The major
literary movements in the twentieth century are Modernism (circa 1900-1940) and Postmodernism
(circa 1960-1990). Another term, Contemporary, is sometimes applied to literature with 1960 as
the cut-off.
MODERNISM
While it is difficult to establish
the exact beginning of some literary movements such as Modernism, usually critics concur that
literature written after World War I was Modernist. And, according to Virginia Woolf, human
relationships changed after 1910. Yet, among the Modernists, there was variety of perspective,
although most began to delve into the minds of their characters and portrayed the disjointedness
of modern line by rejecting traditions forms. With Hemingway, for example, there are diffident
heroes, characters who suffer disillusionment, isolation and nihilism. On the other hand, D. H.
Lawrence has heroes who have characters of a more discussed sexuality in contrast to Hemingway's
males, and he continues a more aggresuve use of symbols. Yet, there is in both author's
treatment ofa certain self-consciousness often revealed through the technique of
stream-of-consciousness with experiences presented sometimes in a fragmentary manner. Certainly,
in Modernist writing there is the awareness of new psychological insights. For, the work of such
as Signmund Freud, Carl Jung, and William James exerted tremendous influence upon the the
writers of this era.
Although there are the unromantic Modernist novels and
poetry, such a those about the senselessness of war, there are romantic strains--the idea of
fleeing battle for peace and love in A Farewell to Arms; and the verses of
those such as Rupert Brooke--..."there's some corner of a foreign field/That is forever
England"--
POST-MODERNISM
With post-Modernism, there
is suspicion of master narratives, rejection of traditional myths and theories such as the Grand
Theory; there is also social pluralism, a perspective from a decentered self; fragmentation and
a subverted order and lack of control. In many ways, Postmodernism rejects established modes of
writing and thinking and mixes identities.
A "hyper-reality" is
more important than reality. There are merging and emerging images, and often
"simulacra" appears as more powerful than the "real" Drug-induced images and
thoughts are weighed and presented.
One prominent example of Post-Modernism is William
R. Burrough's Naked Lunch that is semi-autobiographical in its depictions
of drug use. At times, the novel is very impressionistic and disjointed.
href="http://www19.homepage.villanova.edu/karyn.hollis/prof_academic/Courses/2043_pop/modernism_vs_postmodernism.htm">http://www19.homepage.villanova.edu/karyn.hollis/prof_aca...
