MODERNISM (1910-1940)
•AN ARTISTIC, MUSICAL, AND
LITERARY MOVEMENT IN
THE 20TH CENTURY
MODERN PAINTERS
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PICASSO
MATISSE
KANDINSKY
DALI
MODERN AUTHORS
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HEMINGWAY
FAULKNER
FITZGERALD
STEINBECK
MODERN ARCHITECTS
• WRIGHT
• GROPIUS
• LE CORBUSIER
• VAN DER ROHE
FORCES DRIVING MODERNISM
• SEARCH FOR REASON IN AN
UNREASONED WORLD
• CONCERNED WITH
INDUSTRIALIZATION AND THE
DISPLACEMENT OF PERSONS
• BOTHERED BY THE HYPOCRACY
OF CHRISTIANITY
MODERNISTS’ VIEW OF THE
WORLD
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THE WORLD IS CHAOS
THE WORLD IS UNSTABLE
LOSS OF FAITH
SEE A COLLAPSE OF
MORALITY/VALUES
MODERNIST BELIEFS
• ALIENTATION IS AN
INCREASINGLY COMMON
CONDITION
• NO ABSOLUTE CERTAINTIES
AND TRUTHS
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MODERNISM
• BOLD EXPERIMENTATION IN
STYLE AND FORM,
REFLECTING THE
FRAGMENTATION OF
MODERN LIFE
• REJECTION OF TRADITIONAL
FORMS
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MODERNISM
• LOSS OF FAITH IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM
• REJECTION OF ARTIFICIALITY
MODERN ENTERTAINMENT
MOVEMENT
• SILENT MOVIES- OFTEN FOCUSED
ON THE DANGERS OF THE
MODERN WORLD
• MAJOR ACTORS- CHARLIE
CHAPLIN AND BUSTER KEATON
MODERN ART MOVEMENT
CUBISM
• objects are broken up, analyzed, and
re-assembled in an abstracted form
• the artist depicts the subject from
multiple angles simultaneously as an
attempt to present the subject in the
most complete manner
PICASSO’S CUBISM
• FIRST PICTURE-Self Portrait 1899-1900
• SECOND PICTURE-Self Portrait, cubist period
MODERN LITERARY MOVEMENT
• MAJOR FORMS ARE POETRY AND
FICTION
• Stylistic innovations - disruption of
traditional syntax and form.
• Intention is often to challenge the way
readers see the world
WRITING STYLE
• imagery and symbolism are typical
and frequent
• colloquial language
• literature as art- form, style, and
technique are important
• Often includes much dialogue
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• narration is structured by
narrator's or character's flow of
consciousness and memory
• associative (rather than
conventional "linear")
• Often employs flashback and flash
forward techniques
MODERN HERO IN LITERATURE
• REJECTION OF THE IDEAL HERO
• HERO IN A MODERN STORY WILL BE
FLAWED AND DISILLUSIONED
• EX: JAY GATSBY-THE GREAT
GATSBY
• EX: GEORGE MILTON-OF MICE AND
MEN
CHARACTERIZATION IN
MODERN LITERATURE
• INTEREST IN THE INNER WORKINGS
OF THE HUMAN MIND/ INTENSELY
PSYCHOLOGICAL
CHARACTERIZATION
• READER LEARNS ABOUT
CHARACTERS PRIMARILY THROUH
DIALOGUE
PLOTS AND MODERN
LITERATURE
• EXPLORES SENSE OF ISOLATION,
UNCERTAINTY, DISILLUSIONMENT.
DISJOINTEDNESS, AND
MEANINGLESSNESS THAT
CHARACTERIZE MODERN LIFE
MODERN LITERATURE
FORMS
• LITERATURE OFTEN LACKED
EXPOSITIONS,
RESOLUTIONS,AND
TRANSITIONS
THEMES IN MODERN
LITERATURE
1. CRITIQUE OF
TRADITIONAL
VALUES OF OUR
CULTURE
2. LOSS OF
MEANING AND
HOPE IN THE
WORLD
3. ALIENATION FROM
SOCIETY AND
LONELINESS
4. VIOLENCE AND
ALIENATION
5. DECADENCE AND
DECAY
6. LOSS AND
DESPAIR