Modernism Basic Definition: Modernism was a philosophical and artistic movement of the early 20th century “To be in love with what is new and provocative.

Presentation on theme: "Modernism Basic Definition: Modernism was a philosophical and artistic movement of the early 20th century “To be in love with what is new and provocative."— Presentation transcript:

1 Modernism Basic Definition: Modernism was a philosophical and artistic movement of the early 20th century “To be in love with what is new and provocative. [...] fought against traditions of all kinds” •T.S. Eliot: It could not accord with "the immense panorama of futility and anarchy which is contemporary history." Modernism is the cultural, aesthetic response to the condition of modernity.

2 Heavily influenced by the wars, so why talk about it now?
A note about “time” Modernism = 1900’s ish? Heavily influenced by the wars, so why talk about it now? Establish the beginnings/Themes Apply to literature (Metamorphosis ) Learn more about WWI Look at how WWI shaped Modernism

3 Major Causes for a “Movement”
Structural Change (Technology/Environment) Rapid social change Breakdown of traditional roles Experimentation with new forms ART! Expression!

4 Major Causes for a “Movement”
Industrialization (gosh, does it affect everything? Yes...) social change = cities, family structure Breakdown of traditional roles Experimentation with new forms

5 Themes Alienation leads to awareness about one's inner life. Why am I the way I am? Who am I? Psychology = Freud, Jung. Valorization of the despairing individual in the face of an unmanageable future Disillusionment , lack of hope… Connection to Romanticism?

6 belong to a "lost generation" (Gertrude Stein),
Themes Alienation War soldiers belong to a "lost generation" (Gertrude Stein), suffers from a "dissociation of sensibility" (T. S. Eliot), and have "a Dream deferred"

7 Effect of Industrialization On a sense of individuality
Themes continued Effect of Industrialization On a sense of individuality Scenes of the metropolis, cities and urbanscapes The lowly worker, the rich tycoon.

8 Modernism Artistic Expression
portrayed the world of men as a harsh, hostile environment in which life had lost its meaning and men and women were isolated from each other, struggling to survive alone. This world is one in which our dreams are unrealistic and futile.

9 Make it New! From Modernism: The Lure of Heresy: “In short, modernists considered Ezra Pound’s famous injunction, ‘Make It New!,’ a professional, almost a sacred obligation.” Let’s throw all the rules out the window. The cultures and traditions of the past are obsolete, so why should we stick with them? Let’s blend cultural styles. Let’s invent new rules for ourselves, and break those too. Let’s forget what we know and

10 Modernism in other arts
Music: Twelve tone technique Arnold Shoenberg Use all 12 tones without repeating

11 Modernism in other arts
Art:Pointilism; Divisionism Georges Seurat

12 Modernism in other arts
Art: Divisionism / Pointilism

13 Modernism in other arts
Dance: Modern Dance Isadora Duncan hI

14 Modernism in Literature
Embraced non-traditional syntax and forms. Challenged tradition Writers wanted to move beyond Realism to introduce such concepts as disjointed timelines The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali

15 Literary Modernism - Characteristics
Setting: Urban landscapes Diversity in backgrounds and ideas vs. poverty and crime Lost in a nameless, faceless crowd Modernist characters Quest to understand and/or recreate themselves Try to live as meaningful as possible Loose reference to time Chronological order is vague/confusing. Time is hazy Characters on quest for self understanding

16 Literary Modernism -Techniques
Borrowing from cultures and other languages POV1 & Stream of consciousness Open form Juxtaposition Discontinuous narrative Classical allusions

17 Literary Modernism - Techniques
Stream of Consciousness From Joyce’s Ulysses a quarter after what an unearthly hour I suppose theyre just getting up in China now combing out their pigtails for the day well soon have the nuns ringing the angelus theyve nobody coming in to spoil their sleep except an odd priest or two for his night office the alarmlock next door at cockshout clattering the brains out of itself let me see if I can doze off what kind of flowers are those they invented like the stars the wallpaper in Lombard street was much nicer the apron he gave me was like that something only I only wore it twice better lower this lamp and try again so that I can get up early Identify how this technique connects to the themes of Modernism

18 How is Modernism a reaction to the times?
Reflect: How is Modernism a reaction to the times?