Popular Music Styles Influence On Musical Theatre Film Studies Essay

Popular Music Styles Influence On Musical Theatre Film Studies Essay The term Contemporary when applied to Musical Theatre is slightly misleading, seeing as the term can be applied to any art-form, when something new and different, something that pushes the boundaries of whats familiar, becomes the current vogue. The desire to create something new and to explore fresh pastures within a particular art-form is not a recent development, and can often be achieved society. In fact contemporary could cover the last 50 years in musical theatre as defined by its being influenced by popular music styles (and the number of revivals), ranging from Motown, Rock Country (The Wiz, Hair, Tommy) to Pop, Bollywood Jazz (Rent, Aida, Bombay Dreams). The successes of hit movie inspired musical comedies such as The Full Monty, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hairspray, have also seen audiences re-embrace a genre which towards the end of the last century was critically observed as being in decline. Whilst not specifically trending away from the successful, ep ic musical styles of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera, not the conceptual styles of, for example, Cats or Jerry Springer: The Opera, there was a breath of fresh air with productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Chess, while in the U.S.A, Sondheim continued to meld book, text and song in the various guises of Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Assassins and DickTracy. Lets also not forget that Disney has been successfully transferred to the stage, e.g. The Lion King Beauty and the Beast. There are four main constituents of Musical Theatre, namely, Narrative, Dialogue, Songs Physicality, and in the last decade or so, there have been many examples, where experimentation within each of these four elements has led to unusually themed, bolder and sometimes more extreme storylines. Musically, you will find todays influences stray from accepted standards by making use of a more complex variety of instruments and melodies to back up the actors dialogue. Look to recent successes such as Avenue Q; Billy Elliot; Dirty rotten Scoundrels; Hairspray; The Full Monty; Parade; Spamalot; We Will Rock You and Wicked, to name but a few. However, change has not been restricted to what appears on stage in the performance, but has also occurred pre-production, in the concept, the strategy and planning stages of bringing an idea to fruition. Production teams, involved in major projects, and aiming for a Broadway or West End run, will look for substantial alliances through investment and corporate sponsorship, often requiring thousands and in some cases millions of dollars pounds-worth of funding. High-net worth investors (very often those with a passion for the genre), frequently referred to as business angels, have also been a significant growth factor so far this century. Many seasoned investors look for diversity in their portfolio, and without question there has been new investment in the Arts, with the UKs City investors having invested in a broad range of theatrical productions of which, musical theatre has been one major benefactor. It wasnt too long ago that encouraged y a strong rise in West End audiences, the atrical investment appeared less high risk than ever before. Figures in recent years had shown a rise this century, in attendances of 2-3% whilst box office receipts were up 3-4%. Even now, while its undoubtedly a more difficult time for the Arts, with the recession biting hard everywhere and the entertainment business seen as an easy target for expenditure cuts, it also holds true that good and enriching entertainment is for most people a satisfactory diversion from the problems of everyday life, and maybe for that reason alone it is worth the investment. Of course, its not quite that simple, with U.S. reports of only 20% of the shows produced on Broadway recouping their investment. That actually is no more risky than investing in any innovative start-up company, and there is the upside potential of course, with a very real possibility of absolutely huge rewards. Just consider those shrewd investors who funded such rewarding shows (performance finance wise) as Cats, Les Miserables , Mamma Mia, Avenue Q, We Will Rock You, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Billy Elliot and Wicked. Originally capitalized at $3.5 million, Avenue Q (2003) opened on Broadway to positive critical and audience response, before transferring uptown following a successful run at Off-Broadways Vineyard Theatre. What especially pleased the production team was that despite the time of year, it being the middle of the summer, they were able to introduce something quite unique to a new audience and not only please them but actively build and grow a much larger fan-base than had been thought possible with such an innovative product. Not only that, but the show managed to recoup its outlay within a sensational 10 months according to producer Jeffrey Seller. Inspired by the well-known American TV puppet series of Sesame Street, Avenue Q brought an entirely new concept of acting, dancing and singing through puppet characters, to the modern stage. It has been described as a coming-of-age story, which highlights the issues weve all had to face when entering adulthood. Whereas Sesame Street retains that more simplistic and happy-go-lucky view of a childs world through childlike eyes, Avenue Q characters are young adults, searching for their purpose in life and facing all the anxieties and problems of growing up in a modern society whose values have noticeably changed over the preceding decade. Another crucial factor in this production is the use of puppet characters (worked by humans) interacting alongside human characters as if they were of human-like intelligence. All the characters face real adult-themed problems which most of us will recognize, but probably consider much more relevant to todays stressful lifestyle as opposed to that of ours, 10-20 years ago; they all swear and curse; there is puppet nudity and puppet sex; with sub-plots of racism, pornography and homosexuality noticeable throughout the entire play. Adding to the dissident theme, Avenue Qs musicality is an unexpected mish mash of foot-tapping, bouncy, cheerful songs that have a childlike quality to them, but are in fact, a little near-the-knuckle, quite vulgar, but ever-so-clever comical comment contained within a tuneful setting. Such tongue-in-cheek, but obviously hilarious grown-ups songs like Everyones a little bit racist, The internet is for porn and You can be as loud as the hell you want when youre making love introduce the audience to the wickedly, warped world of Avenue Q. Its hip, current and very, very funny, meshing 70s style pop lyrics to the modern day characterization, and in doing so gives added depth to Qs funnier moment. Take the song The more you ruv someone, which on the face of it sounds more like a Sesame Street style song, but with the penning of more upbeat and modern lyrics by Joe Raposo, fits snugly into the more contemporary style of Q. At the other end of the scale, but of equal importance, is that off the main drag, the tendency has been to produce smaller, less expensive musicals, with fewer cast members or where sometimes the players take on more than one role, keeping costs efficient and all the more likely to produce a small profit, which in some areas of theatre, is a success in itself. Fundamental changes, both artistically and commercially, have occurred in public taste and the arts must adapt to these changes but also follow the money, and by doing so, survive and thrive. Yet despite all the current financial gloom, musical theatre continues to play a major role in the financial economics of theatrical cities, given what theatregoers spend at hotels, restaurants and stores, before even sitting down in their expensive seats to watch the show. It has actually been estimated that musicals may account for as much as 90% of theatre revenues. Although some critics have argued that this has tended to make mainstream Musical Theatre more of a tourist attraction, rather than an outlet for creative talent, another noticeable trend of the past few years has seen past success stories revisited and updated for the modern audience. Trusting to previous success underpinning the market, together with the inherent promise of built-in audiences, there have been several revivals of well-trodden and recognisable fare, such as Grease (last revived in 2007) or other proven material, particularly from successful films, such as Billy Elliot (stage version 2005) or from acknowledged literature such as Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Wicked the Musical (2003), thought of as the prequel t the Wizard of Oz, is loosely based on Maguires novel (it also references several events form the 1939 film), and tells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her troubled relationship with Glind a, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship/enmity is brought into focus through their very different persona and opinions (Elphaba, born green and later a political rebel, has to contend with being an outsider in society, while Glinda, being blonde, receives all the accolades and benefits befitting her status) and as a theme, is continued throughout, especially via their competition over the same love-interest, namely Fiyero. The story examines the undercurrent of political intrigue, for example, How did Oz becomes such a confused and degenerate state?, It also examines the main characters reactions to the Wizards corrupt government, before finally highlighting Elphabas very public fall from grace. As previously indicated, many contemporary musicals attempt to tell a story through the musicality, making the song choice and lyrical content, highly important to the plot and to the attention of the audience. Indeed, Wicked uses its musicality as a means to communicate some of the deeper issues it brings up. The opening song, No one mourns the wicked, is absolutely integral to the plot, dramatically celebrating the death of Elphaba, and developing the ongoing theme of the play, that Things are not always what they seem, which the audience recognise and appreciate come the final curtain. It is also here that the story unfolds, flashing back to when Glinda recounts the circumstances of Elphabas birth and their time together at Shiz University. Early on there is a moment when Elphaba appears for the first time, when glinda and her white friends are all together, and Elphaba enters, green-skinned and obviously different. They all stop and stare at her for what seems ages, and suddenly we have that Black person in the South moment. Its a big moment, and although unexpected, it sets the tone of the show with its profound statement of a divisive code where race, colour social standing differences, despite our technical advancements, unfortunately still pervade society. When Elphabas power is pointed out as a potential ticket to see the Wizard himself, she sings The Wizard and I, hinting at her desire to be accepted, and be viewed as girl who wants to be seen for her soul, not for her colour. If the Wizard believes in her, then so must everyone else. Another big number, Something Bad (is happening in Oz) provides a political vehicle hinting at the nature of the Animal oppression, highlighting the interacting between the goat and Elphaba, both of whom are at the fringe of Oz society. The songs continue to relate to the story, and we see the Wizard falsely trying to gain Elphabas friendship with A sentimental man and Wonderful. Elphabas path is a difficult one, undeservedly ostracized by the citizens of Oz through March of the Witch Hunters, she finally gets to reflect on her relationship and mutual love of Glinda with For Good, before the mournful tones of the finale and a return to present day show us that all things are not what they seem. Ultimate ly it comes down to the choices of the two lead characters, but with their destinies fulfilled, also reveals that almost nothing in Oz is what it seems, with those considered to be good, having just possibly wicked tendencies, and perhaps more than a hint of some good in those deemed wicked. Yet another trend has been that of creating a storyline with the bare minimum of a plot, to fit a collection of songs that have already been hits. Following the success of Buddy The Buddy Holly Story, from 1989, there have been several successful Jukebox Musicals, as theyve come to be called, particularly We Will Rock You, which has enjoyed considerable success since it opened in 2002. Somewhat more plot-driven than its predecessors, a science fiction tale part inspired by the film The Matrix and in part a tribute to the band, rock group Queen. It is not in fact a biography of the bands history, but a cleverly conceived story, drawing on the content of some of Queens classic hits to provide the characters and plot to a futuristic landscape that to some degree has been shaped by modern society. The story begins 300 years in the future, with Earth renamed Planet Mall and with global corporations controlling and influencing the thoughts and opinions of the populace. The children and yo uth of this time have no effective minds of their own, for example, wearing the same clothes, listening to the same music and having the same thoughts and feelings. Rock music is unknown, but the hero and main protagonist Galileo, who hears odd words and rhythms in his head, refuses to conform, and sets about trying to change the World and being back real music. Galileo aided by Scaramouch (both are central characters of arguably Queens most successful song, Bohemian Rhapsody) fight against the machine that is conformity. They rally against oppression and along the way meet up with the Bohemians, a group of like-minded young people trying to reintroduce the art of playing musical instruments previously banned by the authorities. In their joint quests, they come up against the Killer Queen (a character derived from yet another great Queen song of the same name), the ruler of the Globalsoft Corporation under whose dominance the planet has been for many years. Both groups of youngsters are eventually able to celebrate the reason rock bands first came together, which was for love apparently, by singing yet another great Queen hit, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. The writers weave many of the bands hit songs into the storyline, and also reference many other popular songs of that time through an ever evolving dialogue. For example, several Beatles, Bowie and Rolling Stones hits have been included at different times, in different productions and in different locations to maintain freshness to each show. Quite a few musicals have also looked to the more epic or extravagant production as seen pree-2000 (for example, the 1980s success of Phantom of the Opera), by introducing stage musical adaptations such as The Lord of the Rings in 2007, billed as the biggest stage production in musical theatre history but despite its grandeur, yet to reap reasonable profits. Another less noticeable trend, particularly on Broadway, has been to present musicals uninterrupted by an intermission, with short running times of less than two hours. Although not strictly Musical Theatre, its interesting to note that another popular trend has been towards TV and Film musicals of a more diverse nature than the offerings of the Hollywood Musicals of the mid-20th century. Since the success of Evita in 1996, this new genre of musical has become an industry standard with further notable contributions such as, Moulin Rouge (2001), Chicago (2002), Phantom of the Opera (2004), Sweeney Todd (2007) and possibly the best of all, Mamma Mia (2008). Made for TV musical shows (particularly in the U.S.) have also proved extremely popular, as noted by recent successful transitions to the small screen for adaptations of South Pacific (2001), and The Music Man (2003) to name but a couple. Some TV shows have even gone so far as to having set episodes produced as a musical, e.g. Ally McBeal and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There are even musicals being made for the internet now! Its probably fair to say, that the biggest trend of the last ten years, is that our latest generation of youngsters have developed an extreme fascination with Musical theatre. The accessibility of smaller, more provincial stages throughout the UK, the larger number of successful graduates in the general performing arts arena, and certainly for those prepared to work hard enough, the joy of performance, is encouraging a revival of dramatic song and, more interesting perhaps, its being performed with unbelievable quality. Its probably also true that the advent of Lloyd-Webber-driven reality television shows, which have thrown scores of potential Marias and Josephs into our living rooms has meant that people no longer need to remortgage their house, to sample what to some is still a once-a-year special trip to the theatre for their entertainment. There are already websites dedicated to 21st century Musical theatre, and we are only just finishing the first decade. The list of shows is surprisingly long. Despite the end of Cats, a major player in the triumphant story that is Musical theatre, a string of new, successful musicals has emerged, with Avenue Q, Wicked and We Will Rock You, to the forefront of them. They are every bit as popular as Lloyd Webbers classics and show that the future of Musical Theatre is in accomplished hands. All three storylines have veered away from the traditional, pre 21st century conception of family based, popcorn style musicals that everyone can sing along to, but may have no substantial plot. Todays writers look for more absorbing and controversial subject matter, as well as designing new works, will often look to contemporise significant event. Young performers are writing their own musicals, living and breathing the experience. Musical Theatre never went away, maybe just hibernated for a short time at the end of the last century, and is now being taken seriously as never before, becoming increasingly more popular, having thrown off the mantle of uncu ltured chart music as a preferred entertainment, and quite possibly the jewel in the crown of the entertainment industry. Modernist writers and producers have successfully drawn on the history of Musical theatre as a spectacle, and created stunning new attractions for larger contemporary audiences brought up on the traditions of jazz, funk, blues, swing, country and rock, producing such memorable global phenomenons, several as previously mentioned, including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, The Lion King, Mamma Mia and The Producers. Taking elements of literature, opera, film and theatre and fusing this variety of styles and genres, compliments the current vogue of contemporary audiences wishing to embrace several types of culture. These plays are fine examples of what modern day audiences want to experience, covering the social and economic diversity of everyday life, but mingled with history, politics and war. In summary, contemporary musical theatre this decade is much broader in musical and vocal styles, and overall carries a stronger plot-line. The production can cover any genre from comedy to tragedy, and include real life, modern and often argumentative issues. The harmonies tend to mirror whats current in the musical world but not totally to the avoidance of previous styles. With the new breed of musical actors, emphasis has been placed on development of text and characters with the singing style more about understanding the context rather that the tone. Songs are readily influenced by new vogues, especially rap, fusion and rock, as well as classical. Investment and making a profit are now more essential to the core than ever, and the shows creators will consider whatever ways there are to increase the revenue, from writing songs that can be released as singles or albums, to endorsing the shows credibility by getting celebrities to appear in key roles. Vaudeville and post war Hollywo od styled productions were fine for then, but modern audiences demand something more for their expensively purchased stalls or circle seats.

High School Goals Essay

High School to some is the best part of their lives and to others is the worst part of their life. As for me I believe high school is just about setting goals and achieving them. Personally, I set up three important and motivating yet perceivable individual goals to get me through high school. My First Goal is to not miss more than two days of school in the entire school year. My second goal is to finish my high school career with the 26 credits that I am required if not maybe more. Finally my third high school goal I plan to end high school with a 3.8 Grade Point Average. I believe attendance is essential to a student understanding and success over all in school. This is my first goal. Attending school on a constant basis not only does great for your grades but also without you even noticing it builds in you a strong work ethic and discipline. The best part about attending school regularly is that you make awesome friends while your there. My second high school goal is to finish high school with my required 26 credits. This is very important to me because if I do not have these 26 credits I will not be able to go on to college. Now many students take this for granted and just don’t keep track about their grades. When it comes time to graduate and they cant graduate with their piers its not going to be so funny. If you don’t have enough credits to graduate and you find out I time. You can still fix the problem by just simply going to night school or take extra classes at your school. My third goal is the most important. That’s why I saved it for last. I have to maintain a Grade Point Average of a 3.8 or higher. This is very important to my future. This number is basically what makes or breaks you in a college application (aside from your S.A.T. scores). Having a good grade point average is critical in every student’s career as it opens doors for you with scholarships, grants, etc. In Conclusion, I believe that high school can be a very rewarding time for every young adult if managed properly. Remember to set tangible and  manageable goals for yourself. It is highly important for you not to set up goals that are out of your reach because when you do that. You are setting yourself up for disaster and failure.

Bermuda Triangle Essay - 722 Words

The Bermuda Triangle is an unsolved mystery that leaves many people oblivious as to how it has taken away the lives of countless amounts of humans. The Bermuda Triangle is also known as the Devils Triangle. It is an area located on the north western Atlantic, in the country of International waters, The Bahamas. The Bermuda Triangle is an extremely dangerous area for one to enter. Aircrafts and surface vessels are believed to have vanished in weird ways which are considered human error, piracy, equipment failure, or natural disasters. Important things in society have shown some of these disappearances could have been the laws of physics, paranormal, or actions performed by aliens. The Bermuda Triangle is at a status of an†¦show more content†¦Many theories exist about the origin of the Bermuda Triangle and why it allegedly causes the damage it does. Theories stretch to anything from extraterrestrial life forces causing the deaths, to a black hole-like object causing the Trian gles passers by to be taken to a different time and location. Once again, these theories raise skepticism from critics. There are also the people who really believe in some of these theories, but there isnt much evidence to back it up. Since technology is getting better and we are finding out more about nature and the way things work, we are bound to solve the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. For years there has been an unsolved mystery of disappearances of boats and planes with no trace of evidence left behind. Could it be human error? Equipment failure? There are a lot of different things that could have happened with every disappearance within this dangerous area, the Bermuda Triangle. Many believe these disappearances are laws of physics, paranormal, or actions performed by aliens, but nobody knows.Octagonal clouds in the sky push the planes and aircraft down and they loose control. Water at night is the most worst for boats bc waves get bigger and bigger and can sink your boat. There are mysterious explanations of the incidents that have happened. Triangle writers have used a lot of weird ways to explain the incidents. One explanation blames it on leftoverShow MoreRelatedThe Bermuda Triangle Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesYou might know that the Bermuda Triangle is a legendary place where numerous disappearances have occurred, but how much do you really know about it? Some people don’t believe in such a place, but some do. Research has been conducted to try and figure out what could possibly be happening here, but with no hard evidence. The mysterious Bermuda Triangle may be more than just a myth though; the Bermuda triangle has a long history with disappearances, few people live through it to tell the tale, and possibleRead More Bermuda Triangle Essay1469 Words   |  6 Pages The Bermuda Triangle nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is the Bermuda Triangle really a place where strange powers are at work? The Bermuda Triangle is a very complex and mystifying area that is noted for a high incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft. From reading this paper one will learn geographic features of the Bermuda Triangle, famous disappearances, and possible explanations for them. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There is a section of the western Atlantic, offRead MoreEssay on The Bermuda Triangle921 Words   |  4 PagesThe Bermuda Triangle The Bermuda Triangle is a triangular area in the Atlantic Ocean bounded by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Many people believed that people, ships, and planes have mysteriously vanished in this area. The size of the triangle varies from 500,000 square miles. Some trace the mystery back to the time of Columbus. Bermuda Triangle estimates range from about 200 to no more than 8,000 distress calls in the area and that there have been more than 50 ships and 20 planes to goRead More The Bermuda Triangle Essay1902 Words   |  8 PagesThe Bermuda Triangle Off the southern tip of Florida lies a phenomenon called the Bermuda Triangle. Ships, planes, and over one thousand lives were lost in the Triangle without a trace. Theories have been put forth, but still no universally accepted explanation exists for the mystery that surrounds the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle covers almost 440,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean. An imaginary line that begins near Melbourne, Florida, extends south to Bermuda, and west toRead MoreThe Bermuda Triangle Essay1230 Words   |  5 Pages The Bermuda Triangle,also known as the Hoodoo Sea, the Devils Triangle, the Limbo of the Lost, and the Twilight Zone, is a part of the ocean in which planes, ships, and people mysteriously seem to just disappear. It is an imaginary area shaped as a triangle. Which is located in the outer tip of Florida. Its been the biggest mystery of time because of the mysterious disappearances that have happened over time. â€Å"The term Bermuda Triangle was first used in an article written by Vincent H. GaddisRead MoreEssay on The Bermuda Triangle850 Words   |  4 PagesThe Bermuda Triangle The Bermuda Triangle is shrouded, in a thick cloud of mystery, in a thick cloud of controversy, and a thick cloud of argument. Not even the location of the Triangle is agreed on. The most common description of its location is the triangle formed by linking Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico. But there is also two other descriptions: The Devils Triangle is more like a blob that covers most of the western Caribbean. The Limbo of the lost is an area that stems from Miami toRead More Bermuda Triangle Essay1387 Words   |  6 PagesBermuda Triangle The Bermuda triangle, or the devil’s triangle, is an imaginary area located off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States. It is the greatest modern mystery of our supposedly well understood world. It is noted for a very high incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft. The tips of the triangle are generally thought to be Bermuda, Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Many theories attempting to explain the many disappearances have been offeredRead MoreBermuda Triangle Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesThe Bermuda Triangle is also known as the Devils Triangle, Dragons Triangle and the Devils Sea. The Triangle is a 500,000 square mile part of the Atlantic Ocean that stretches from Florida, to the island of Bermuda, to Puerto Rico and then back again. It is known for its many mysterious disappearances. Through this paper, I will present the theories and incidents of the Bermuda Triangle which will leave you to decide; Bermuda Triangle Fact or F iction. The Bermuda Triangle has a long history, asRead MoreThe Mysterious Bermuda Triangle Essay1642 Words   |  7 Pagesalways been an aura of mystery surrounding Bermuda, the collective name for a group of small islands located in the Atlantic Ocean. Once referred to as â€Å"The Devil’s Islands,† ‘the Bermuda Triangle’ represents the geographical area along the Atlantic Ocean from Puerto Rico to the South and Miami to the West (Kelly, 2004, p. 227). The actual term Bermuda Triangle was not introduced until 1964, when Vincent H. Gaddis’ article â€Å"The Deadly Bermuda Triangle† was published in Argosy magazine (Kelly, 2004)Read MoreEssay about Bermuda Triangle Conspiracy905 Words   |  4 PagesBermuda, Miami, and San Juan (Bermuda Triangle).These are the 3 locations that make up the â€Å"Devils Triangle† also known as the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic ocean. In this area, many unexplained disappearances from military and commer cial aircrafts, to large cargo ships and small yachts has many people and scientists wondering, is this supernatural phenomena? Forces of nature? Over-exaggerated stories? No one knows for sure. Many of these disappearances happened without warning, no mayday calls

The Great Depression History - 1409 Words

The Great Depression Suzette Toliver HIS205 Contemporary World History Belhaven University - Houston Cause The Great Depression has been labeled as the worst economic depression in the United States History. â€Å"On September 3, 1929, the Dow Jones was at a high of 381 points, and on October 29, 1929, it had fallen to 41 points after a week of panic selling.† http://thegreatdepressioncauses.com/causes/. Things started to become unstable as many people were getting rid of their stock. Banks were so confident in the stock market and because of that, they gambled the consumer’s funds in their bank accounts and invested these funds into the stock market. â€Å"Seeing a few banks close caused another panic across the country. Afraid they†¦show more content†¦This contributed to the Great Depression because the majority of people were not wealthy. So when the market high, everyone pulls out to make money and pay off loans, it sends the market down.† Since there was no longer any money to loan people were no longer able to seek credit and things were becoming wo rst by the minute. People began to ration things and stopped spending any of their money and unemployment rose to very high levels. â€Å"A drought that lasted from 1930 to 1936, known as the Dust Bowl, aggravated the problems of the Great Depression. More than a million acres of farmland were rendered useless because of severe drought and years of over farming, and hundreds of thousands of farmers joined the ranks of the unemployed.† Since there was not any income available it causes many families to become homeless and people were seeking charities. Researchers have said that, â€Å"Pro-labor policies pushed by President Herbert Hoover after the stock market crash of 1929 accounted for close to two-thirds of the drop in the nation s gross domestic product over the two years that followed, causing what might otherwise have been a bad recession to slip into the Great Depression, a UCLA economist concludes in a new study.† http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/pandering-t o-labor-caused-great-91447. Because people were so desperate to feed their families, crime increased. They committed small crimes for the sake of putting some food on the table. Some committed