World War II Overview

Post-World War II Global Developments and American Art Movements

• The United States emerged as an economic superpower after World War II, with its cities and industries unscathed.
• The Cold War emerged as a conflict between communism and capitalism, leading to persistent economic and political tension.
• Mao Zedong's communist regime in China aimed to modernize the country into an industrial superpower, erasing capitalism and old traditions.
• The Cold War influenced newly independent countries, as the US and Soviet Union competed for resources and political control.
• The 1950s saw a shift in global dynamics, with the US becoming a dominant world power and facing the threat of dangerous weapons.
• The US economy thrived as people purchased mass-produced homes and consumer goods, strengthening its position as a global leader.
• The US took on the role of the world's policeman, engaging in wars in Korea and Vietnam to combat communist expansion.
• The 1960s brought cultural revolutions, civil rights movements, and women's liberation, leading to the development of a global middle class.
• Mass communication, including movies, radio, and television, spread information and popular culture worldwide.
• New York City emerged as a center for art, attracting European artists and becoming the hub for American abstract expressionism.
• Abstract expressionism emphasized conveying emotion and the unconscious through large-scale, nonrepresentational art.
• Color field and kinetic art movements also emerged, with color field artists applying color in large, solid fields and kinetic artists incorporating movement into their works.