capitalism and mass cultureCapitalism and urbanization are responsible for the development of mass culture including new types of media and technologies.

Newspapers:

Mass distribution for the first timePublished daily at cheap pricesMade information accessible to the

population.Businesses advertised their products

The penny pressTechnological innovations that made it possible to print a large number of copies at a lower cost, as well as an increase in the literacy rate led to the creation of the penny press newspapers. Their modest cost made them accessible to a maximum number of readers.

Film:

Montreal’s first movie theatre 1906 By 1933, Quebec had 134 movie theatres Theatres showed films and news programs Theatres were not only entertainment venues but

also cultural spaces, where it was possible to obtain information and learn things.

Radio: Radio was introduced in the 1920s First radio station in the world was inaugurated in

Montreal in 1919. People could listen to music, weather and special

programs.

The radio is one of the most important inventions of the 19th century. It transformed the way we communicate and opened a world of potential in entertainment.

Activities & Entertainment:

Amusement Parks: Jardin Botanique et Zoologique 1852 Parc Sohmer 1889 Belmont Park 1923

Sports: Before the 20th century, sports were for the

elite. An interest developed for North American

sports like lacrosse, hockey and baseball.

Urban Bourgeoisie: Museums: Art Association of Montreal 1879 Music: Symphony Orchestras.

Montreal Canadians, 1912-1913

Louis Cyr (1863 - 1912) A famous French Canadian strongman with a career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Started his career at 18 by lifting a horse.

In 1883, he was awarded the title of the strongest man in Canada.

Church Conservatism The lifestyle changes made by the French Canadians upset the Catholic Church.

Traditional ways of life (survival nationalism) was at risk because of the new culture (radio, theatres, entertainment, dancing)

To strengthen its hold even more, the Church created organization to give young people moral guidance.

Association catholique de la jeunesse canadienne-francaise.

Saint-Clement Church, Viauville, near Montreal Circa 1910

The church tried to intervene:

Published letters condemning dancing, movies and theatre.

Petitioned to have Parc Sohmer closed on Sundays.

Tried to forbid the screening of films on Sunday.

With the help of the Censorship Agency created in 1913, the Church had the power to control movie theatre programming.

In 1927, the Church also managed to have young people under the age of 16 barred from movie theatres.

Palace Theater 1930s

Video: Montreal’s Belmont Park

Exit Tweet or Exit Card

How did residents of cities entertain themselves prior to the Great Depression?