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Lecture 11 was our truncated lesson about the Dust Bowl. Mainly the lecture consisted of watching 2 movies, "Rain for the Earth" and "The Plow that Broke the Plains"

"The Plow that Broke the Plains" movie was supposedly trying to show people the severity of the Dust Bowl but it seemed more like it was blaming the people on the plains for its problems. The film had a great Looney Tunes musical score and it did shed some light on the Dust Bowl with its visuals but the main point of the film seemed to be get out while the getting is good. In sharp contrast to "The Plow that Broke the Plains" was "Rain for the Earth" although it was only part 1 of 2 and seemed to end abruptly it made more of an arguement of struggling and hanging-on until the rain comes and makes the world right again. "Rain for the Earth" seemed to have a lower production value but it was in my opinion a much better and optimistic movie. It made a point that life on the plains during the Dust Bowl was very difficult but if you can just stick it out for awhile the dust bowl will end and life will be good again on the plains.

I recently caught on The History Channel a show titled Black Blizzard was on my mind while watching both of these movies and while both in class movies were decent the History Channel show was very good. I am a History Channel nut regardless but Black Blizzard was one of the best shows I have seen on it in quite awhile. I am looking forward to seeing my 100 year old great grandma over Thanksgiving to discuss her memories of the Dust Bowl.

Sutton Goodman