Radio's America : The Great Depression and the Rise of Modern Mass Culture

Orson Welles’s greatest breakthrough into the popular consciousness occurred in 1938, three years before __Citizen Kane__, when his __War of the Worlds__ radio broadcast succeeded so spectacularly that terrified listeners believed they were hearing a genuine report of an alien invasion—a landmark in the history of radio’s powerful relationship with its audience. In __Radio’s America__, Bruce Lenthall documents the enormous impact radio had on the lives of Depression-era Americans and charts the formative years of our modern mass culture. Many Americans became alienated from their government and economy in the twentieth century, and Lenthall explains that radio’s appeal came from its capability to personalize an increasingly impersonal public arena. His depictions of such figures as proto-Fascist Charles Coughlin and medical quack John Brinkley offer penetrating insight into radio’s use as a persuasive tool, and Lenthall’s book is unique in its exploration of how ordinary Americans made radio a part of their lives. Television inherited radio’s cultural role, and as the voting tallies for __American Idol__ attest, broadcasting continues to occupy a powerfully intimate place in American life. __Radio’s America__ reveals how the connections between power and mass media began. Orson Welles's Greatest Breakthrough Into The Popular Consciousness Occurred In 1938, Three Years Before Citizen Kane, When His War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast Succeeded So Spectacularly That Terrified Listeners Believed They Were Hearing A Genuine Report Of An Alien Invasion - A Landmark In The History Of Radio's Powerful Relationship With Its Audience. In Radio's America, Bruce Lenthall Documents The Enormous Impact Radio Had On The Lives Of Depression-era Americans And Charts The Formative Years Of Our Modern Mass Culture. Many Americans Became Alienated From Their Government And Economy In The Twentieth Century, And Lenthall Explains That Radio's Appeal Came From Its Capability To Personalize An Increasingly Impersonal Public Arena. His Depictions Of Such Figures As Proto-fascist Charles Coughlin And Medical Quack John Brinkley Offer Penetrating Insight Into Radio's Use As A Persuasive Tool, And Lenthall's Book Is Unique In Its Exploration Of How Ordinary Americans Made Radio A Part Of Their Lives. Television Inherited Radio's Cultural Role, And As The Voting Tallies For American Idol Attest, Broadcasting Continues To Occupy A Powerfully Intimate Place In American Life. Radio's America Reveals How The Connections Between Power And Mass Media Began. Pt. 1: Radio's Challenges: Public Intellectuals And The Problem Of Mass Culture -- William Orton And The Mass-consumption Critique -- James Rorty And The Mass-production Critique -- African American Intellectuals And The Mass-production Critique In Action -- Related Solutions -- Defenders Of The Faith -- Pt. 2: Radio's Listeners : Personalizing Mass Culture -- The Mass Audience Listens -- Consumer Bargaining -- When You Can't Find A Friend, You've Still Got The Radio -- Pt. 3: Radio's Democracy : The Politics Of The Fireside -- Roosevelt On The Radio -- Radio Democracy: The Politics Of Intimacy -- Radio Democracy: The Politics Of Information -- Once And Future Ideals? -- Pt. 4: Radio's Champions : Strange Gods? -- Radio Stars -- Voices Of The People -- Power....corrupts? -- Limited Amplitude -- Pt. 5: Radio's Students : Media Studies And The Possibilities Of Mass Communication -- Paul Lazarsfeld And Social Pragmatism's Hope -- Herman Hettinger And Commercial Pragmatism's Faith -- Theodor Adorno's Critical Theory: A Considerably Less Charitable View -- Pt. 6: Radio's Writers : A Public Voice In The Modern World -- Art Of The Air -- Public Speech, Public Art, And Mass Communication -- Modernism On The Air -- Muffled Voices. Bruce Lenthall. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 213-253) And Index.

orson Welles’s Greatest Breakthrough Into The Popular Consciousness Occurred In 1938, Three Years Before citizen Kane, When His war Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast Succeeded So Spectacularly That Terrified Listeners Believed They Were Hearing A Genuine Report Of An Alien Invasion—a Landmark In The History Of Radio’s Powerful Relationship With Its Audience. In radio’s America, Bruce Lenthall Documents The Enormous Impact Radio Had On The Lives Of Depression-era Americans And Charts The Formative Years Of Our Modern Mass Culture.

many Americans Became Alienated From Their Government And Economy In The Twentieth Century, And Lenthall Explains That Radio’s Appeal Came From Its Capability To Personalize An Increasingly Impersonal Public Arena. His Depictions Of Such Figures As Proto-fascist Charles Coughlin And Medical Quack John Brinkley Offer Penetrating Insight Into Radio’s Use As A Persuasive Tool, And Lenthall’s Book Is Unique In Its Exploration Of How Ordinary Americans Made Radio A Part Of Their Lives. Television Inherited Radio’s Cultural Role, And As The Voting Tallies For american Idol Attest, Broadcasting Continues To Occupy A Powerfully Intimate Place In American Life. radio’s America Reveals How The Connections Between Power And Mass Media Began.

CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction: “The Story of the Century” 1. Radio’s Challenges: Public Intellectuals and the Problem of Mass Culture William Orton and the Mass-Consumption Critique James Rorty and the Mass-Production Critique African American Intellectuals and the Mass-Production Critique in Action Related Solutions Defenders of the Faith 2. Radio’s Listeners: Personalizing Mass Culture The Mass Audience Listens Consumer Bargaining “When You Can’t Find a Friend, You’ve Still Got the Radio” 3. Radio’s Democracy: The Politics of the Fireside Roosevelt on the Radio Radio Democracy: The Politics of Intimacy Radio Democracy: The Politics of Information Once and Future Ideals? 4. Radio’s Champions: Strange Gods? Radio Stars Voices of the People Power . . . Corrupts? Limited Amplitude 5. Radio’s Students: Media Studies and the Possibility of Mass Communication Paul Lazarsfeld and Social Pragmatism’s Hope Herman Hettinger and Commercial Pragmatism’s Faith Theodor Adorno’s Critical Theory: A Considerably Less Charitable View 6. Radio’s Writers: A Public Voice in the Modern World Art of the Air Public Speech, Public Art, and Mass Communication Modernism on the Air Muffled Voices Conclusion Notes Index Documents the impact radio had on the lives of Depression-era Americans and charts the formative years of our modern mass culture. Offering insight into radio's use as a persuasive tool, this work explores how ordinary Americans made radio a part of their lives. It also reveals how the connections between power and mass media began. An analysis of relationship between the public and radio broadcasting in 1930s Depression America. Aspects covered include the idea of mass culture, the listening public's relation to radio, politicians on the air, demagogues on the air, intellectuals and academics considering radio, and radio for art's sake.