A very, very brief glimpse into Modernism

American society in general Prior to WWI, mood of American society is confident and optimistic This mood shattered by horrifying realities of WWI At end of war many people left with feeling of distrust toward ideas and values of past that had led to the war People saw need for change, but were unsure about the sort of change needed Growing sense of uncertainty, disjointedness, and disillusionment among certain members of American Society

Literature and Art Quest for new ideas about how to see the world extended to art Modernists sought to capture the essence of modern life in both the form and content of their work  To reflect the disjointedness of modern life, they constructed their works out of fragments, omitting the expositions, resolutions, interpretations, transitions, and summaries often used in traditional works Also frequently expressed their views about modern life in the themes of their works, often focusing on such themes as the uncertainty, bewilderment, and apparent meaninglessness of modern life  Believed that modern life lacked certainty, so they generally suggested rather than asserted meaning in their works  Theme of a typical modernist work is implied, not stated, forcing readers to draw their own conclusions  Often use symbols and allusions to suggest themes Generally use a limited point of view in their works, because they believed that reality is shaped by people’s perceptions  Experimented with new techniques, including shifting points of view and stream- of- consciousness  Stream-of-consciousness attempts to re-create the natural flow of a character’s thoughts  Presents a series of thoughts, memories and insights connected only by a character’s natural associations