The Great Depression hit Canada hard, impacting every aspect of society. Artists responded by creating works that reflected the struggles of ordinary people. From social realist paintings to hard-hitting documentaries, Canadian culture shifted to address the harsh realities of the time.

The CBC and National Film Board emerged during this era, shaping Canadian identity through radio and film. Literature and folk music also flourished, giving voice to the experiences of those affected by economic hardship. These cultural developments helped unite Canadians during a difficult period.

Visual Arts and Social Realism

Group of Seven's Influence

• Group of Seven, a group of Canadian landscape painters, continued to be influential during the Depression era
• Their distinctive style captured the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness (rocky shores of Georgian Bay, vast expanses of the Prairies)
• Inspired a sense of national identity and pride in Canada's natural landscapes during a time of economic hardship
• Their paintings were widely exhibited and reproduced, making their work accessible to a broader audience

Rise of Social Realism

• Social realism emerged as a significant artistic movement during the Depression, focusing on depicting the everyday lives and struggles of ordinary people
• Artists sought to capture the harsh realities of unemployment, poverty, and social inequality (breadlines, labor strikes, urban slums)
• Aimed to raise awareness of social issues and advocate for change through their art
• Notable social realist artists included Miller Brittain, Paraskeva Clark, and Fritz Brandtner
• Social realist art often featured working-class subjects and industrial landscapes, highlighting the human impact of the economic crisis (factories, construction sites)

Broadcasting and Film

Establishment of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

• The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was established in 1936 as a public broadcaster
• Mandate to provide national radio broadcasting services and promote Canadian culture and identity
• Played a crucial role in keeping Canadians informed and entertained during the Depression
• Produced radio programs that reflected Canadian experiences and values (news, drama, music)
• Helped to foster a sense of national unity and shared experience among Canadians from coast to coast

Growth of the National Film Board and Documentary Filmmaking

• The National Film Board (NFB) was founded in 1939 to produce and distribute films that promoted Canada and its interests
• Became a leading producer of documentary films during the Depression and World War II era
• Documentaries focused on social issues, economic challenges, and the lives of ordinary Canadians (unemployment, rural life, wartime experiences)
• NFB films aimed to educate and inform audiences, as well as foster a sense of national identity and purpose
• Notable NFB documentaries from this period include "Housing Problems" (1938) and "Churchill's Island" (1941), which won the first Oscar for a documentary

Literature and Music

Depression-Era Literature

• Canadian literature during the Depression often reflected the social and economic realities of the time
• Writers explored themes of poverty, unemployment, and social injustice in their works (novels, short stories, poetry)
• Morley Callaghan's novel "Such Is My Beloved" (1934) portrayed the lives of marginalized individuals in Toronto during the Depression
• Sinclair Ross's "As For Me and My House" (1941) depicted the struggles of a rural prairie family during the Dust Bowl years
• Poets like Dorothy Livesay and E.J. Pratt addressed social and political issues in their works, giving voice to the experiences of ordinary Canadians

Revival of Folk Music

• The Depression saw a resurgence of interest in folk music as a means of expressing shared experiences and cultural traditions
• Folk songs often told stories of hardship, resilience, and hope, resonating with audiences facing economic challenges
• Artists like Wilf Carter and Hank Snow gained popularity with their country and western-style folk songs that captured the spirit of rural Canada
• Folk music festivals and gatherings, such as the Canadian Folk Song and Handicraft Festival in Quebec, helped to preserve and promote traditional music
• The revival of folk music during the Depression laid the foundation for the Canadian folk music scene that would flourish in the decades to come (influential artists like Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell)