Philosophy
The New York World’s Fair of 1939 and 1940 promised visitors they would be looking at the “World of Tomorrow.” Not everything they saw there came true, but plenty was close. One reason for that was the fair’s own lasting influence on American architecture and industrial design.
It was a futuristic city inspired by the pages — and covers — of pulp science fiction: huge geometric shapes, sweeping curves, plenty of glass and chromium, and gleaming white walls. The fair was the last great blossoming of the Streamlined Moderne style of Art Deco. It was also heavily influenced by the still-rising International Style of such architects as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
What people saw at the fair, they wanted for themselves. And when World War II ended, the American consumer machine began giving them what they wanted, or at least what they thought they wanted, or maybe even what the marketers thought the public thought they wanted.
The fair also influenced sci-fi art, both in print and in the set design of hundreds of movies and TV shows, continuing to shape our collective notions of what tomorrow is all about.
1939 New York World's Fair [Wikipedia]
- Free And Fair Elections
Whenever an aspiring democracy sends its citizens to the polls, we hear that monitors are on the ground to determine if the election was free and fair. Now, an election could certainly be free without being fair, say, if there was no intimidation of voters...
- Fair Price And Market Price
Picking up on yesterday's discussion, let's consider the difference between morality and the marketplace. What is the fair price for something? When you go to, say, the Kelley Blue Book site, they will tell you what the fair market value for any...
- Trylon And Perisphere At The New York World's Fair 1939
Trylon and Perisphere [Wikipedia] 1939 New York World's Fair [Wikipedia]...
- Wallace Carothers, Nylon, Nylon Stockings--oh My!
In 1939, nylon yarn was sold to hosiery mills to make women's stockings; marking the first use of commercial yarn for apparel. The product of DuPont, Wilmington, Deleware, enabled a record number of ladies' hose to go on sale for the first time...
- Poly [methyl Methacrylate] And The Transparent Car...a 1939 Pontiac
A transparent car brought to you by General Motors and Rohm and Haas Company...and shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Not so much to show off the automobile but introduce the world to plastics. "1939 Clear Car Showcases Miracle of Plexiglas"...
Philosophy
71 years ago and promises of the future
"1939’s ‘World of Tomorrow’ Shaped Our Today"
by
Jon Snyder
April 29th, 2010
Wired
by
Jon Snyder
April 29th, 2010
Wired
The New York World’s Fair of 1939 and 1940 promised visitors they would be looking at the “World of Tomorrow.” Not everything they saw there came true, but plenty was close. One reason for that was the fair’s own lasting influence on American architecture and industrial design.
It was a futuristic city inspired by the pages — and covers — of pulp science fiction: huge geometric shapes, sweeping curves, plenty of glass and chromium, and gleaming white walls. The fair was the last great blossoming of the Streamlined Moderne style of Art Deco. It was also heavily influenced by the still-rising International Style of such architects as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
What people saw at the fair, they wanted for themselves. And when World War II ended, the American consumer machine began giving them what they wanted, or at least what they thought they wanted, or maybe even what the marketers thought the public thought they wanted.
The fair also influenced sci-fi art, both in print and in the set design of hundreds of movies and TV shows, continuing to shape our collective notions of what tomorrow is all about.
1939 New York World's Fair [Wikipedia]
- Free And Fair Elections
Whenever an aspiring democracy sends its citizens to the polls, we hear that monitors are on the ground to determine if the election was free and fair. Now, an election could certainly be free without being fair, say, if there was no intimidation of voters...
- Fair Price And Market Price
Picking up on yesterday's discussion, let's consider the difference between morality and the marketplace. What is the fair price for something? When you go to, say, the Kelley Blue Book site, they will tell you what the fair market value for any...
- Trylon And Perisphere At The New York World's Fair 1939
Trylon and Perisphere [Wikipedia] 1939 New York World's Fair [Wikipedia]...
- Wallace Carothers, Nylon, Nylon Stockings--oh My!
In 1939, nylon yarn was sold to hosiery mills to make women's stockings; marking the first use of commercial yarn for apparel. The product of DuPont, Wilmington, Deleware, enabled a record number of ladies' hose to go on sale for the first time...
- Poly [methyl Methacrylate] And The Transparent Car...a 1939 Pontiac
A transparent car brought to you by General Motors and Rohm and Haas Company...and shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Not so much to show off the automobile but introduce the world to plastics. "1939 Clear Car Showcases Miracle of Plexiglas"...