Postmodernism 1940’s -1960’s

Birth of Postmodernism The idea of a loss in the goodness of people, a suspicion of science and a world of logic and order was compounded by two main events of WW2: The Holocaust and the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan

Ideas Skeptical of the modern era Challenged the ideas of progress, family, personal identity and objectivity. Originally a reaction to modernism, referring to the lack of artistic, intellectual, or cultural thought or organized principle.

Literature What is it? - Used to describe the different aspects of post WW2 literature - responses to modernism and its ideas - responses to technological advances - greater diversity of cultures that leads to cultural pluralism. (small groups within a larger society maintain their culture identity). - reconceptualization of society and history

Characteristics of writing Irony Playfulness Hyper-reality (media) Dark Humor Using childish, playful humor to describe serious, sometimes grave situations. Paranoia- the belief that something is out of the ordinary even though everything remains the same

Authors Kurt Vonnegut Tim O ‘Brian Jack Kerouac Sylvia Plath