Modernism Defiance, Disillusion & Discontent …

Jackson Pollock “Number 20”, 1948

Jackson Pollock “One: Number 31”, 1950

Happening in the US: Marked by 2 world wars, prosperity, and worldwide depression A period of artistic experimentation and lasting literary achievement Feeling of optimism before WWI 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 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 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! 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: Loss Exile Isolation Social woes (war, poverty) Human’s capacity for cruelty Movement away from religion; reliance on own sense of morality

Who were the Modernists? Gertrude Stein Ezra Pound T.S. Eliot Ernest Hemingway F. Scott Fitzgerald William Faulkner John Steinbeck Sinclair Lewis J.D. Salinger 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 Expatriate = an exile “Lost generation” – Stein’s term Saw very little in their civilization to praise or even accept Very pessimistic

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

Harlem Renaissance 1920s – 1930s Began in 1921 with Countee Cullen’s “I Have a Rendezvous with Life (with apologies to Alan Seeger)” A time of artistic, musical, and literary creativity for African Americans Centered in the Harlem district of NYC 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 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  “In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald  “No more war, no more plague, only the dazed silence that follows the ceasing of the heavy guns.” – Katherine Ann Porter  “Everything is the same and everything is different.”– Gertrude Stein