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For lecture twelve we watched two movies pertaining to the Dust Bowl. "The Plow that Broke the Plains" describes the plains as having high winds and sun, no rivers, and no streams. This film seems to propose that the demise of the plains resulted from overworked land. As the film continues, images of people forced to leave their farms are displayed. In the missing three minutes of the film the narrator explains to the audience how all of these people are being taken care of in California. In addition to this, the narrator also mentions that other folks should leave the plains and settle in California. This film is most likely a propaganda film and promotes federal farm policies.
"Rain for the Earth" is the second film we watched in class and has a completely different message. This film shows images of people working and continuing everyday life even though times are hard. There are also images of sheep farmers hauling water for their sheep and feeding their livestock. This reference to sheep is most likely a way of telling the audience how good these people are. The farmers that stayed are "taking care of nature." When the farmers water their sheep, the spillage is utilized by birds, thus these must be good people who deserve help to get them through hard times. This film is most likely an attempt to get help for the people that stayed on the plains and are "toughing it out."
Both of these films contain images intended to get the attention of the audience. I thought watching these movies was a good way to get an idea of what the Dust Bowl was like and how it affected the people of the plains. I found it ironic that the government was advertising aid in California in "The Plow that Broke the Plains." From what I remember from previous history classes, it was hard for people to find work once they had left the plains. I like the message in the second film better than the message from the first film. I found the message of the second film to be more convincing and persuasive than the first film.