Is the World Bankrupt? Civilization Struggles Between Extravagance and Depression
- Title:
- Is the World Bankrupt? Civilization Struggles Between Extravagance and Depression
- Alternate Title:
- Is the World Bankrupt?
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Williams, John Scott
- Date:
- 1933
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2419.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2419_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1920 - 1939
- Subject:
- Allegorical
Between the Wars
Money & Finance
Pictorial
Politics & Government
Unusual Graphics/Text - Measurement:
- 22 x 24 on page 41 x 28 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This is an allegorical art deco map of the world in the throes of the Great Depression: “Civilization Struggles Between Extravagance and Depression.” The figure of mankind in the traditional posture of crucifixion is imposed on the globe. At the bottom left, “Extravagance” seems to be dancing as he showers himself with golden coins. At the bottom right, “Depression” is downcast in despair as a giant squid’s tentacles reach out of the deep to ensnare mankind. The map illustrates an article by Phillip Snowden: “Is the World Bankrupt? Not Yet, Says Britain’s Ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, and World Co-operation Can Turn the Tide.”
Snowden was an interesting figure in British politics, a weaver’s son whose career began and grew out of the hatred of capitalism and ended with a seat in the House of Lords. He served as Chancellor from 1929-1931, and in that capacity “despite [his] fervent belief that capitalism was doomed . . . he espoused the cause of orthodox finance.” Ahamed 2009, 223. Among other things, he was “wedded to the belief that the budget must be balanced, no matter that Britain was in depression,” a position John Maynard Keynes declared “foolish.” Ibid. 426.
This article, written two years after Snowden left the cabinet, reflects the tensions in his views. He rejects the cutting of government services in the time of need as impossible, and the raising of taxes as counterproductive. He recognizes that the consequence of his views would be the rapid growth of already large budget deficits and government debt - which he deplores.
The remedies for the depression, Snowden writes, “is too big a subject to be adequately treated in this article.” Instead, criticizing the forces of nationalism, he urges both the reduction of expenditures on armaments and the expansion of international trade by the elimination of tariffs, “disarmament in both spheres.”
This work was done by John Scott Williams, who was born in England and emigrated to the U.S. as a child. Trained at the Art Institute of Chicago, he worked for many years as a commercial artist for a variety of American magazines. He later served as head of the fine arts department at Wyoming State University and organized the American Artists' Professional League.
The collection includes a number of maps in the art deco style of the time. For others, Search > "deco".
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Source:
- New York Herald Tribune Magazine, October 22, 1933, Section VIII, p. 1.
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.