Contemporary LiteratureContemporary Literature

1950 – Present1950 – Present

How Did it Come About?How Did it Come About?

• The aftermath of WW II ushered in an The aftermath of WW II ushered in an age of rapid developments in science age of rapid developments in science and technology.and technology.

• The postwar years offered many The postwar years offered many Americans increased opportunities Americans increased opportunities for economic and cultural growth, but for economic and cultural growth, but the individual person seems lost in the individual person seems lost in the fast-paced, computerized world.the fast-paced, computerized world.

Contemporary fictionContemporary fiction

• Contemporary fiction allows for multiple Contemporary fiction allows for multiple meanings and multiple worlds, uses meanings and multiple worlds, uses nontraditional forms, and comments upon nontraditional forms, and comments upon itself.itself.

• However, it embraces traditional storytellers as However, it embraces traditional storytellers as well as postmodern risk-takers.well as postmodern risk-takers.

• It features cultural diversity, criss-crosses the It features cultural diversity, criss-crosses the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction, and boundaries between fiction and nonfiction, and uses subjects, images, and themes from the uses subjects, images, and themes from the past fearlessly.past fearlessly.

Contemporary NonfictionContemporary Nonfiction

• Contemporary nonfiction has become a Contemporary nonfiction has become a field equal to fiction, though questions field equal to fiction, though questions about terminology and accuracy still about terminology and accuracy still give rise to controversy.give rise to controversy.

• New Journalism (or Literary Journalism) New Journalism (or Literary Journalism) has added personal and fictional has added personal and fictional elements to nonfiction, enhancing its elements to nonfiction, enhancing its popularity with today’s readers.popularity with today’s readers.

Contemporary PoetryContemporary Poetry

• By the early 1950s, many writers and By the early 1950s, many writers and readers felt that modernist poetry – readers felt that modernist poetry – impersonal, allusive, difficult – was no longer impersonal, allusive, difficult – was no longer appropriate. The times called for a more appropriate. The times called for a more personal and accessible approach that personal and accessible approach that challenged complacency and convention.challenged complacency and convention.

• Landmarks in the revolt against modernist Landmarks in the revolt against modernist poetry included poems by Alan Ginsberg, poetry included poems by Alan Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath, and Ann Sexton.Sylvia Plath, and Ann Sexton.

BibliographyBibliography

• Elements of Literature:Fifth CourseElements of Literature:Fifth Course p. p. 904-918904-918