Tom Fudge: Migration is one of the great stories of the human experience. The hardship and desperation that forces people to leave their homes for strange new places is full of pain, hope, and struggle. One of the great stories of migration in America is The Grapes of Wrath . John Steinbeck's novel tells of how poor Oakies came to California for work and found a harsh, unwelcoming environment.
If you've read Steinbeck's novel, you'll be interested to know that there's a collection of photos from the 1930s of the same name. In fact, photographer Horace Bristol worked with Steinbeck, chronicling the lives of depression-era farm workers. That was before Steinbeck decided to write the novel.
Bristol's work is one of collections of photography in a new photo exhibit at San Diego State. The exhibit is called Field Work: Documenting California's Migrant Farm Labor Experience: 1935 to 2003 .
Guest
- Arthur Ollman, director of San Diego State University's School of Art, Design and Art History.
End Music: He's a Real Gone Guy by Jack McDuff, from the album The Prestige Years (2004)
