Bohemians In T-shirts

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Actors

20220627

20240610 (R3)

In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia.

Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village.

World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking.

In this episode, he focuses on Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski whose T-shirts were designed by Lucinda Ballard, for the original production of Streetcar Named Desire.

Michael Goldfarb on why Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski took to wearing T-shirts.

World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking.

In this episode, he focuses on Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski whose T-shirts were designed by Lucinda Ballard, for the original production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Michael Goldfarb looks at why Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski turned to wearing T-shirts as a sign of their unwillingness to conform to society's norms in postwar America.

Artists

20220629

20240612 (R3)

Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village.

In this episode, the story of Jackson Pollock, a keen T-shirt wearer, as he struggles towards his abstract vision and the role of Pollock's wife, Lee Krasner, an artist in her own right, in his success.

Michael Goldfarb tells the story of Jackson Pollock, another T-shirt-wearing bohemian.

World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking.

Michael Goldfarb tells the story of Jackson Pollock, who like others took to wearing T-shirts in postwar America, and the part his artist wife Lee Krasner played in his success.

Beats

20220701

20240614 (R3)

Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village.

In this episode, the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, two T-shirt-wearing Columbia University students, and the events that propelled them towards the writing that would become known as Beat.

The influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg on postwar US non-conformists.

In 1945, when World WarII finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia.

In this episode, the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, two T-shirt wearing Columbia University students, and the events that propelled them towards the writing that would become known as Beat.

Michael Goldfarb looks at the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg on postwar US non-conformists and the emergence of the Beat Generation.

Musicians

20220630

20240613 (R3)

Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village.

In this episode, the importance of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and how the war created the space for jazz to evolve into America's unique form of classical music.

Michael Goldfarb, in his study of US bohemians, turns to Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking.

In his study of postwar US bohemians, Michael Goldfarb explores how Charlie Parker and Miles Davis created the space for jazz to evolve into a unique form of classical music.

Writers

20220628

20240611 (R3)

Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village.

In this episode, Michael focuses on James Baldwin, Marlon Brando's wartime roommate in Greenwich Village, and the slow integration of American letters by African American authors.

Michael Goldfarb explores why black US writer James Baldwin took to wearing T-shirts.

World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking.

Writer James Baldwin was amongst the bohemians in postwar America who turned to wearing T-shirts to show their unwillingness to conform to society's norms. With Michael Goldfarb.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Actors	20220627	20240610 (R3)	In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, he focuses on Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski whose T-shirts were designed by Lucinda Ballard, for the original production of Streetcar Named Desire. Michael Goldfarb on why Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski took to wearing T-shirts. In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemian. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, he focuses on Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski whose T-shirts were designed by Lucinda Ballard, for the original production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Michael Goldfarb looks at why Marlon Brando and Stanley Kowalski turned to wearing T-shirts as a sign of their unwillingness to conform to society's norms in postwar America.
Artists	20220629	20240612 (R3)	In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, the story of Jackson Pollock, a keen T-shirt wearer, as he struggles towards his abstract vision and the role of Pollock's wife, Lee Krasner, an artist in her own right, in his success. Michael Goldfarb tells the story of Jackson Pollock, another T-shirt-wearing bohemian. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. Michael Goldfarb tells the story of Jackson Pollock, who like others took to wearing T-shirts in postwar America, and the part his artist wife Lee Krasner played in his success.
Beats	20220701	20240614 (R3)	In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, two T-shirt-wearing Columbia University students, and the events that propelled them towards the writing that would become known as Beat. The influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg on postwar US non-conformists. In 1945, when World WarII finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. In this episode, the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, two T-shirt wearing Columbia University students, and the events that propelled them towards the writing that would become known as Beat. Michael Goldfarb looks at the influence of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg on postwar US non-conformists and the emergence of the Beat Generation.
Musicians	20220630	20240613 (R3)	In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, the importance of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and how the war created the space for jazz to evolve into America's unique form of classical music. Michael Goldfarb, in his study of US bohemians, turns to Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In his study of postwar US bohemians, Michael Goldfarb explores how Charlie Parker and Miles Davis created the space for jazz to evolve into a unique form of classical music.
Writers	20220628	20240611 (R3)	In 1945, when World War II finally ended and while Europe's artistic centres smouldered, in New York City an artistic renaissance, in music, painting, theatre, and literature, burst forth out of the city's bohemia. Most of this work was generated in a single neighbourhood of Manhattan: Greenwich Village. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilized with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. In this episode, Michael focuses on James Baldwin, Marlon Brando's wartime roommate in Greenwich Village, and the slow integration of American letters by African American authors. Michael Goldfarb explores why black US writer James Baldwin took to wearing T-shirts. World War II in America was a time of national unity, a singleness of purpose where non-conformity had no place in military or civilian life. Yet somehow as soon as the war ended, a full-blown non-conformist bohemia exploded in New York. Membership of this Bohemia, for men at least, was signified by wearing an undergarment - the T-shirt - in public. Today that means nothing. In 1945, in a society that was still mobilised with military single-mindedness, it was shocking. Writer James Baldwin was amongst the bohemians in postwar America who turned to wearing T-shirts to show their unwillingness to conform to society's norms. With Michael Goldfarb.