MODERNISM: MODERNISM: American American

Literature 1914-Literature 1914-19451945

Causes of the Modernist Causes of the Modernist EraEra

► WWIWWI► UrbanizationUrbanization► IndustrializationIndustrialization► ImmigrationImmigration► Technological EvolutionTechnological Evolution► Growth of Modern ScienceGrowth of Modern Science► Influence of Austrian Sigmund Freud Influence of Austrian Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)(1856-1939)

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

WWIWWI

URBANIZATIONURBANIZATION

INDUSTRIALIZATIONINDUSTRIALIZATION

IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTIONTECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

II. What is Modernism? II. What is Modernism? Modernism is a Modernism is a cultural movement cultural movement that generally includes that generally includes

the progressive art and architecture, design, literature, the progressive art and architecture, design, literature, music, dance, painting and other visual arts which emerged music, dance, painting and other visual arts which emerged in the beginning of the 20th century , particularly in the in the beginning of the 20th century , particularly in the years following World War I. It was a movement of artists years following World War I. It was a movement of artists and designers who rebelled against late and designers who rebelled against late 19 19thth century century academic academic traditiontradition, and embraced the new economic, social , and embraced the new economic, social and political aspects of the emerging and political aspects of the emerging modern worldmodern world. .

The artist avant-garde movements that followed-including The artist avant-garde movements that followed-including Impressionism, Impressionism, CubismCubism, and , and Abstract Expressionism Abstract Expressionism-are -are generally defined as Modernist.generally defined as Modernist.

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 both time and space were relative to an observer’s positionobserver’s position

► Some outcomes could be predicted only in Some outcomes could be predicted only in terms of statistical probabilityterms of statistical probability

► the universe might be infinite in size and the universe might be infinite in size and yet infinitely expandingyet infinitely 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”

Psychoanalysis gave people a brand new Psychoanalysis gave people a brand new method by which to analyze their actions method by which to analyze their actions and the actions of others. People began and the actions of others. People began to learn that their personalities and to learn that their personalities and motivations, desires, and dreams are motivations, desires, and dreams are very complex and layered. very complex and layered.

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.”

Capitalism is corruptingCapitalism is corruptingCapitalism tends towards greed and selfishnessCapitalism tends towards greed and selfishness

INFLUENCES OF FREUD AND INFLUENCES OF FREUD AND MARXMARX

► Modernist writers concerned themselves with the inner Modernist writers concerned themselves with the inner being more than the social being and looked for ways to being more than the social being and looked for ways to incorporate these new views into their writing.incorporate these new views into their writing.

► Modernist writers looked inside themselves for their Modernist writers looked inside themselves for their answers instead of seeking “Truth”answers instead of seeking “Truth”

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

► Some modern writers believed that art should celebrate the Some modern writers believed that art should celebrate the working classes, attack capitalism, and forward working classes, attack capitalism, and forward revolutionary goals, while others believed that literature revolutionary goals, while others believed that literature should be independent and non-political.should 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 split between science and the literary tradition (“science vs. literary tradition (“science vs. letters”)letters”)

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

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

1930’s: THE DEPRESSION1930’s: THE DEPRESSION““True individual freedom cannot exist without economic True individual freedom cannot exist without economic

security and independence. People who are hungry and security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” – Franklin D. Rooseveltare made.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

THE SPIRIT OF MODERNIST THE SPIRIT OF MODERNIST LITERATURELITERATURE

► Conviction that the previously sustaining structures of human life, whether Conviction that the previously sustaining structures of human life, whether social, political, religious, or artistic, had been either destroyed or social, political, religious, or artistic, had been either destroyed or shown up as falsehoods or fantasies. Therefore, art had to be renovated.shown up as falsehoods or fantasies. Therefore, art had to be renovated.

► Modernist writing is marked by a strong and conscious break with tradition. Modernist writing is marked by a strong and conscious break with tradition. It rejects traditional values and assumptions. It rejects traditional values and assumptions.

► ““Modern” implies a historical disconnect, a sense of alienation, loss, and Modern” implies a historical disconnect, a sense of alienation, loss, and despair.despair.

► Writers exhibited a skeptical, apprehensive attitude toward pop culture; Writers exhibited a skeptical, apprehensive attitude toward pop culture; writers criticized and deplored its manipulative commercialism.writers criticized and deplored its manipulative commercialism.

► Literature, especially poetry, becomes the place where the one meaningful Literature, especially poetry, becomes the place where the one meaningful activity, the search for meaning, is carried out; and therefore literature activity, the search for meaning, is carried out; and therefore literature is, or should be, vitally important to society. is, or should be, vitally important to society.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNIST WRITINGMODERNIST WRITING

► A movement away from realism into A movement away from realism into abstractionsabstractions

► A deliberate complexity, even to the point of A deliberate complexity, even to the point of elitism, forcing readers to be very well-elitism, forcing readers to be very well-educated in order to read these workseducated in order to read these works

► A high degree of aesthetic self-consciousnessA high degree of aesthetic self-consciousness► Questions of what constitutes the nature of Questions of what constitutes the nature of beingbeing

► A breaking with tradition and conventional A breaking with tradition and conventional modes of form, resulting modes of form, resulting in fragmentationin fragmentation and and bold, highly innovative experimentationbold, highly innovative experimentation

..

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

► Fragmentary techniquesFragmentary techniques► Shifts in perspective, voice, and toneShifts in perspective, voice, and tone► Stream-of-consciousness point of viewStream-of-consciousness point of view

FRAGMENTARY TECHNIQUESFRAGMENTARY TECHNIQUES► Compared with earlier writing, modernist literature is notable Compared with earlier writing, modernist literature is notable

for what it omits—the explanations, interpretations, connections, for what it omits—the explanations, interpretations, connections, summaries, and distancing that provide continuity, perspective, summaries, and distancing that provide continuity, perspective, and security in traditional literature.and security in traditional literature.

► The idea of order, sequence, and unity in works of art is The idea of order, sequence, and unity in works of art is sometimes abandoned because they are now considered by writers as sometimes abandoned because they are now considered by writers as only expressions of a desire for coherence rather than actual only expressions of a desire for coherence rather than actual reflections of reality. The long work will be an assemblage of reflections of reality. The long work will be an assemblage of fragments, the short work a carefully realized fragment. Some fragments, the short work a carefully realized fragment. Some modernist literature registers more as a collage. This modernist literature registers more as a collage. This fragmentation in literature was meant to reflect the reality of fragmentation in literature was meant to reflect the reality of the flux and fragmentation of one’s life. the flux and fragmentation of one’s life.

► Fragments will be drawn from diverse areas of experience. Fragments will be drawn from diverse areas of experience. Vignettes of contemporary life, chunks of popular culture, dream Vignettes of contemporary life, chunks of popular culture, dream imagery, and symbolism drawn from the author’s private repertory imagery, and symbolism drawn from the author’s private repertory of life experiences are also important. A work built from these of life experiences are also important. A work built from these various levels and kinds of material may move across time and various levels and kinds of material may move across time and space, shift from the public to the personal, and open literature space, shift from the public to the personal, and open literature as a field for every sort of concern.as a field for every sort of concern.

SHIFTS IN PERSPECTIVE, SHIFTS IN PERSPECTIVE, VOICE, AND TONEVOICE, AND TONE

► The inclusion of all sorts of material previously deemed The inclusion of all sorts of material previously deemed “unliterary” in works of high seriousness involved the use of “unliterary” in works of high seriousness involved the use of language that would also previously have been thought improper, language that would also previously have been thought improper, including representations of the speech of the uneducated and including representations of the speech of the uneducated and the inarticulate, the colloquial, slangy, and the popular. The the inarticulate, the colloquial, slangy, and the popular. The traditional educated literary voice, conveying truth and traditional educated literary voice, conveying truth and culture, lost its authority.culture, lost its authority.

► Prose writers strove for directness, compression, and vividness. Prose writers strove for directness, compression, and vividness. They were sparing of words. The average novel became quite a They were sparing of words. The average novel became quite a bit shorter than it had been in the nineteenth century.bit shorter than it had been in the nineteenth century.

► Modern fiction tends to be written in the first person or to Modern fiction tends to be written in the first person or to limit the reader to one character’s point of view on the action. limit the reader to one character’s point of view on the action. This limitation accorded with the modernist sense that “truth” This limitation accorded with the modernist sense that “truth” does not exist objectively but is the product of a personal does not exist objectively but is the product of a personal interaction with reality. The selected point of view was often interaction with reality. The selected point of view was often that of a naïve or marginal person—a child or an outsider—to that of a naïve or marginal person—a child or an outsider—to convey better the reality of confusion rather than the myth of convey better the reality of confusion rather than the myth of certainty.certainty.

STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESSSTREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESS► Stream-of-consciousness is a literary practice that attempts Stream-of-consciousness is a literary practice that attempts

to depict the mental and emotional reactions of characters to to depict the mental and emotional reactions of characters to external events, rather than the events themselves, through external events, rather than the events themselves, through the practice of reproducing the unedited, continuous sequence the practice of reproducing the unedited, continuous sequence of thoughts that run through a person’s head, most usually of thoughts that run through a person’s head, most usually without punctuation or literary interference. without punctuation or literary interference.

► The writers of the stream-of-consciousness novel seem to share The writers of the stream-of-consciousness novel seem to share certain common assumptions: certain common assumptions: that the significant existence of human beings is to be found in that the significant existence of human beings is to be found in

their mental-emotional processes and not in the outside world,their mental-emotional processes and not in the outside world, that this mental-emotional life is disjointed and illogical, andthat this mental-emotional life is disjointed and illogical, and that a pattern of free psychological association rather than of that a pattern of free psychological association rather than of

logical relation determines the shifting sequence of thought and logical relation determines the shifting sequence of thought and feeling feeling

► The present day stream-of-consciousness novel is a product of The present day stream-of-consciousness novel is a product of Freudian psychology with its structure of subliminal levels.Freudian psychology with its structure of subliminal levels.

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

►CubismCubism►ExpressionismExpressionism►SurrealismSurrealism

CUBISMCUBISM► A 20A 20thth century art movement that inspired other art forms. century art movement that inspired other art forms.

► In cubist artworks, objects are broken up and reassembledIn cubist artworks, objects are broken up and reassembled into an abstract form.into an abstract form.

► cubism used geometric shapes rather than color to cubism used geometric shapes rather than color to represent the real world.represent the real world.

► cubism incorporated the idea of collage: pulling together cubism incorporated the idea of collage: pulling together a variety of materials to create a new whole.a variety of materials to create a new whole.

► Cubist poetry attempts to do in verse what cubist painters Cubist poetry attempts to do in verse what cubist painters do on canvas; that is, take the elements of an do on canvas; that is, take the elements of an

experience, fragment them (creating what Picasso calls experience, fragment them (creating what Picasso calls “destructions”), and then rearrange them in a meaningful “destructions”), and then rearrange them in a meaningful new synthesis (Picasso’s “sum of destructions”).new synthesis (Picasso’s “sum of destructions”).

Georges Braque. Georges Braque. Woman with a GuitarWoman with a Guitar, 1913., 1913.

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

for an for an emotional effect.emotional effect.► In the novel the presentation of the objective outer world In the novel the presentation of the objective outer world

as it expresses itself in the impressions or moods of a as it expresses itself in the impressions or moods of a character is a widely used device.character is a widely used device.

► The revolt against realism, the distortion of the objects The revolt against realism, the distortion of the objects of the outer world, and the violent dislocation of time of the outer world, and the violent dislocation of time sequence and spatial logic in an effort accurately but not sequence and spatial logic in an effort accurately but not representationally to show the world as it appears to a representationally to show the world as it appears to a troubled mind can be found in modern poetry.troubled mind can be found in modern poetry.

The Scream. The Scream. 1893.1893. Edvard Edvard MunchMunch

SURREALISMSURREALISM► A movement in art A movement in art emphasizing the expression of emphasizing the expression of the imagination as realized in the imagination as realized in dreams and presented without dreams and presented without conscious control. conscious control. ► Paintings were not literalPaintings were not literal depictions of the known worlddepictions of the known world but disconcerting “realistic”but disconcerting “realistic” representations of the representations of the

subconscious.subconscious.

The Persistence of MemoryThe Persistence of Memory. 1931. Salvador Dali. 1931. Salvador Dali