Automotive/American History
How the Automobile Both Paralleled History As Well As Shaped Society As American Culture has evolved, inventions have paralleled its alterations. From the automobile's humble beginnings as a "horseless carriage" in the late 1800's, Henry Ford made the coach for the everyday man (Tshimanga). Because of this invention, the generations in the 20th century were put into motion, literally. Through the years, the automobile has evolved to become what we know today. From designing the Model T, to the Thunderbird and the Tiburon, the automobile industry has responded to meet cultural trends as well as to meet cutting edge technologies. Some examples of the trends that the industry paralleled are: the Art Deco movement during the American Great Depression, America's space program in the 1960's, the gas crisis in the 1970's, and the growing computer world in the present day. The car also has shaped society through associations such as NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing), NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) drag racing, and the loyal following of car collectors and enthusiasts. For the more popular music has used cars as a symbol, and marketers have fueled the influence cars have on pop culture.
Cars were in low production and sporadic use due to the lack of fuel to run them. An example of the conflict between the current model for automotive design and what the American consumer wants is seen here: "Their goal was to design a car that would look like a leader in its price field, suggest top performance and meet the psychological needs of the motoring public" (Bayley 17). " This artist did a lot of work involving industrial designs, including the car. The Thunderbird, on the other hand, had a metal body, which added weight, but lowered cost, and Ford could compensate for the added weight with a bigger engine, their new V8. Many times cars define a person in the music profession such as with musicians driving SUV's, or situations like James Dean making the Porsche one of the most notorious and mass desired cars (Bayley 55). Before Americans knew it, they were in another war; the US dove into World War II in the end of 1941. The Corvette assumes many qualities that a car such as the '32 Ford Coupe exhibits. Then the Model T allowed the middle class man to have it, and then in the 1950's with the population spike because of the baby boomers, cars were more easily attainable and teenagers were on the road; another example of the freedom the automobile represented and created. This shows, even though it is short, the freedom that the automobile offered. 1) is a prime example of this design shift using Deco form in order to create a positive spin for America. The Thunderbird is a superb example of the use of linear motion, both from the center flowing to the front and from the center flowing to the back. The automobile was released into the public and, like most other inventions, was released to the public as a purely utilitarian piece. The combination of the gas crisis and the passing of the first clean air act (many more amendments came afterwards) opened up the market for European and Asian cars that were easier on the environment and more fuel-efficient. The Americans in the post-war era were ready for something new. The distinct geometry, as in Constructivism, makes it look fast, smooth, and it accurately represents the art deco movement.
Common topics in this essay:
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Pearl Harbor,
MGs Triumphs,
Corvette Thunderbird,
Told Kiss,
Harley Earl,
Buddy Holly,
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Henry Ford,
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henry ford,
car design,
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beach boys,
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suggest top performance,
dutch east indies,
boys little deuce,
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Acceptance Essays
