A Look at MODERNISM:A Look at MODERNISM: American Literature American Literature

1914-19451914-1945

We are going here

Causes of the Modernist Causes of the Modernist TemperTemper

►World War I (gruesome view of death & World War I (gruesome view of death & technology)technology)

► Urbanization & IndustryUrbanization & Industry► ImmigrationImmigration► Technological EvolutionTechnological Evolution►Growth of Modern ScienceGrowth of Modern Science► Influence of Austrian Sigmund Freud (1856-Influence of Austrian Sigmund Freud (1856-

1939)1939)► Influence of German Karl Marx (1818-1883)Influence of German Karl Marx (1818-1883)

WWIWWI

URBANIZATIONURBANIZATION

INDUSTRIALIZATIONINDUSTRIALIZATION

IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

Oscar Handlin states, “Once I thought to write a Oscar Handlin states, “Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants discovered that the immigrants were were American American history.”history.”

TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTIONTECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

GROWTH OF MODERN SCIENCEGROWTH OF MODERN SCIENCE

Scientists became aware thatScientists became aware that

► the atom was not the smallest unit of matterthe atom was not the smallest unit of matter► matter was not indestructiblematter was not indestructible► both time and space were relative to an observer’s both time and space were relative to an observer’s

positionposition► some phenomena were so small that attempts at some phenomena were so small that attempts at

measurement would alter themmeasurement would alter them► Some outcomes could be predicted only in terms of Some outcomes could be predicted only in terms of

statistical probabilitystatistical probability► the universe might be infinite in size and yet the universe might be infinite in size and yet

infinitely expandinginfinitely expanding

SIGMUND FREUD (1856-SIGMUND FREUD (1856-1939)1939)

Invented the use of psychoanalysis Invented the use of psychoanalysis

as a means to study one’s as a means to study one’s

“ “unconscious”unconscious”

KARL MARX (1818-1883)KARL MARX (1818-1883)

““The history of all hitherto existing society is theThe history of all hitherto existing society is the

history of class struggles.”history of class struggles.”

““The development of Modern Industry, therefore, The development of Modern Industry, therefore,

cuts from under its feet the very foundation on cuts from under its feet the very foundation on

which the bourgeoisie produces and appropriates which the bourgeoisie produces and appropriates

products. What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, products. What the bourgeoisie therefore produces,

above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the

victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.”victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.”

INFLUENCES OF FREUD AND INFLUENCES OF FREUD AND MARXMARX

► Modernist writers focused more on the inner Modernist writers focused more on the inner being as opposed to the social being. being as opposed to the social being.

► Marxism instructed even non-Marxist artists Marxism instructed even non-Marxist artists that the individual was being lost in a mass that the individual was being lost in a mass society.society.

► Some modern writers believed that art should Some modern writers believed that art should celebrate the working classes, attack celebrate the working classes, attack capitalism, and forward revolutionary goals, capitalism, and forward revolutionary goals, while others believed that literature should while others believed that literature should be independent and non-political.be independent and non-political.

SHIFTS IN THE MODERN NATIONSHIFTS IN THE MODERN NATION

►from country to cityfrom country to city►from farm to factoryfrom farm to factory►from native born to new citizenfrom native born to new citizen► introduction to “mass” culture (pop introduction to “mass” culture (pop

culture)culture)►continual movementcontinual movement►split between science and the literary split between science and the literary

tradition (“science vs. letters”)tradition (“science vs. letters”)

1920’s: THE JAZZ AGE1920’s: THE JAZZ AGETo F. Scott Fitzgerald it was an “age of miracles, an age of art, To F. Scott Fitzgerald it was an “age of miracles, an age of art,

an age of excess, an age of satire.”an age of excess, an age of satire.”

1930’s: THE DEPRESSION1930’s: THE DEPRESSION

““True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” – Franklin D. are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” – Franklin D. RooseveltRoosevelt

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNIST WRITINGMODERNIST WRITING

► A movement away from realism into abstractionsA movement away from realism into abstractions► A deliberate complexity, even to the point of elitism, A deliberate complexity, even to the point of elitism,

forcing readers to be very well-educated in order to read forcing readers to be very well-educated in order to read these works.these works.

► A high degree of aesthetic self-consciousness or A high degree of aesthetic self-consciousness or awarenessawareness

► Questions of what constitutes the nature of beingQuestions of what constitutes the nature of being► A breaking with tradition and conventional modes of form, A breaking with tradition and conventional modes of form,

resulting in fragmentation and bold, highly innovative resulting in fragmentation and bold, highly innovative experimentationexperimentation

► Along with the social realist and proletarian (amateur) Along with the social realist and proletarian (amateur) prose of the 1920s and 1930s came a significant prose of the 1920s and 1930s came a significant outpouring of political and protest poetry.outpouring of political and protest poetry.

TECHNIQUES IN MODERNIST TECHNIQUES IN MODERNIST WORKSWORKS

The modernists were highly conscious that they were The modernists were highly conscious that they were being modern—that they were “making it new”—and being modern—that they were “making it new”—and this consciousness is manifest in the modernists’ this consciousness is manifest in the modernists’ radical use of a kind of formlessness.radical use of a kind of formlessness.

► Collapsed plots (non chronological or logical; sometimes no Collapsed plots (non chronological or logical; sometimes no structure)structure)

► Fragmentary techniques (bits and pieces come together, often Fragmentary techniques (bits and pieces come together, often vignettes and shorter)vignettes and shorter)

► Shifts in perspective, voice, and tone (narrator becomes a Shifts in perspective, voice, and tone (narrator becomes a more innocent, naïve voice)more innocent, naïve voice)

► Stream-of-consciousness point of view (the flow of thought, Stream-of-consciousness point of view (the flow of thought, random and irrational)random and irrational)

IMAGISMIMAGISM► Includes an eclectic group of English and Includes an eclectic group of English and

American poets working between 1912 and American poets working between 1912 and 1917 including Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell, and 1917 including Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell, and William Carlos Williams.William Carlos Williams.

► It was a reaction against a prevailing cultural It was a reaction against a prevailing cultural romanticism which encouraged social romanticism which encouraged social optimism.optimism.

► The imagists aimed to strip away poetry’s The imagists aimed to strip away poetry’s tendency toward dense wordiness and tendency toward dense wordiness and sentimentality. sentimentality.

► Early influences on the imagists included the Early influences on the imagists included the symbolist poets, classical Greek and Roman symbolist poets, classical Greek and Roman poetry, and Chinese and Japanese verse poetry, and Chinese and Japanese verse forms, in particular the haiku, or forms, in particular the haiku, or hokkuhokku..

MODERNISM INCLUDES OTHER MODERNISM INCLUDES OTHER “ISMS”“ISMS”

►Fauvism Fauvism ►CubismCubism►DadaismDadaism►ExpressionismExpressionism►SurrealismSurrealism►SymbolismSymbolism

FAUVISMFAUVISM► A number of French artists such as Rouault, A number of French artists such as Rouault, Derain, Dufy, Vlaminck, and Braque who Derain, Dufy, Vlaminck, and Braque who grouped around Matisse and exhibited grouped around Matisse and exhibited together from 1905 to 1907. together from 1905 to 1907. ► The outraged critical reaction to their free use of color The outraged critical reaction to their free use of color

and distortion of form led to their being called Les and distortion of form led to their being called Les Fauves (“the wild beasts”). Although Matisse was the Fauves (“the wild beasts”). Although Matisse was the only member of the group to continue with the fauvist only member of the group to continue with the fauvist style, the movement had a revolutionary impact on the style, the movement had a revolutionary impact on the development of modern art. Many of its adherents development of modern art. Many of its adherents moved on to experiments with cubism.moved on to experiments with cubism.

► According to Tate, the United Kingdom’s national According to Tate, the United Kingdom’s national museum of British and Modern Art, fauvist paintings museum of British and Modern Art, fauvist paintings were characterized by artists’ use of strident color and were characterized by artists’ use of strident color and seemingly wild brushwork. seemingly wild brushwork.

Henri Matisse. Henri Matisse. Woman with a Hat, Woman with a Hat, 1905.1905.

CUBISMCUBISM►A 20A 20thth century century

art movement art movement that inspired that inspired other art other art forms.forms.

► In cubist In cubist artworks, artworks, objects are objects are broken up and broken up and reassembledreassembled

into an into an abstract form.abstract form.

DADAISM DADAISM ► A movement in Europe during and A movement in Europe during and

just after WWI, just after WWI, which ignored logical relationship which ignored logical relationship

between idea and between idea and statement, argued for absolute statement, argued for absolute

freedom..freedom..

► ……a protest against the insanity a protest against the insanity of the war.of the war.

Anarchy ArtAnarchy Art Marcel Marcel

DuchampDuchamp. Nude Descending a . Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 Staircase, No. 2 19121912

EXPRESSIONISMEXPRESSIONISM

►A subjective art A subjective art form in which an form in which an artist distorts artist distorts reality for an reality for an

emotional effect.emotional effect.

(represents moods)(represents moods)

SURREALISMSURREALISM

► A movement in art A movement in art emphasizing the emphasizing the

expression of expression of the imagination as the imagination as

realized in realized in dreams and dreams and

presented without presented without conscious control.conscious control. ► Juxtaposed images Juxtaposed images

to contradict each to contradict each otherother

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM►Symbolism in France began as a revolt Symbolism in France began as a revolt

against the cold impersonality of the against the cold impersonality of the realistic novel and its minute descriptions realistic novel and its minute descriptions of an objective, external reality. of an objective, external reality.

►As symbolism sought freedom from As symbolism sought freedom from rigidity in the selection of subject matter, rigidity in the selection of subject matter, so it desired to free poetry from the so it desired to free poetry from the restrictions of conventional versification. restrictions of conventional versification. The most outstanding development of The most outstanding development of symbolism was in the art of the novel.symbolism was in the art of the novel.

Works CitedWorks Cited► Baym, Nina, ed. Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature.The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New New

York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1998. York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1998. ► Harmon, William, and C. Hugh Homan, eds. Harmon, William, and C. Hugh Homan, eds. A Handbook to A Handbook to

Literature. Literature.

New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1996.New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1996.► Kimmelman, Burt, ed. Kimmelman, Burt, ed. The Facts on File Companion to 20The Facts on File Companion to 20thth Century Century

American PoetryAmerican Poetry. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2005.. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2005.► Lathbury, Roger. Lathbury, Roger. American Modernism (1910-1945): American American Modernism (1910-1945): American

Literature in its Historical, Cultural, and Social Contexts. Literature in its Historical, Cultural, and Social Contexts.

Backgrounds to American Literature Series. New York: Facts On Backgrounds to American Literature Series. New York: Facts On

File, Inc., 2006.File, Inc., 2006.► Siepmann, Katherine Baker, ed. Siepmann, Katherine Baker, ed. BenBenét’s Reader’s Encyclopedia. ét’s Reader’s Encyclopedia.

New York: Harper-Collins New York: Harper-Collins PublishersPublishers, Inc., 1948., Inc., 1948.