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(1933-37)]]
Machine Age is a term associated with the early 20th Century . Considered to be at a peak in the time between the first and second World Wars it forms a late part of the Industrial Age and was utimately eclipsed by the Atomic Age beginning in 1945.

Artifacts of the Machine Age include:
  • Mass production of high volume goods on moving assembly lines, particularly of the Automobile

  • Gigantic production machinery, especially for producing and working metal, such as steel rolling mills, bridge component fabrication, and automobile body presses

  • Powerful Earthmoving Equipment

  • Steel framed buildings of great height (the ''skyscraper'' )

  • Radio and Phonograph technology

  • High speed Printing Press es, enabling the production of low cost newspapers and mass market magazines

  • Large Hydroelectric and thermal electric power production plants and distribution systems

  • Low cost appliances for the mass market that employ fractional horsepower electric motors, such as the vacuum cleaner and the washing machine

  • Fast and comfortable long distance travel by Railroad , Automobile , and Aircraft

  • Development and employment of modern war machines such as Tank s, Aircraft , Submarines and the Modern Battleship



SOCIAL INFLUENCE

  • The rise of Mass Market advertising and Consumerism

  • Nationwide branding and distribution of goods, replacing local arts and crafts

  • Nationwide Cultural Leveling due to exposure to Movies and Network Broadcasting

  • Replacement of skilled crafts with low skilled labor

  • Growth of strong corporations through their abilities to exploit Economies Of Scale in materials and equipment acqusition, manufacturing, and distribution

  • Corporate exploitation of labor leading to the creation of strong Trade Union s as a countervailing force



ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE

  • Exploitation of natural resources with little concern for the ecological consequences; a continuation of 19th century practices but at a larger scale

  • Release of synthetic dyes, artificial flavorings, and toxic materials into the consumption stream without adequate testing for adverse health effects



INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

  • Conflicts between nations regarding access to energy sources (particularly oil) and material resources (particularly iron and various metals with which it is alloyed) required to ensure national self-sufficiency. Such conflicts were contributory to two devastating World War s.



ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE

'' (1912) by Marcel Duchamp displays Cubist and Futurist characteristics]]

(1936)]]
The Machine Age is considered to have influenced: