Harjot Dhaliwal
GSI: Tara
Phillips
Section 103
Thomas Edison: The Inventor’s American Dream
Deemed
incompetent and self-centered in school and isolated from the realm of public
schooling (Beals), Thomas Edison might have been deemed as a failure to many, but many
few knew that he would revolutionize the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and shine the
U.S. under a new a light. Only in school for three months before getting kicked
out of elementary school, Edison obtained informal education from his mother (Beals).
Intrigued early on with English literature, history and the works of Newton,
Edison was full of curiosity and questions (Beals). He always had a need to question
his surroundings and, despite, having
poor hearing, he always acquired knowledge in his own style and questioned
every bit of knowledge he learned (Beals). Thus, due to this need for knowledge, he
began to study telegraph technology and electrical science along with
experimenting and inventing new technology (edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm). However, like the average American of the
time, Edison faced many struggles, had a hard time finding a job and making money (Beals).
Edison invented fire alarms, stock tickers, and electrographic vote recorder (www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions; edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm.) The
piece of technology that eventually gave Edison ultimate success was the
creation of the stock ticker (Beals). Later on, after setting up his own laboratory in
Menlo Park in New Jersey, Edison’s inventor career took off as he contributed to the invention of the kinetograph and kinetoscope, developed the phonograph and
began to install his own improved electrical systems (Beals; edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm; www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions).
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| The Kinetoscope |
The most important invention that Edison,
and his co research associate William Dickson, created was a motion picture
camera in Edison’s West Orange laboratory (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). This was a co-invention product, but
often Edison receives the credit (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). Edison, Dickson and muckers, invented the kinetograph in which a long film was wrapped around a
wheel and it took pictures so fast that they appeared to move (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pcitures.htm) . The key piece of
invention that Edison and the muckers created was the Kinetoscope (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm ; www.thomasedison/org/index.php/education/inventions). The
Kinetoscope was a machine in which individuals peeped through and could watch
silent, motion movies that lasted from 20 to 30 seconds (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). During the time of
this invention, many individuals were working on motion pictures (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm), but Edison
and his lab’s creation of the Kinetoscope was different because it contributed
to the development of American culture. After the invention of the Kinetoscope,
Edison and his colleagues had to figure out a way of utilizing it, thus, they
first created a stage that was build of tar paper, wooden planks and looked
like a odd building (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). This stage was termed the “Black Maria” where many early
short films were produced (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). The result of the invention of Kinetoscope led to
the creation of Kinetoscope parlors in which individuals could watch movies in
the machine (www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm). It is possible, in my opinion, these parlors served as part of the
new era in which individuals could converse and communicate with each other and
also view films that reflected upon society and its nuisances. The short films
that Edison Studios produced appear to show many normal human behaviors, famous
people, new modes of traveling, technology, news, everyday life and other particular aspects of American society
(www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions;https://www.loc.gov/collection/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-motion-pictures/
).
(www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions;https://www.loc.gov/collection/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-motion-pictures/
).
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| Thomas Edison and The Phonograph |
Another key
invention of Edison’s was the phonograph that recorded voice and such invention
was further developed that allowed the permanent recording of music (www.thomasedison.org/inex.php/education/inventions). This
phonograph was greatly used by soldiers during World War I where soldiers used
it to listen to music (http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/edison/aa_edison_phonograph_1.html). Moreover, Edison noted that the phonograph could be used
for dictation, family recordings, music, toys and clocks that announce time (http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/edison/aa_edison_phonograph_1.html). Thus,
Edison appeared to contribute much to modern society by these two key
inventions that allowed the creation of new forms of art that could be spread widely
amongst the masses.
So, why is Edison so important to the
twentieth century? Edison created technology and new methods of comfort for
American society. Advancements in electrical systems and telegraphs,
phonographs and the kinetoscope (Beals;edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm) allowed a typical American to enjoy life and be
in comfort and enjoy activities that provided leisure and an escape from the
tensions in society. Such as comfort in electricity, allows individuals to
worry about one less thing while trying to survive the world. Moreover, the phonograph acted as a device that could
record memories, voices and music that gave comfort to people (https://www.loc.gov/collection/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-motion-pictures/). The Kinetoscope allowed
advancement in culture as it allowed the introduction of motion pictures that
reflected on society and even scandalized society.
For example, the short movie
“The Kiss” ,that is seen in the "Edison Kinetoscope Films 1894-1896" in the clip above, was one of the first short films that introduced an intimate kiss between
a couple and such movie scandalized the masses (www.brainpicking.org/2012/01/20/edison-the-kiss-1896/). because it introduced a very
intimate subject of society and, hence, a break from tradition and one that
challenged societal norms. Thus, Edison was an important pioneer in modernism
because his inventions transformed the lifestyle of Americans by questioning
societal norms and traditions along with helping to create new version of art
whether it is by motion pictures or phonograph recordings. If Edison did not
make contributions to society, then, perhaps, there would not be questioning of
technology, new forms of art, and experimentation with writings that is seen
with Modernism. The reason why John Dos Passos mentions Thomas Edison in The 42nd Parallel, is because
Edison’s inventions played a key role in the twentieth century and the short
biography dedicated to Edison could be because there was a need to acknowledge
Edison who contributed to the production motion pictures and phonograph which
both were related to image and voice that are key in the writing style of
Passos in the novel. Moreover, Edison
represents the American Dream. Edison did not have any formal education, he attained his education through reading and experimenting, he had hearing loss, he struggled when he came to the city, he had
limited money and yet aspired to create inventions and he made it big (Beals). He
created multiple inventions, earned money, created his own research labs and
contributed to society, thus, he achieved the era’s American Dream and gave
hope to many other Americans that they could too achieve their dreams.
Discussion Questions:
How would you all relate Thomas Edison's inventions to Modernism?
Why certain aspects of Thomas Edison's life could have been inspiring to the masses who believed in the American Dream and wanted to climb the greasy ladder to success?
Works Cited
Beals, Gerald. "Edison
Biography." Edison Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2016. http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html
"Edison
Invents the Phonograph." Edison Invents the Phonograph. N.p., n.d. Web. 19
Sept. 2016.
"History of
Edison Motion Pictures - Inventing Entertainment: The Early Motion Pictures and
Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies." The Library of Congress.
Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
https://www.loc.gov/collection/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-motion-pictures/
"Motion Pictures." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2016. https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/motion-pictures.htm
Passos, John Dos.
The 42nd Parallel. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Print.
Popova, Maria.
"The First Kiss in Cinema: How Thomas Edison Scandalized the World in
1896." Brain Pickings. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2016. https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/01/20/edison-the-kiss-1896/
"Thomas Alva
Edison Biography - The Edison Papers." Thomas Alva Edison Biography - The
Edison Papers. N.p. n.d. Updated 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 21 Sept. 2016. http://edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm
"Thomas
Edison's Most Famous Inventions." Edison Innovation Foundation. N.p., n.d.
Web. 21 Sept. 2016. http://www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions/
Images
Thomas Edison: http://www.daviddarling.info/images/Edison.jpg
Kinetoscope: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Kinetoscope.jpg
Thomas Edison with Phonograph: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Edison_and_phonograph_edit1.jpg
Film
Caedcall11. "Edison Kinetoscope Films 1894-1896." YouTube. YouTube, 22 May 2011. Web. 19 Sept. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZ4VPmhAkw
I find it interesting that Dos Pasos would place such short summaries of such brilliant and successful people between the long chapters of his fictional characters. While Edison did affect media and especially film, his place in the book also makes the characters seem average. Why would Dos Pasos do this?
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting and giving me feedback. In regards to your question, I think that Dos Passos placed Edison to contrast his story with other characters in the novel who are moving to new cities, trying to make a career and earn money, but they somehow cannot achieve that while Edison did. Edison achieved success and he tried like other characters seen in the novel, but he achieved. I see a hint of what Passos is trying to say about why Edison achieved which is that Passos repeats this line "Thomas A. Edison at eightytwo worked sixteen hours a day; he never worried about mathematics or the social system or generalized philosophical concepts; in collaboration with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone who never worried about mathematics or the social system or generalized philosophical concepts" (Passos 235). This phrase is essential in the clue that Mac and Ward are concerned with the social system, involved in politics, and new ideas, thus, Passos may be hinting that they might have lost their focus and, thus, not have had faced success because they were involved in social concepts and politics.
DeleteGreat post! I find it extremely interesting that many of Edison's inventions have a great deal to do with voice: the expression of voice, the modification of it, and the synthesis of it into a new form of mass media. Truly, Edison embodied the crux of the American Dream and is remembered as such. However, what I can't wrap my head around is the fact that the passage in The 42nd Parallel ends abruptly, when it usually closes with the death of the character. Why is Edison in particular immortalized in the novel? Does it relate to the immortal nature of voice?
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting and giving feedback about the post. Your question is quite interesting about why Edison has been immortalized in the novel. In my opinion, Edison has been immortalized is because despite the fact that he has passed away, his technology and is scientific advancements helped further produce more advancements that have shaped society and American culture. Thus, Edison and his legacy still lives on through what Edison has contributed to society, thus, such may be the reason why Passos immortalized Edison in the novel. Moreover, it could be possible that Edison is also immortalized because he contributed to the phonograph in which you could record voice, thus, he could be related to the immortal nature of voice, that you mentioned, since voice is an immortal nature of society that continues to evolve in terms of language just as technology continues to evolve since Edison's era.
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ReplyDeleteI think it was very meaningful how Dos Passos included a section about Edison, as the modernist movement was accompanied by many technological advancements that changed the "normal" structure of life. It is clear from your post that Edison contributed to many forms of new technology, and I believe that Dos Passos purposefully included a section about Edison in his novel to show how the arts were beginning to break all the rules to keep up with these technological advancements.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I did not know that the Black Maria, Americas's first film production studio, was conceived by Edison. The motion picture camera was truly a significant (arguably one of the most important) in both shaping and reinforcing American culture. It is incredible to think about how individuals must of reacted when experiencing images in motion for the first time. Nowadays, I almost feel desensitized to visual innovations like virtual reality or even Google Glass (On one end I’m like “Wow, how cool and spooky!” but on the other I’m not even surprised). Was this a mind-blowing experience for people at the time? It is interesting to see the parallels and intersections between the image-oriented writing style of Dos Passos and the technological advances at the time. For centuries, we have seen descriptive language employed in a desperate attempt to evoke images, capture moments, and even immortalize memory. Dos Passos paints a portrait for his readers in a very unique way, creating rapidly moving images not unlike the way a kinetoscope operates. I can see how Dos Passos is influenced by the advent of the film both in the way he writes and what he chooses to express. There is also a little bit of irony in regards to the relationship between film and writing. Inventions like Edison’s have created a culture obsessed with visual entertainment. Nowadays, most people prefer to watch a movie than a read book. On the bright side, though this might be a stretch, technological advancements have challenged writers to adapt to a constantly evolving society in interesting ways.
I find it very interesting how science and technology was able to really change up the landscape for art, as electricity, advances in filming technology, and other types of tech allowed individuals to express themselves in unique ways and escape the harsh realities of life. Oftentimes, many people consider science to be separate from art, but individuals like Edison were able to combine them in creative ways. I also believe that the mention of Edison in Dos Passos' novel further shows this change occurring in American society at that time.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you linked the technology that allowed to art to be more widely spread as a contributer to modernism- I feel that it's a interesting observation. I do agree that Edison contributed significantly to this, since he was such a prolific inventor- do you think he was aware of the effect his inventions would have on art when he created them? Or was it merely a byproduct of his scientific brainwave?
ReplyDeleteThe description of the kinetoscope reminds me of the eye camera sections that we get in the 42nd Parallel. With the kinetoscope you were allowed to see movies that lasted a minute and are meant to capture a brief moment, just like these passages in the book are brief and are just snapshots of people's experiences.
ReplyDeleteThe description of the kinetoscope reminds me of the eye camera sections that we get in the 42nd Parallel. With the kinetoscope you were allowed to see movies that lasted a minute and are meant to capture a brief moment, just like these passages in the book are brief and are just snapshots of people's experiences.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Thomas Edison while not directly participating in the modernist movement he created the tools through which modernists made art through which they expressed themselves. Dos Passos including him in the 42nd parallel places importance on the tools through which artists express themselves.
ReplyDeleteEdison's work is profoundly Modernist, again because it goes clearly in line with the idea of progressive thinking in combat with old ideas and values - and like many others mentioned, the kinetscope can be interpreted in a very Modernist fashion when considering its oppositional nature to the technology of the time.
ReplyDeleteSome parts of the 42nd parallel also highlight similarities; specifically the bio on Carnegie in relation to Edison's story - self made men, dedicated men, with the key difference being Carnegie's unscrupulousness contrasted with Edison's honest ingenuity.
The last sentence of Dos Passos' introduction to The 42nd Parallel, titled U.S.A., reads, "[b]ut mostly, U.S.A. is the speech of the people." How perfect is it that Edison is a product of the people, deemed unfit for eduction, but is able to utilize formally unrecognizable skill to invent technologies responsible for the recording and documentation of the masses. The narrative fits so well into the ideas sprinkled throughout The 42nd Parallel I wouldn't be surprised if the biography of Edison was a major inspiration for Dos Passos.
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the post! I think it would be really interesting if we could use this to analyze the role of the biographies in The 42nd Parallel. These famous people obviously impacted the times dramatically, but I was wondering why Dos Passos went so far as to create individual chapters?
ReplyDeleteI really agree on the part that Edison played a huge part in shaping the current modern culture. It is intriguing to think about a world where Edison's inventions does not exist. How would the mass culture be shaped? Thinking about how dependent our culture is on visual and audio content, I have a hard time seeing what a modern world would look like without technologies used to produce those contents.
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