Study of Irish Culture

Cultural studies are always my favorite things to blog about, and it's even more special when it's a study of one's heritage. I have written several posts now about various European cultures, however have yet to write about my own heritage. On my mom's side I have Colombian and Venezuelan heritage while on my dad's side I have Swedish and Irish heritage. I eventually intend to write about all four of these cultures that are a part of me, but as usual I like to be inspired by something before I write about it. And at this precise moment in the chilly rainy grim days of March, I am drawn to the culture of Ireland.

One of the first thoughts that come to mind when I think of Ireland is my grandma. My dad's mom was the epitome of an Irish old lady; friendly, gentle in spirit, hard-working, proud Catholic, and a good taste for drinking (she even had red hair). I remember her house had numerous Irish decorations and an Irish knitted blanket that I always enjoyed. She had a copy of the popular Riverdance show, starring Michael Flatley, which we watched many times at her house. In her final years before she passed she bought me a Celtic Christmas CD which I still cherish to this day. 

Apart from my grandmother being my most significant Irish influence, I have experienced Irish culture on a regular basis throughout my life. For starters Irish culture is embedded in American society, much thanks to the holiday of St. Patrick's Day. This normally includes of a day wearing green, sites of dancing leprechauns, and drunken shenanigans for the adults. Along with this holiday there are several popular American sports team that embody Irish elements specifically the Boston Celtics and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. You could almost make the case that Irish-American culture has spun into it's own sub-category apart from the mother country, often referred to as an Irish diaspora.

For this culture study I want to move away from the cliche Irish stereotypes of drunkenness and leprechauns. While I'm sure these stereotypes have validity I think it's best to start with the source, that is the motherland of Ireland. It is essentially an island in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, with beautiful coast lines and rolling green pastures, yet it has always been under the influence of the mighty British empire. The land of Ireland is split into two regions, north and south. Northern Ireland is a territory of the United Kingdom. While the southern part of the island is it's own sovereign nation the Republic of Ireland. In this post I'll probably associate more to the Republic of Ireland, however would like this to be considered a study of both regions as one land known as Ireland.

Irish Folklore and Mythology

Celtic Mythology was the ancient religion of the Celtic tribes during the Iron Age that embodied the lands of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of Britain. Similar to Norse, Greek, or Roman mythology this was a time before the spread of Christianity where Europe believed in false tales and deities. However much of modern day literature and folklore can be derived from ancient tales of mythology. The stories of Irish mythology made up a majority of Celtic mythology and no doubt influenced Ireland's rich history in folklore and literature.

In Irish Mythology humanity was governed by a tribe of gods known as the Tuatha De Danann who dwell in a region known as the Otherworld. They journey to-and-from earth thru portals, referred to as a passage tombs (Stonehedge could be considered an example of an ancient religious portal). The chief of the Irish gods is Dagda, a religious druid, he is the father figure associated with strength, magic, and wisdom. The enemies of the Tuatha de Danann are the Fomorians who bring about all the evils to earth. Similar to Greek mythology each god of the Tuatha de Danann is associated with some form of virtue and later become fairies of Irish folklore.

With the emergence of Christianity during the middle ages, mythology quickly became a farce however the ancient stories were still celebrated. From the characters of Irish mythology came new tales of fairy lore. Fairies were descendants of the Irish gods who lived in deep forests and often had magical powers. One of the most iconic characters of fairy lore was the leprechaun, described as a little bearded man dressed in green. Various Irish folk tales depicted the leprechaun as a mischievous or jolly character who made shoes and had a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If a human were ever to capture a leprechaun they were granted three wishes by this magical creature. 

Irish Literature

Perhaps it's the green landscape of cliffs, hills, and pastures overlooking the Irish Sea that has made Ireland a source of great literature. It is also no doubt the rich history of Celtic-Irish Mythological and folk tales that have supplied modern day Irish literature. Some of the most notable Irish authors in history include Johnathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, and CS Lewis to name a few.  

The modern era of Irish literature began with the sagas and poetry of Jonathan Swift, most notably his satire and one of my favorites, Gulliver's Travels which was released in 1726. Swift is often considered one of the most significant modern English writers of satire. He inspired numerous famous Irish poets, playwrites, and novelists after him such as Oscar Wilde, known for his Importance of Being Earnest released in 1895. In 1897 Irish author Bram Stoker introduced the horrific Romanian character of Dracula in his famous Gothic novel. 

In 1922 James Joyce released what is often regarded as the most significant novel of the 20th century, Ulysses. The novel is considered a parallel to Homer's Odyssey and in an-depth philosophical journey of one man's consciousness. James Joyce also had various other popular novels and can be considered at the fore front along with Swift. During his time there was also George Bernard Shaw best regarded the Irish dramatist. Perhaps one of my personal favorite Irish authors is CS Lewis who wrote the famous fantasy series, Chronicles of Narnia in the 1950s. 

Irish Music and Dance

Ireland is best renown today for their traditional folk music which often consists of violins, flutes, harps, and bagpipes. This music has elements of classical, medieval, and renaissance style court music and incorporates the spirit of the land. I've always enjoyed Irish folk music and find it be very uplifting and ideal with a cold beverage. Just like with any culture however there are many different genres of music, and Ireland is also known for it's new age fusion, rock, and punk music. I especially enjoy the new age singing of Enya and the classic rock music of Van Morrison and the band U2. I also enjoyed the punk rock music of The Cranberries growing up in the 1990s.

Along with it's music Ireland also has a rich and proud tradition of dance. The style they are most identified with is that of step-dancing, sometimes referred to as the "riverdance". This style incorporates jumps, footwork, and tap dancing with a stiff upper body. This heritage of Irish dance- stepping goes back to the 1700s with the emergence of the fiddle and Irish Folk Music. However the heritage became pop-culture thanks to the theatrical show of Riverdance which premiered in 1995 touring on stage and also released a film. It is one of the most successful dance shows in history and still operates today. 

Irish Sport

While most of Europe would have soccer/football as their favorite sport, Ireland actually has two sports that are slightly more popular than the game of soccer. The sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling both originated in Ireland and for that reason are the nation's pastime. Neither Northern Ireland nor the Rep of Ireland have yet to win any major team international tournaments (such as the World Cup).

• The game of Gaelic Football is a combination of soccer and rugby where a player cannot hold the ball for more than 4 steps, and must either dribble it, kick it, or pass it elsewhere. The object is to score thru a post for 1 point, or on a goal for 3 points. The game is very popular in Ireland and constitutes 34% of sports attendance.
• The game of Hurling has a similar playing field as Gaelic Football yet instead the players use sticks to pass, dribble, balance, and shoot the ball. The game is a combination of lacrosse, field hockey, and rugby and is believed to be over 4000 years old. The sport constitutes 23% of Irish sports attendance.
• The game of soccer constitutes 16% of the nation's attendance, and many Irish soccer fans often pay more attention to the English leagues over their own Irish Association Football leagues which is much smaller in scale. The Rep of Ireland made it as far as the quarterfinals in the 1990 World Cup, and has made it to the round of 16 twice. Northern Ireland made the quarter-finals once in 1958 yet had not qualified again since 1986. 
• The game of Rugby constitutes 8% of the nation's attendance. Although they have yet to win a Rugby World Cup they are currently ranked #2 in the world. 
• Other sports such as golf, horse-racing, cricket, and boxing are also popular in Ireland. Perhaps one of the most popular mixed martial arts/boxers in the world is Connor McGregor who is from Dublin, Ireland. 

Irish Cuisine

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Irish food and drink are 3 things; Beer, whiskey, and potatoes. Over the years the Irish have developed a stereotype as a people of heavy drinkers perhaps due to their fierce yet playful personas. Guinness stout beer and Jameson whiskey have become Irish staples enjoyed on a global market. However Ireland is also known for their stews, sausage, bacon, and cabbage. Here is a list of some of the traditional Irish foods and drinks;

• Whiskey: Single pot still, mixed of malted and unmalted barley. Distilleries began producing as early as the 1600s under the reign of King James I. The Old Bushmills Distillery became the first official licensed whiskey producer, however Jameson Irish Whiskey, introduced by a Scottish businessman, based out of Dublin in 1780 has become the most successful of Irish whiskies. 
• Beer: Irish Beer comes in various forms and they are more frequently associated with stouts, ales, and lagers. Perhaps one of the most iconic of Irish beers is that of Guinness, a dry stout beer that was first introduced in Dublin in 1759. Other popular Irish beer brands include the Red Irish Ale Smithwicks (founded in 1710) and Harp Lager (founded in 1960).
• Irish Cream and Coffee: Irish Cream is a form of cream liquor that basically mixes dairy cream with Irish Whiskey. One of the most famous of these brands is Baileys (introduced in 1974). Irish Coffee is another popular mixed drink consisting of hot coffee, cream, and Irish whiskey
• Bread: The most common of Irish breads is the flatbread made of oats. Various examples of Irish bread are the Soda Bread, Potato Bread, and the Barmbrack. The Barmbrack consists of raisins and grapes and is traditionally enjoyed on Halloween. 
• Stews: Ireland is famous for their Irish Stews which normally consist of lamb, potatoes, carrots, onions, and parsley. The vegetables and meat can sometimes vary, with goat or mutton serving as an alternate for the lamb. 
• Meat Dishes: Perhaps one of the more traditional Irish dinners is that of Bacon and Cabbage, There are also various mixtures of potatoes, bacon, and sausage such as the popular dish of coddle. Colcannon is a traditional dish of mashed potatoes mixed with kale or cabbage. 
• Seafood: Considering that Ireland is surrounded by water with a heavy Catholic population you would think that Seafood would be their food of choice, however that is not the case. Seafood in Ireland is well below the average consumed by the rest of Europe. Salmon and cod are the two most popular types of seafood eaten in Ireland. 
• Desserts: Popular Irish desserts consist of custard, shortbread, porter cakes, and bread pudding.

Historical Look: Irish War of Independence

So carrying on from my studies of the Progressive Era I now shift my focus to the same time period yet in a different region, across the pond to Ireland. The Irish War of Independence is a historical topic I have always been fascinated with just was waiting for the right time to dive in. Now seems ideal after my past couple months of studying the 1900-1920s. Also with it being the month of March now seems like the perfect time to enter a new phase of Irish culture appreciation. After all I am a quarter Irish on my dad's side, and my late grandma was very proud of her Irish heritage.

The historical event of an uprising, rebellion, or revolution is one that has always best captured my interest. I suppose I just find the whole idea to be quite romantic of the people uniting and rising together against their unjust rulers. We have seen this event many times throughout history, such as the American Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, and so forth. It is an instance in which the people have reached a boiling point, organized, and fought for their independence and political change. Sometimes these uprisings are driving by a desire for independence while other times they are driving by political reform.

The Irish War of Independence could be considered a much smaller version of the American Revolution. While it took place almost 140 years later and hardly involved into real military engagement, it was ultimately a declaration of independence from the mighty British Empire. This movement was not driven by any radical political motives such as the communist sentiment that was overthrowing the empire in Russia. Instead it was driven by a growing patriotic sentiment throughout Ireland to regain it's identity and establish it's own Irish Free State. The Irish people had suffered for some time now and their frustrations had finally reached the tipping point with the onset of World War I.


The Easter Rising

The desire for action finally came in 1916 when the Irish were conflicted in their involvement in WWI and no longer wanted to fight for Britain. An insurrection was thus organized by the Irish Republican Brotherhood on the Easter Week of April 24th, 1916. The rebellion consisted of the Irish Volunteers lead by Patrick Pearse who read and shared the new Proclamation of the Republic outside the General Post Office. He was joined by the Irish Citizen Army of James Connolly and the women council of Cumann na mBan. Throughout Easter Week the rebellion seized key locations throughout Dublin however was crushed by British military after a week.

The Irish resistance had support from the German Army and fought fiercely in the streets of Dublin. However they were no match for the artillery, gunboats, and greater numbers of the British army. The rebellion was finally put down by April 29th and Patrick Pearse signed an unconditional surrender. Pearse, Connolly, and other insurrection leaders were executed by British firing squad. Approximately 480 Irish and British were killed in the fighting and resulted in heavier British occupation. This heightened martial law over Irish territory only spurred the desire for independence. The Easter Uprising became the spark for the independence movement.


The War of Independence

Towards the end of World War 1 in 1918 the Germans lead their final offensive which caused the British to call for new Irish reinforcements. This Irish Conscription Act was the final straw in an already tense relationship and brought about mass demonstrations for nationalism. The election of 1918 was the political turning point for the independence movement, as the Sinn Fein leftist party took 70% of the Irish seats. In January of 1919 the Irish parliament controlled by leftist leaders decided to no longer attend UK Parliament meetings yet rather establish their own parliament which became known as the First Dali. This new First Dali government declared itself a product of the Easter Rising and a free nation that was at war with Britain.

The Irish Volunteer militiamen were re-organized into the Irish Republican Army, also known as the IRA. Their first initiative was to take control of the British Dublin castle administration, which was the headquarters of British influence. Their IRAs tactics were thru guerrilla warfare as they attacked British military posts and freed Irish prisoners. The British responded by strengthening their police force thru new forces such as the Black and Tans and the Auxiliary Division. These British counter-insurgent groups were notorious for their vicious threats and attacks on Irish civilians.

The majority of the early fighting was between the IRA and the RIC (the Royal Irish Constabulary) which was British police force aided by the Black and Tans. However also during this time labor unions began to organize general strikes against railways that were bringing in British soldiers. Dock workers also went on strike against transporting any British war materials into Ireland. By the spring of 1920 the IRA had control of much of the rural side of Ireland, while the British police forces were forced into the cities and began to demoralize.

One of the key leaders of the Independence Movement was Michael Collins. He was the Irish Republic's minister of finance and he also headed up the IRA's intelligence.  Collins was a very charismatic leader and established "the Squad" to drive out British spies and Black and Tan police forces. Collins worked jointly with Richard Mulachy who was the IRA's chief of staff and oversaw much of the guerrilla activity in cities such as Munster and Dublin.

The conflict escalated even further on Nov 21st of 1920 when Collin's squad killed 14 members of the British Intelligence "Cairo Gang". In response the RIC officers drove into Croke Park, during a soccer match and opened fire on the crowd killing 14 civilians. This day of bloodshed infamously became known as Bloody Sunday. Violence continued to spread and intensify throughout the province of Munster and in December of 1920 the center of Cork City was burnt by the British forces.

The winter of 1920 to 1921 was the most violent period of the war, and saw significant death tolls on both sides. The British police force began publicly executing IRA leaders yet this only strengthened the Irish cause and in March of 1921 the Gali government formally declared war on Britain. By the spring of 1921 the conflict had gotten out of hand and the British government began receiving heavy criticism for their handling of the crisis. King George V was especially upset at the actions of the Black and Tans and called for swift resolution. Prime Minister David Lloyd George thus instituted a truce and a treaty.


The Irish Civil War

The first act towards resolution was the Partition of Ireland in May 3rd of 1921. This essentially split Ireland into two territories, North and South. The intention was for both territories to be self-governed provinces of the United Kingdom, however the Southern territory of Ireland had different ideas. In June of 1921 the British and Irish agreed to a ceasefire to discuss a new treaty. In December of 1921 Irish leaders, Michael Collins and Arthur Griffin met with British prime minister David Lloyd George to sign the Anglo-Irish treaty. This recognized the southern territory of Ireland as a free nation, under the "dominion" of the British Empire.

However there were many within the newly established Free State of Ireland who felt dissatisfied with the Ango-Irish Treaty, specifically because they were still under the dominion of the British Empire. This eventually led to the Irish Civil War in June of 1922 with brought on infighting between those who supported an Irish Free State against those who preferred an Irish Republic. This 10 month conflict pinned former IRA members against one another.

Michael Collins lead the National Army of the Irish Free State against Eamon de Valera and the Republic Army who was against the treaty. Collins felt that this treaty was a necessary stepping stone to achieving ultimate independence, or as he put it, "it was a freedom to achieve freedom". However he was ambushed and assassinated by Irish Republic forces in August of 1922. Despite this loss the National Army was able to subdue the Republic Army thanks to provisional support from the British government. The Civil War ended in May of 1923 with the Irish Free State retaining control.

Nonetheless Ireland remained in political dispute years after this civil war concerning how they were to be recognized. In 1937 a second Constitution was adapted by the Irish Parliament which recognized Ireland not under the dominion of Britain yet rather as it's own sovereign state.It thenceforth became known as the Republic of Ireland. While Britain disapproved of this claim, they did not take any major action, perhaps due to the oncoming storm of World War II and their control of Northern Ireland. Nonetheless from then on the Ireland had finally achieved it's independence. 

TV Series: Bates Motel

Last night I finished the TV series Bates Motel and found it to be very entertaining and well written. It aired from March 2013 to April of 2017 with 5 total seasons produced by the A&E network and shared on Netflix. The premise of the show is a prequel to the character of Norman Bates portrayed in Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1960 film, Psycho. I usually tend to dislike this type of genre that is crime, thriller, or horror related, but I do appreciate classic cinema and pop-culture references. And the film Psycho is often considered one of the greatest horror films of all time.

Also I enjoy the actress Vera Farmiga and find her to be quite enticing on the screen. She brilliantly plays Norman's possessive mother, Norma (of which we only see the corpse of from the movie). The psychotic character of Norman Bates is played by the young and convincing Freddie Highmore. He is innocent and sweet yet falls further and further into madness as the show progresses. Both actors went on to win critical acclaim for their dramatic performances and the show for me ranks up there with some of my favorites.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho

I suppose first it's best to describe the source material which is that of Hitchcock's film, Psycho. The film is often regarded as Hitchcock's greatest work and often considered among the greatest films of all time. It demonstrated unusual plot twists, sexual elements, psychotic themes, and a graphic display of violence for it's time. The infamous shower stabbing scene was no doubt the film's greatest claim to fame and has become a pop-culture reference today. 

The film's most iconic character is the antagonist Norman Bates. He is a motel manager who appears to be a sweet young man living with his mother. However we later find out in the film, that his mother is dead and Norman is psychotically imitating her thru a multiple personality disorder. When he becomes his mother he slashes out at others who want to get in the way of their relationship. The film ends with Norman being caught and institutionalized which gives an open end to the character. Numerous sequels, spin-offs, and books have expanded on this intriguing character.

The Characters of Bates Motel

The TV series is somewhat of a loose adaptation of the original movie with several major differences. For starters the show takes place in modern day Oregon where as in the movie, the motel was located in California. Also the movie took place at present day 1960, so if this were to be a true prequel it should be set in the 1950s rather than the 2010s. However the biggest difference was no doubt the ending which completely breaks away from the original film plot. I found this ending to the show to be very surprising, but I'll get into this later. For now I'm going to describe the characters of the show.

Norman Bates: (Played by Freddie Highmore) I remember watching Freddie Highmore as a kid in various movies such as Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and August Rush but this role as the iconic Norman Bates was no doubt his breakthrough coming-of-age performance. This character appears extremely sweet and innocent on the outside yet is extremely perturbed on the inside. From an early age he experiences blackouts, one of which he murders his abusive father, causing his mother to rellocate them to Oregon. His mother is extremely protective and possessive of him, which only worsens his condition throughout the series. Norman commits several murders throughout the series, often in the guise of his mother, which we later discover is his split personality. His relationship with his mother is a very complicated one in which he despises her for her control yet he also can't live without her. His madness reaches full flight when he murders his mother, digs her out of the grave, and brings her back to live with him. He continues to experience blackouts and imitates his mother whenever he feels stressed out. Norman Bates is the ultimate case of bipolar disorder disorder. 

Norma Bates: (played by Vera Farmiga) I've been a fan of the actress Vera Farmiga since I first saw her in The Departed. I've also enjoyed her performances in The Boy in Striped Pajamas, Up in the Air, and Henry's Crime. She's has a unique quality about her character I find to be quite alluring (maybe it's the Ukrainian eyes). Nonetheless she is a big part of the reason I began watching this show and can argue this is probably her best role to date. She plays the domineering mother of Norman Bates. While Norma's character is portrayed as a bit worrisome and over-protective, her primary interest is that of her troubled son, Norman. She displays very strong qualities of business management yet also has a darker side of manipulation and constant scheming. She constantly covers up her son's crimes and can not fully convince herself that he needs to be institutionalized. Norma eventually does start to seek help for her son's insanity when she begins a relationship with Sheriff Romero. However seeing the affect it has on her son, she calls the entire relationship off with Romero. Norman however has been filled with anger and jealousy over being institutionalized and orchestrates a murder-suicide thru carbon monoxide. He lies with his mother in bed, as the gases from the furnace kill his mother, while Norman is able to survive.

Dylan Masset: (played by Max Thieriot) He is the distant half-brother of Norman who has also has a complicated relationship with his mother, Norma. He is strong and independent and wants to be a part of the family, but has trouble getting between Norman and Norma. He later discovers that he is the product of an incestuous relationship with Norma and her elder brother who raped her. Dylan eventually meets his father and gets involved in a drug business for a while before breaking free of it. He later gets married to one of Norman's friends Emma, and moves away from the family. In the final season Dylan returns to help his lonely brother Norman and ends up killing him in a scuffle they have.

Emma Decody: (played by Olivia Cooke) She suffers from cystic fibrosis in the first few seasons and develops a friendship with Norman. She works at the motel and gets a first hand account of Norman's strange behavior as well as his mother's domineering character. She later stops working at the motel and grows close to Norman's brother Dylan. They eventually get married together and have a child.

Alex Romero: (played by Nestor Carbonell) He is the town's sheriff who is often called in on cases pertaining to Norman. However he develops feelings for Norman's mother, Norma which brings a conflict of interest to his investigative duties. He later marries Norma in order to help fund Norman's medical treatment, however is arrested for perjury charges. In season 5 he is driven mad with vengeance as he escapes prison to murder Norman. He is however shocked at the site of Norma's dead frozen body and in turn Norman kills him.

Bradley Martin: (played by Nicola Peltz) She is the popular and attractive classmate of Norman who develops a friendship and even a romantic relationship with him. However she later gets in trouble with the law, and flees town. She tries to convince Norman to join her and Norman initially agrees, until he has a blackout episode and takes on his mother's persona to kill her.

Caleb Calhoun: (played by Kenny Johnson) He is the elder brother of Norma and incestuous father of Dylan. He raped Norma as a child yet also claimed that he defended her from their abusive father. When he returns to town, Norma wants nothing to do with him and accidentally tells Dylan that he is the product of an incestuous relationship causing Dylan to leave the family. Caleb gets closer with his son, while working on a pot farm and even helps Dylan break clean from the dangerous business. In season 5 Caleb is imprisoned by Norman, in the guise of Norma, and later hit by a car and killed in at attempt to escape.


The Season Finale

The biggest problem I had with this show was how it ended, which was not quite in line with the original movie. I anticipated that this show was a prequel that would explain the death of Norman's mother and how he got to be the sole manager of the Bates Motel. Instead the show completely re-wrote the original version by taking some parts from the 1960 story and essentially bringing the story to an abrupt end rather then it's open ending that came from the movie.

The iconic character of Marion Crane (who was stabbed in the shower in the 1960 film) played a minor role in Season 5 (played by Rihanna) however not the same role she had in the movie. She visited the motel to await her lover, and did have a friendly exchange with Norman. However unlike the movie, Norman convinced her to leave and instead killed not her but her lover in the shower. At this point it became clear that the show was no longer a prequel with intentions to lead up to the movie. Instead season 5 had merged with the timeline from the movie and was now incorporating material from the movie's story line.

In the final conclusion of the show, Norman was facing multiple murder trials and his escape was looking very unlikely. However there was an X factor in the plot thanks to Sheriff Romero and his quest for mad vengeance. He managed to break Norman out of prison to take him to see the dead corpse of Norma. Norman was then able to kill the sheriff and return to the motel, leaving question as to when the cops would find him. However before the cops could discover where Norman he invited his brother Dylan over to have dinner with their dead mom. This was too much for Dylan to bear and lead to a heated argument urging Norman to get medical help. At which point Norman charged Dylan with a knife and Dylan shot Norman dead. As Norman died he thanked Dylan for re-uniting him with his mother.

In summary the show offers an incredible deep dive into the mind of the psychotic character that is Norman Bates. It presents a setting of characters and story-lines that impact Norman's unique multi-layered personality. Throughout the 5 seasons we experience Norman fall further and further into madness, no thanks of course to the stubborn control of his mother. While the show somewhat goes of course from the movie's original plot, it is still a very well written series. The critically acclaimed performances of Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga make this show all the more entertaining.  would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys crime shows or psychological thrillers. 

Historical Look: Progressive Era

Now turning the page from the Gilded Age to the next chapter in American history would be that of the Progressive Era. This period is generally defined as the turn of the 20th century to the conclusion of WWI (1900-1920). It was a time of economic reform and political activism throughout the nation. It began with one of our greatest presidents, Theodore Roosevelt who introduced a new dogmatic approach to the nation. He was not to be intimidated by the industrial titans from the Gilded Age such as Rockefeller or JP Morgan. Rather he re-instituted the strength of the American government and ushered in an era of industrial reform and regulation.

Another thing that stands out for me when I consider this historical period is the political activism that occurred during this time. It was an era of public upheaval no doubt in response to the major difference in wealth distribution that occurred during the Gilded Age. Quite frankly the majority of the nation felt it was time for the few wealthy industrialists, known as the "robber barons" to share their spoils. It was during this time that new anti-capitalist ideals began to spread from Russia, such as communism, socialism, and anarchism.

Ultimately during this time America was able to find a middle ground between extreme capitalism and extreme communism. In doing so the government put stricter regulations on major businesses, and ushered in new principles against monopolies and promoting fair trade. It was a compromise that continued to spur the American free-market economy while also establishing a new middle class society. It's a balance that still stands to this day in which the wealthy pay more taxes than the poor.

One of the most significant political reforms that occurred during this era was brought on by the women's suffragette movement. The movement was many years in the making, however began to gain steam at the turn of the century thanks to new progressive ideals. Throughout the early 1900's the nation saw many women taking to the streets and protesting for the right to vote as well as receive better work wages. By 1920 they finally got their wish with the passing of the 19th amendment which guaranteed women the right to vote.


Political and Economic Reform

During the Gilded Age the country was run by wealthy business moguls such as JP Morgan and Rockefeller. These powerful capitalists were able to influence the political nature of the government by paying for their candidates. From the end of the Civil War to the end of the 19th century there was a string of presidents often referred to as the "forgettable presidents' because they did not offer any effective policy changes. During this time it was the industrial titans who were able to dictate the country's affairs based on their personal business interests.

This all changed however after the Panic of 1893 where the government had to change their laissez-faire economic attitude to intercede on failing businesses. The election of William McKinley in 1896 is often considered the most significant president since Abraham Lincoln. While he was still backed by the wealthy elite, he represented a new stronger leadership and the re-emergence of the Republican Party. His 2nd term was cut short by assassination in 1901, however he was seceded by an even more imposing figure in Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt was not to be intimidated by the wealthy elite, and for this reason he is considered the leader of the Progressive movement. Throughout his presidency he became a charismatic populist leader of the people instituting new economic and social reforms. He introduced a system of "Square Deal" policies that favored the working class citizen. Through new regulations on big businesses and breaking of bad trusts he was able to promote the middle class.

Roosevelt also made conservation one of his top priorities overseeing various developments of natural parks and monuments. He pushed for the construction of the Panama Canal to expedite travel and shipments from the east coast to the west coast. This monumental project began in 1904 and was completed after his presidency in 1914. Thru his progressive ideals he was able to completely shift the dynamic of America's social structure. For this he is often considered the fifth greatest president of all time (after Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR).

The progressive ideals demonstrated by Roosevelt carried over after his presidency continuing to strengthen the government over capital influence. By 1911 the Supreme Court ruled against Rockefeller's Monopoly and broke up his company. There was also major bank transformations during this time that introduced new practices of cooperative banking and credit union. In 1913 the Federal Reserve System was established in response to the Panic of 1907, as the nation's central bank.

William Howard Taft's presidency could be considered a conservative counter to the growing progressive sentiment. For this reason his predecessor Roosevelt chose to break away from his Republican Party and run against Taft in the 1912 presidential election. (Roosevelt was permitted one more presidential term, since his first term was filling in for McKinley after his assassination). Roosevelt established a new political party known as the Bull Moose Party, which was a progressive faction of the Republicans. This division in the Republican Party however lead the Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson to win the election.

Similar to Roosevelt, Wilson ushered in even further progressive agenda thru his own program called the "New Freedom". This agenda broke up bank trusts, lowered tariffs, and implemented a federal income tax. Wilson was influential in establishing the Federal Reserve System, keeping America neutral for the first three years of WWI, and establishing the League of Nations in 1918. For all this Woodrow Wilson is also considered a father of the Progressive Movement and one of the top 10 greatest American presidents of all time.


Women's Suffrage Movement

Perhaps the most definitive historical event of the Progressive Era was the Women's Suffragette Movement. The movement was many years in the making however established stronger organization at the turn of the 19th century. American women were ultimately protesting for better rights, specifically the right to vote. The movement's culmination came with the victorious passing of the 19th amendment in 1920 which finally gave women the right to vote.

The women's suffragette movement began to first take shape in the 1850s with the first ever National Women's Rights Convention organized by Lucy Stone. Popular activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony helped grow the effort thru the establishment of the Women's National Loyal League in 1863. This group was against slavery and in support of the union's passage of the 13th amendment. It lead to further organization and demonstrations of women's suffragette activism.

Perhaps the key event in the history of the women's suffragette movement was the merging of the NSWA (led by Stanton and Susan B. Anthony) and the AWSA organization (led by Lucy Stone) into one central organization known as the National American Womens Suffragete Association (NAWSA) in 1890. The key dominant leader of the new organization was Susan B. Anthony, and it's membership quickly grew from 7 thousand to 2 million. Several other prominent groups came from this organization such as the National Woman's Party and the League of Women Voters which both still operate today. Here is a list of some of the influential leaders of the suffragette movement;

• Susan B Anthony: One of the key leaders of the suffragette movement and founder of the NSWA and NAWSA organizations
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton: 1st president of NAWSA
• Lucy Stone: Helped organize the first 8 national women's conventions as well as establish the American Womens Suffrage Association
• Alice Paul: Formed the National Women's Party in 1916
• Carrie Chapman Catt: 2nd president of NAWSA and founder of League of Women Voters

Muckraker Journalism

By the turn of the century newspaper publications began to grow in popularity thanks to the new format of "yellow journalism". The general concept was to increase circulation thru sensationalizing news stories especially in topics of scandal, crime, or entertainment. This method was introduced by popular newspaper publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst as a means to increase sales. The headlines were much more dramatic while the stories were full of juicy details that exposed wealthy politicians or business leaders. In 1906 Theodore Roosevelt described this investigate journalists as "muckrakers" and the term stuck.

Instances of muckraking journalism could be dated back to the 1870s with notable journalism exposing the political corruption of William Tweed. One of the first notable muckrakers, often considered the original muckraker, was Julius Chambers who wrote for the New York Tribune. He exposed the maltreatment of inmates at the Bloomingdale Asylum in 1872. This publication was very popular with readers and demonstrated the value of investigative journalism.

Magazine publications such as the Collier's Weekly, Munseys, and McClure's Magazine became popular features during the Progressive Era. These magazines specialized in investigative deep reports on business or political scandals. Lincoln Steffens was one of the first notable muckrakers from the magazine. In 1902 he released a groundbreaking article in 1902, known as the Tweed Days in St. Louis, in which he exposed a corrupt ring of leaders in St. Louis. Perhaps one of the most famous muckrakers of all time was Ida M. Tarbell who also got her start with Mclure's Magazine.

In 1904 Tarbell released a series of investigative articles exposing the inner-workings of Rockefeller's Standard Oil empire. Her articles were later published in a book, The History of the Standard Oil Company, which to this day is considered a masterpiece of investigative journalism. Her investigation brought on the eventual dissolution of the Standard Oil monopoly as well as paved the way for various anti-trust legislation such as the Hepburn Act, Mann-Elkins Act, Clayton Anti-Trust Act, and the Federal Trade Commission.

Another significant muckraker was Upton Sinclair, who was not a journalist yet rather an author. His 1906 novel The Jungle gave an in-depth account of  the meat-packing industry and demonstrated the very hazardous work conditions of the industry. Sinclair spent 7 weeks in Chicago collecting investigative research on the industry, and for this reason his book is considered a definitive muckraking example. The popularity of the book brought on the establishment of the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act.

Muckrakers thrived during the Progressive Era for various reasons. Thru their investigative accounts they were able to significantly rise the sales of newspaper publications. Their articles also brought about progressive reform in the nations industrial and political sectors. By 1915 their influence began to fade a bit due to corporate backdoor dealings and many of the magazines went bankrupt. However by this point the muckrakers had more-or-less exposed all the major industrial flaws and were ultimately a positive thing for society. While the term muckraker could be considered outdated today the practice of investigative journalism is still an effective way to sale publications and encourage political change.

Here is a list of some of the most iconic muckrakers during the Progressive Era;

• Julius Chambers: Wrote for New York Tribune; exposed psychiatric abuse
• Nellie Bly: Wrote for the New York World; published Ten Days in a Mad-House to expose patient abuse in a mental hospital
• Ray Stannard Baker: Wrote for McClures Magazine and The American Magazine exposed racial injustices
• Lincoln Steffens: Wrote for McClures Magazine; published Tweed Days in St. Louis, to expose political corruption in the city of St. Louis. 
• Ida M. Tarbell: Wrote for McClures Magazine; published The History of Standard Oil Company which exposed John D. Rockefeller's unfair monopoly
• Upton Sinclair: Author whose released of the novel, The Jungle, completely exposed the harsh and unsanitary work environment of the meat packing industry
• William Irwin: Wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle, McClures, and Colliers Magazine; exposed San Francisco's corrupt dealings and Japanese racism
• David Graham Phillips: Wrote for the Cosmopolitan; published the Treason of Senate which exposed corruption and bribes in the senate
• Jacob Riis: Photojournalists who published How the Other Half Lives, which was a portfolio of photographs demonstrating the slums and impoverish of New York City
• Ida B. Wells: Wrote The Free Speech which exposed lynchings of African-Americans as well injustices for women's rights
• Gustavus Myers: Published the History of Tammany Hall which exposed the corruption of business and politics in New York City
• John Spargo: Published the Bitter Cry of Children which exposed the unfair conditions of child labor
• Florence Kelley: She was an activist who published numerous investigative articles demonstrating the unfair conditions of sweatshops and working rights for women and children 

Emma Goldman and First Red Scare

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the Progressive Era (in my opinion) was the rise of leftism politics. This age brought on the development of communism, socialism, and anarchism, based out of Russia and the writings of Karl Marx. This anti-capitalist, anti-industrialist sentiment was no doubt a global response to the Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age. Workers began to unite and demand better pay for what they considered a very unfair system of wealth distribution. In 1917 the Bolshevik Communist Uprising in Russia, brought on a global spread of communism. The leftist ideals of the Bolshevik Party began to spread throughout the streets of the USA, in which the government considered a Red Scare.

Most of my fascination with the Progressive Era and especially the First Red Scare is derived from one of my all time favorite movies, Reds. The film tells the true story of journalist John Jack Reed, and his dealings with notable anarchists, suffragettes, and Bolsheviks during this era. He was married to Louis Bryant and together they witnessed the October Revolution in Russia in 1917. This historical event inspired Reed to publish his famous Ten Days that Shook the World. Reed later came back to his home country to establish the first Communist Political Party of US, however he did not live long enough to see the party take flight. The movie does a great job at demonstrating the tense political setting of the time and also portrays Emma Goldman as one of the leading figures of the leftist movement.

Emma Goldman could be considered one of the definitive leaders of the progressive era. She was a Jewish Russian immigrant who came to New York City in 1885 in search of political freedom. Emma was a very well educated Nihilist meaning she did not believe in any religion and that life was meaningless. She was however very intrigued by left-wing politics and quickly established a network in New York City. She met notable anarchists in the city such as Johann Most and Alexander Berkman. Goldman was inspired by the speeches of Most, and eventually became a public speaker herself. She also began a romantic relationship with Alexander Berkman and together they established the roots of the American Anarchist movement.

Goldman became an advocate for worker strikes and supported the Homestead Strike of 1892. After the strike was put down by Pinkerton guards she plotted with her lover Berkman to assassinate the manager of Carnegie's Steel Company, Henry Clay Frick. The assassination attempt was however unsuccessful and Berkman was sentenced to 22 years in prison for attempted murder. Goldman thus took on the leadership of the anarchist movement, using Berkman's deed as a means of propaganda.

During the economic Panic of 1893 she gave public speeches in the streets of New York City encouraging unemployed workers to rise up and riot. She was eventually arrested for inciting riots, and spent a year in prison in which she studied famous activist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Walt Whitman, and John Stuart Mill. After her prison sentence she began touring giving public speeches of anarchist ideology. By this point she was a well known social activist published and glorified by the news media and feared by the government.

Her movement took serious ramifications when one of Goldman's followers, Leon Czolgosz, assassinated president William McKinley at the 1901 Pan Am Expo in Buffalo. Goldman was tried for third degree murder however she claimed she had no contact or knowledge of Czolgosz plot to assassinate the president. Although Goldman was found innocent of the murder she was vilified by the press and received heavy scorn as the priestess of anarchy.

Goldman briefly left the movement for a couple years, however when the Anarchist Exclusion Act of 1903 was passed she returned to the forefront of the cause. She began a magazine publication in 1906 named Mother Earth speaking out against unfair regulations, trials, and deportations of anarchists. Her lover Berkman, was released from prison in 1907 and after contemplating suicide he took the helm of Goldman's magazine publication while she toured the world giving speeches on anarchism.

She continued to write and give speeches on topics ranging from anarchism, feminism, immigration, sexuality, and birth control. She was highly regarded for her passionate oratory and drew mass gatherings at many of her speeches. During WWI she began a new campaign in her magazine as well as thru speeches against US involvement in the war. When the US entered the war in 1917 a draft was passed and Goldman started the No Conscription League as a protest group against the draft. She and Berkman were eventually arrested, tried, and found guilty of conspiracy. She was sentenced to two years in prison.

During her time in prison two major political events happened. First was the Bolshevik Uprising of 1917, in which the people of Russia lead by Vladmir Putin and Leon Trotsky overthrew the Russia Monarchy to establish a new Communist government. 2nd was the Anarchist Bombings of 1919 coordinated by Italian anarchist Luigi Galleani. This plot involved 36 booby trap bombs at the residence of prominent business and political figures such as JP Morgan Jr, Mitchell Palmer, and John D. Rockefeller. As a result of these bombings attorney general Mitchell Palmer and his young associate John Edgar Hoover coordinated the Palmer Raids. This was a series of political arrests and deportations of known anarchist agitators. Upon Emma Goldman's release in Sept of 1919 she and her lover Berkman were also deported back to Russia. This marked the demise of the First Red Scare.    

Titans of Industry: PT Barnum

I'm just not quite done yet with this fascination on iconic American capitalists. This time I draw my attention to the famous businessman, PT Barnum. While PT Barnum was not near the wealth level of Rockefeller or Carnegie he was still no doubt a titan of industry. His industry was in the business of entertainment. His American Museum of Curiosities was unlike anything the country had witnessed before. The site was a defining staple of New York City in the 1850s and eventually had a national and worldwide appeal. PT Barnum's museum and shows could be considered a precursor to the modern day circus as well as the establishment of the Broadway theater business. For this reason PT Barnum is often considered the Greatest Showman who ever lived and an definitive American capitalist.

Now just like everything else I write about in this blog, the inspiration always seems to come from a movie I watch. This time it was the film, The Greatest Showman that brought about the interest. The film was released in 2017 and stars Hugh Jackman in the title role, and his 2nd major Hollywood musical film (after Les Miserables of course). I first saw this film on a plane ride to Sacramento last year and was especially inspired by the music of the movie. Some of my favorite songs included "This is Me", "From Now On", and especially "Never Enough" by the beautiful Loren Allred. I would rank this film in some of my all time favorite musical films alongside Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story, etc.

And while this film, The Greatest Showman, brought on my interest into Barnum, it wasn't the first time I heard of this historical name. His character was also portrayed in another of my favorite  movies, Gangs of New York. For me the name Barnum has been synonymous with the circus business since I can remember. Personally I am not a fan of circus acts, clowns, freak-shows, and the Broadway scene in general. However I am a fan of history, and cannot deny that PT Barnum was a very influential figure in American business and entertainment.

Early Life of PT Barnum

He was born into a middle class family in Bethel, Connecticut, his father was a tailor and storekeeper. At a young age Barnum displayed a tact for business and had many ventures before he became a showman. Some of these included real estate, general store management, book trade, selling of lottery tickets, and a newspaper publication called the Herald of Freedom. He fought against Calvinist conservative oppression in the Connecticut region and became a champion of the liberal movement. In 1835 he moved to New York City to begin his career in show business.

One of his first major exhibits was an African slave woman he purchased named, Joice Heth. She was old, paralyzed, and blind and Barnum convinced his audiences that she was the 161 year old caretaker of George Washington. He later expanded his business into a variety show with various exhibits and performers, it became known as "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater". However he experienced low profit during this time due to the economic downturn of the Panic of 1837.

Barnum's American Museum of Curiosities

In 1841 Barnum made his greatest gamble yet by purchasing the Scudder American Museum on the busy corner of Broadway and Ann Street. He renovated the building with new attractions and renamed it Barnum's American Museum. The building's exterior itself quickly became a major point of interest in the district. It was dosed with colorful flags, paintings, posters, a garden on the roof which offered balloon rides and views of the city, and a lighthouse lamp that gleamed at night. Then of course there were the exhibits inside which ranged from wax figures, exotic animals, and various entertainers.

Barnum was able to increase attendance thru great advertising, promotions, sales gimmicks, hoaxes, and sensationalism. He quickly began recruiting some of the most odd people in the area which he referred to as his people of curiosities. This included dwarfs, giants, albinos, foreign people, extremely overweight people, and a bearded lady. One of Barnum's first popular hoaxes was the "Feejee Mermaid" which he claimed was a half human half fish found off the island of Fiji. This was in truth the head of a dead monkey sewed on to the body of a large fish.

One of Barnum's most popular early acts was that of General Tom Thumb. He was a young performing dwarf who could sing, dance, act, and imitate famous people. In 1843 PT Barnum traveled to perform for Queen Victoria, and General Tom Thumb was a huge hit with the queen. This visit heightened the popularity and success of PT Barnum. By 1846 his museum was drawing nearly 400,000 visitors a year.

Some of his other famous curiosities, often referred to as "Barnum's freaks" by the general public included;

• General Tom Thumb, this witty dwarf was his first and most famous sideshow
• the bearded lady
• the human caterpillar, a man born without legs or arms
• Jo-Jo the dog faced boy
• the living skeleton, an extremely thin man weighing less than 50 pounds
• Zip the Pinhead, a former slave with an abnormally small head
• Commodore Nutt, dwarf entertainer who dressed in naval uniforms
• Anna Swan, was a Canadian giant woman standing at 7'll feet tall
• Chang &Eng, conjoined twins from the island of Siam. These two were such a popular act they are the reason today conjoined twins are referred to as Siamese twins

During it's 20 plus years of operation, Barnum's Museum experienced great success yet also heavy criticism. It was often viewed by some as a complete freak show and a place that lacked morality. Barnum made various efforts to dissuade this criticism, thru theater shows, educational exhibits, and the first ever aquarium. However the museum was constantly in the news for it's outlandish stories and caught on fire various times. One of the most famous of these fires was that in 1865 where animals were seen jumping out of the windows. This included a bengal tiger that attacked the onlookers and had to be killed by a fireman. Barnum was able to open a new museum after this, however it also caught on fire in 1868 leading Barnum to move on to other things.    

Jenny Lind Tour and Theater Business

During his visit to Europe in the 1840s, PT Barnum became aware of the popular singer Jenny Lind, known as the "Swedish Nightingale". In an effort to change his public image from a master of freaks, he convinced Jenny Lind to perform in America. She agreed to the partnership at a hefty price so she could fun charities at her homeland of Sweden. The tour had major publicity thanks to Barnum's advertising and brought on a fervor of "Lind-Mania". Her first show in the states was on Sept. 11th, 1850 in the Castle Garden of New York and was a major success.

With Barnum's management and Lind's beautiful voice, the two made great profits on the tour. They traveled throughout the East Coast, the southern states, and as far as Cuba. Attendance was so high at each show, Barnum began auctioning off tickets, however Lind was distressed by this sort of commercialism. She eventually grew tired of his relentless promotions and business schemes and broke off the partnership in 1851. She did 93 shows under Barnum's management and finished her tour under her own management by 1852. It was perhaps one of the first major musical tours in American history.

Following the end of his partnership with Jenny Lind, Barnum was inspired to build upon his theater business. By 1853 he built the largest modern theater in New York City known as the Moral Lecture Room. His intention was once again to dissuade his business from a "den of evils" and  provide good moral entertainment for middle class families. He organized various shows at this theater ranging from plays, concerts, minstrels, melodramas, farces, lectures, flower shows, beauty contests, dog shows, and even baby contests. He also promoted some of the first ever day-time shows known as matinees to lessen the fear of crime.

Political and Circus Career

Towards the end of his museum business, PT Barnum had a brief stint in politics. He changed parties from Democrat to Republican, convincing the public he had changed his attitudes towards slavery and now stood against it. He was elected in 1866 as a state representative for Connecticut and served one full term until 1869. He later served as mayor of Bridgeport, CT for a year in 1875 and helped establish the Bridgeport Hospital in 1878.

Barnum's greatest fortune however did not come until he was in his 60s when he got involved in the circus business. In 1870 he established "PT Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome". This was essentially his museum on wheels, demonstrating his exhibits, animals, and entertainers in a three-ring format. One of the largest attractions of his traveling circus was a giant elephant he bought from Europe known as "Jumbo". Barnum's circus went thru various name changes over the years but in 1881 he merged with ringmaster James Bailey to establish the "Barnum and Bailey's Circus". By the turn of the century it was described as the Greatest Show on Earth.

PT Barnum eventually passed on the management of his circus business to his younger business partners. His traveling circus by train was one of the first of it's kind and paved the way for a booming industry at the turn of the century. In 1891 Barnum died of a stroke at the age of 80. His circus business was sold to the Ringling Brothers in 1907. It still operated as it's own show however until 1919 when it was merged into the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. This circus operated for 147, and just recently shut down in 2017. It is without question the most iconic circus in American history, much thanks to the innovative ambition displayed by PT Barnum. He was an American titan of the circus and entertainment business.