When we think of recession, we think of disparity, unemployment, homelessness, and simply a time of financial hardship. However, while these economic downturns bring forth challenges for certain jobs and businesses, they also create unique opportunities in the entertainment industry. With bills stacking high, employees being fired left and right, and inflation only growing, many people become desperate and lost.
In tough times like these, people look for hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. This is where the entertainment industry comes in. Films, music, and theater provide escapes into other worlds. They enthrall their viewers with striking visuals, inspiring sounds, and smile-inducing scripts. These are the gateways that many people run to, hoping to escape their bleak reality. In the past, film companies have taken advantage of these hard times to promote feel-good media. During the Great Depression, Hollywood flourished, producing famous films and musicals such as 42nd Street (1933) and Top Hat (1935). In fact, the 1930s eventually became the foundation of what we now know as the Golden Age of Hollywood. Popular studios such as Warner Bros. and Paramount dominated the industry during this time. They introduced innovations like Technicolor, which appeared in movies like The Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This new style of art brought vivid color to the screens, providing viewers with a truly magical experience. These movies gave people an escape from harsh reality and let them forget their troubles, even if only for a while.
When it comes to escapes, there’s hardly a more effective one than music. This is exactly why the music industry has been seen to thrive in times of desperation and financial hardship. When budgets were tight, people sought cost-effective ways to entertain themselves. During the 2008 financial crisis, people started cutting back on pricey shows and concerts; instead, there was a sharp increase in music streaming through platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Not only did the streaming platforms benefit listeners, but they also greatly benefited producers and musicians who wanted to spread their music but did not have major record labels. Artists like Macklemore and Chance the Rapper began successful careers by introducing their music through these online platforms. Many of these independent artists often produced music not just as a source of enjoyment but as a psychological escape from the mental toll the 2008 recession was taking on people. The music during this time was often very energetic and fast-paced, like dance music and electronic music, with DJs such as Calvin Harris and David Guetta releasing songs for listeners to belt out and forget their troubles.
Much like the effect of the 2008 recession, the economic struggles following 2020 has left the U.S. under the looming threat of recession. The release of more affordable music and movie digital platforms provides people an accessible escape during these challenging times. Multiple new artists and films that mirror the current times like Charli XCX, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, and Kendrick Lamar, as well as new artists such as Snoh Aalegra and Ravyn Lenae, are creating escapes through their music. Their blend of new electronic sounds, upbeat productions, powerful lyrics, and musical depth serves listeners joy, energy, and distractions in times of turmoil—reflecting the same trends as in 2008.
Just as films have historically provided audiences with an escape from the anxieties of everyday life during the great depression, they continue to do so in the 21st century. Movies such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, Waves, Don’t Look Up, and Barbie all serve as reflections of our current economic, family, and social difficulties through a comical and surrealistic lens that makes them engaging and meaningful. While some may inject humor and levity, like Don’t Look Up and Barbie, others explore the deeper side of the current economic and political climate with a more serious tone, as seen in Waves and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Yet, all of them allow communities facing similar difficulties to connect and offer temporary relief. This can help us uncover and process these difficult feelings and economic hardships in an accessible way.
From the Great Depression, to the 2008 recession, and the current economic struggles after 2020, people have leaned toward film and music as an escape, artistic outlet, and connection. From the rise of Technicolor to affordable streaming, and from upbeat music to feel-good films, people have always found a way to seek the light at the end of the tunnel. These forms of media allow people to explore their emotions while also providing a temporary relief from the complex economic climate we are under. As history has shown, entertainment during times of recession serves as a vital tool for healing, connection, and empowerment.
