M+M: Vanessa R. Schwartz: Jet Age Aesthetic: The Glamour of Media in Motion
University of Southern California Vanessa R. Schwartz
February 18, 2020 · 5:00 pm—7:00 pm · N107 School of Architecture
M+M Program in Media and Modernity
A stunning look at the profound impact of the jet plane on the mid-century aesthetic, from Disneyland to Life magazine
Vanessa R. Schwartz engagingly presents the jet plane’s power to define a new age at a critical moment in the mid-20th century, arguing that the craft’s speed and smooth ride allowed people to imagine themselves living in the future. Exploring realms as diverse as airport architecture, theme park design, film, and photography, Schwartz argues that the jet created an aesthetic that circulated on the ground below.
