Post Modernism Post Modernism 1950’s to Present1950’s to Present

&&Contemporary LiteratureContemporary Literature

1970’s to Present1970’s to Present

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All the time periods

•Romanticism (Gothic)•Transcendentalism •Realism•Naturalism•Modernism•Harlem Renaissance•Postmodernism•Contemporary

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Postmodernism: What is it?Postmodernism: What is it?

This period began after WWII and overlaps This period began after WWII and overlaps in time with Modernism and Contemporary.in time with Modernism and Contemporary.

It’s very similar in its themes and forms to It’s very similar in its themes and forms to Modernism, except it seems to celebrate Modernism, except it seems to celebrate “insanity”, or the idea that there are no “insanity”, or the idea that there are no universal truths, more than Modernism.universal truths, more than Modernism.

One of the main ideas in Post-Modernism is One of the main ideas in Post-Modernism is the “death of the subject”, the idea that the “death of the subject”, the idea that

when I say “I”, there really is no “I”, only a when I say “I”, there really is no “I”, only a bunch of societal brainwashing, of images bunch of societal brainwashing, of images and words that I group together under the and words that I group together under the

heading of “I”. heading of “I”.

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• Postmodernism is a term that encompasses a wide-range of developments in philosophy, film, architecture, art, literature, and culture.

• Originally a reaction to modernism, referring to the lack of artistic, intellectual, or cultural thought or organized principle.

• Started around 1940s, exact date is unknown.

• Peaked around the 1960s and 1970s with the release of Catch 22 and Slaughterhouse Five.

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What do Modernist and Post-Modernist Writing Share in

Common?• Fragmentation – in plot, characters, theme,

images, and overall storyline. • Loss is a huge theme in modernist works. • The destruction of the family unit. • Characters may be given little or no physical

description, and one or more characters is usually an "outcast."

• Authority figures are often untrustworthy, reflecting the question of truth.

• Movement away from religion.• The reversal of traditional roles

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What do Modernism and Post-Modernism Share in Common,

• Ambiguous ending• Often setting is more than just the setting or,

maybe there is no setting at all.• The use of improper grammar to reflect dialect.• More sexuality shown in a blatant way• More use of the first person narrative, reflecting

the lack of universal truth, i.e. there are only individual truths.

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.

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What was going on during the years of Post-Modernism?

• WWII ended in 1945• Cold War with U.S. Russia begins in 1949• 1950’s society splits between

conservative, family oriented values, versus those left out of the American Dream, as seen in the Civil Rights Movement, Beat Poets, Unions, etc.

• A rise in technology: computers introduced in the 1960s: now a daily part of life

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Cultural Changes in Post Modern times:

• Often called “The Information Age”, where so much new information is coming at us that humans find it hard to adapt

• The culture of this time period is called “Consumer Society”, since our economy’s success is founded on an ever expanding appetite for, and consumption of, material goods. We define ourselves by our brands.

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What else during this time period?

• 1960s-70s: Vietnam War• 1970s: Nixon resigns in disgrace• 1979: Hostage Crisis with Iran• 1980’s: Berlin wall taken down, end of

Cold War• 1990’s: Rise of Terrorism and rise of

“Islamophobia”

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

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

Contemporary NonfictionContemporary Nonfiction

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

• New Journalism (or Literary New Journalism (or Literary Journalism) has added personal and Journalism) has added personal and fictional elements to nonfiction, fictional elements to nonfiction, enhancing its popularity with today’s enhancing its popularity with today’s readers.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 impersonal, allusive, difficult – was no longer appropriate. The times called for a longer appropriate. The times called for a more personal and accessible approach more personal and accessible approach that challenged complacency and that challenged complacency and convention.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.

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Influential works:

• Catch 22 – Joseph Heller• Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut• Lost in the Funhouse – John Barth• The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien• White Noise – Don DeLillo• Gravity’s Rainbow – Thomas Pynchon• The Crying of Lot 49 – Thomas Pynchon

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• Alice Walker Alice Walker

• Wallace Stevens Wallace Stevens

• E. E. Cummings E. E. Cummings

• Maya AngelouMaya Angelou

• Anne SextonAnne Sexton

• James Baldwin James Baldwin

• Richard Wright Richard Wright

• Sandra CisnerosSandra Cisneros

• Amy TanAmy Tan

• Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card

AUTHORS