Project WWI

France

The Utah Valley University Study Abroad Program and the Department of Arts & Visual Communications teamed up to do a project in France based on the 100th anniversary of WWI.  Applications were viewed and accepted for 10 students who are currently enrolled and are studying a variety of arts; photography, graphic design and/or painting, (accompanied by three professors/teachers) to return to France and visit various historical landmark with the intent to record through their craft for a commemorative published document on WWI.

Over 100 years ago, a Bosnian Serb shot Archduke Ferdinand and his wife (Austrians) – resulting in one of the worlds bloodiest conflicts in history, World War 1. 

This global battle, pitted notable “power” countries of Germany, Austria and the Ottoman Empire against the forces of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and eventually the United States of America.  During this same time period the the development and the introduction of warfare technology becomes a major contributing factor to the overall destruction and carnage of more than 9 million soldiers killed by the end of the war. 

World War 1 changed forever the course of our country and it’s people.  Not one individual was unaffected by the war, fathers, brothers and/or uncles lives were lost or killed.  Children grew up in the absence of their fathers and mothers/women picked up the pieces at home by heading for jobs in agriculture or in industrial factories – in several cases, women also joined military services to support their countries. 

The changes from the affect of the war were immediately recognized, food shortage, financial hardship, deaths.  However, most of the time the remnants of WWI would haunt our countries for years to come, including the direct connection to WWII.