Modernism

1
Modernism The Metamorphosis

• Reactions to a changing world

2
Modernism Basics

• NOT a synonym for Contemporary
• Early 20th century literary movement
• In love with the new
• Questions humanitys 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?

3
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

4
Breakdown of Traditional Beliefs

• Traditional virtues like reason, order, religion,
  obediencequestioned.
• Darwins theory of evolution
• Freuds theories of the unconscious mind
• Einsteins theories of relativity, harnessing the
  power of the atom
• Freedom of thought or breakdown of society as it
  had been known for centuries?

5
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 publics
  expectations of art
• Search for new forms led to fragmentation ,
  producing many different forms and styles

6
Modernist Literature and Art

• Nude Descending a Staircase Marcel Duchamp
• Wheres the nude? Wheres the staircase?
• This painting was wholly controversial when first
  exhibited in 1913people argued tirelessly over
  whether or not it truly was art.

7
Fountain / Bicycle Wheel Marcel Duchamp
Readymades Art or Trash?
8
The Treachery of Images Rene Magritte
This is not a pipe.
9
The Scream Edvard Munch

• Originally titled The Scream of Nature
• Expression of angstGerman for anxiety
• The pain and confusion of mere existence
• Have you ever felt like this?

10
Kafkas 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

11
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 artists
  main goal is to be surprising.
• Be patient. Patience will be rewardedsometimes
  only after repeat readings.
• Question the writers view of the world is it
  optimistic or pessimistic?