Modernism & “The
Metamorphosis”
Reactions to a changing world
Modernism Basics
NOT a synonym for
“Contemporary”
Early 20th century
literary movement
“In love with the new”
Questions humanity’s
humanity
Reaction to WWI and
its widespread
destruction
Rebellion against
Realism
Industry and
technology: friend or
foe?
Reinvention of the
world
Breakdown of
traditional beliefs
Art: freedom or prison?
Social Change
Industrial Revolution provided new technology
which in turn provided new opportunities
Middle and lower classes gained power; upper
classes lost power
Communism: best idea ever, or global threat to
personal liberty?
WWI: massive slaughter, led people to question
the wisdom of world leadership and order
Breakdown of Traditional Beliefs
Traditional virtues like reason, order,
religion, obedience—questioned.
Darwin’s theory of evolution
Freud’s theories of the unconscious mind
Einstein’s theories of relativity, harnessing
the power of the atom
Freedom of thought or breakdown of
society as it had been known for
centuries?
The Modern Artist/Search for the
“New”
Total break from past forms, constant search for
new ideas
Liberation = alienation…
Feelings of hostility for “the masses” was shown
in the art they created
Banded together in “movements”
“New” = anything that challenged the public’s
expectations of art
Search for new forms led to fragmentation ,
producing many different forms and styles
Modernist Literature and Art
“Nude Descending a
Staircase” – Marcel
Duchamp
Where’s the nude?
Where’s the staircase?
This painting was wholly
controversial when first
exhibited in 1913—
people argued tirelessly
over whether or not it
truly was “art.”
“Fountain” / “Bicycle Wheel”–
Marcel Duchamp
“Readymades” : Art or Trash?
“The Treachery of Images” – Rene
Magritte
“This is not a pipe.”
“The Scream” – Edvard Munch
Originally titled “The
Scream of Nature”
Expression of angst—
German for “anxiety”
The pain and
confusion of mere
existence
Have you ever felt like
this?
Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”
Originally written in German by a Czech Jew named
Franz Kafka
Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning and finds his
outward appearance has been transformed into that of a
horrible, tremendous, hideous bug.
Shunned by his family and co-workers and left without
any other options, he eventually allows himself to perish
and is thrown away with the trash.
Commentary on the fragile nature of human life and the
strained relationships we have with family and friends
Kafka himself had a strained relationship with his father
and had trouble making friends and relating to others
Reading Strategies – Modern
Literature
Visualize. Modernists rely heavily on imagery.
Try to notice what is Modern and “new” in the
writing. What makes it original and distinctive?
Be alert to anything that challenges your
expectations, and remember, the Modern artist’s
main goal is to be surprising.
Be patient. Patience will be rewarded—
sometimes only after repeat readings.
Question the writer’s view of the world: is it
optimistic or pessimistic?