Modernism Defiance Disillusion Discontent 1914 Jackson Pollock Number

Modernism Defiance, Disillusion & Discontent 1914 - …

Jackson Pollock “Number 20”, 1948

Jackson Pollock “One: Number 31”, 1950

Happening in the US: n n n Marked by 2 world wars, prosperity, and worldwide depression A period of artistic experimentation and lasting literary achievement Feeling of optimism before WWI – struggle between Allies and Central Powers, machine guns US involvement started with the German sinking of the British Lusitania – Americans were on board

Prosperity and Depression n n Prohibition – led to bootlegging, speakeasies, law breaking, and warfare among gangs Economy began to boom after 1921 Entertainment: Radio – then jazz, music, movies – movie palaces, the Charleston 1929 – Great Depression President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the New Deal – ended the Depression

World War II n n n Began with the German invasion of Poland Isolation – dominant mood in US after the fall of France US joined Allies after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 Atomic bombing of 2 Japanese cities ended war Now peace and the atomic age!!!

What is Modernism? DEFIANCE: Breaking the rules! n n n Modernists experimented with a variety of new approaches and techniques. In literature – used fragments, omitted expositions, transitions, resolutions, and explanations, created new words, went against traditional norms of race and gender, rejected figures of authority In poetry – abandoned traditional forms and meters for FREE VERSE

What is Modernism? Disillusion and Discontent: Loss of belief in and dissatisfaction with traditional values Themes: n Loss n Exile n Isolation n Social woes (war, poverty) n Human’s capacity for cruelty n Movement away from religion; reliance on own sense of morality

Who were the Modernists? n n n n n Gertrude Stein Ezra Pound T. S. Eliot Ernest Hemingway F. Scott Fitzgerald William Faulkner John Steinbeck Sinclair Lewis J. D. Salinger n Known as the expatriates: These writers were unhappy after the war and many settled in Paris where they were influenced by Gertrude Stein.

The Expatriates n Expatriate = an exile n “Lost generation” – Stein’s term n Saw very little in their civilization to praise or even accept n Very pessimistic

Stream of Consciousness n More writers began using this between the world wars. n Recreates the natural flow of a character’s thoughts; imitates the moment-by-moment flow of a character’s perceptions and memories. n Landmark novel – James Joyce’s Ulysses n Also used by William Faulkner and Katherine Anne Porter

Harlem Renaissance n 1920 s – 1930 s n Began in 1921 with Countee Cullen’s “I Have a Rendezvous with Life (with apologies to Alan Seeger)” n A time of artistic, musical, and literary creativity for African Americans n Centered in the Harlem district of NYC n Produced great works of literature, the new musical forms of jazz and the blues, and opened the door for later African American writers

Harlem Renaissance

The New American Hero n n Introduced by Ernest Hemingway, he was a man of action, a warrior, a tough competitor. He has a code of honor, courage, and endurance. Hero shows “grace under pressure. ” However, he’s completely disillusioned. He believes unbeatable odds are ranged against us all, so he recognizes and snatches up the rare, good, rich moments that life offers. ¡ Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby

Voices of Modernism Ø “In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning. ” – F. Scott Fitzgerald Ø “No more war, no more plague, only the dazed silence that follows the ceasing of the heavy guns. ” – Katherine Ann Porter Ø “Everything is the same and everything is different. ” – Gertrude Stein