POSTMODERNISM : LEARNING TARGET: I can summarize the main tenets of literature from Post-Modernism (Contemporary)

REMEMBER: What is Modernism?  Modernism reflects a loss of faith in traditional values and beliefs, including the American Dream.  Artistic/literary movement  Post World-War One  Pessimistic picture of culture in disarray  Modern poets goal = rid poetry of 19 th century prettiness & sentimentality  Rejected 19 th century optimism  6 Qualities: instability, futility, chaos, loss of faith, collapse of morality, disillusionment

Where did modernism develop? -Europe -Modernists believed that the lives of people would improve thanks to science and a world based on logic. It began as a time of optimism leading up to 1914 when WWI began

The turning point from modernism to postmodernism… The terrible bloodshed of the First World War sowed seeds of doubt as to whether the world was becoming a better place. The fact that science was turned to creating weapons of mass destruction and killing on an industrial scale as a trademark of the war (WWII), a wave of pessimism swept across Europe. 2 compounding factors that became the turning point: Holocaust and Atomic Bomb

The birth of post-modernism This idea of a -loss in the goodness of people and -a suspicion of science and -a suspicion of a world of logic and order compounded by two main events of the Second World War…

The Holocaust The dropping of Atomic bombs on Japanese cities.

So.. what is postmodernism? - Postmodern texts embody scepticism towards the ideas and ideals of the modern era, especially the ideas of progress, objectivity, reason certainty, personal identity.

Modernism Vs. Post Modernism  Think post WWI ( ) around time of Prohibition, Roaring 20’s  Modernists believe that people were capable of original thought.  Modernists believed that a work of art bears a universal truth or meaning.  Think beginning in mid WWII ( ) and continued on through late 1900’s  Post-modernists believe that the majority of the world bases its views on what is presented to them through the media – this is called “hyper-reality” – a reality created through media.  Post-modernists believe that works of art are open to many different interpretations. How do these songs embody postmodernism? “American Pie” “Born in the USA”

How do these songs embody postmodernism? “American Pie” 1971 “Miss American Pie” = She is the America of a passing era, and he is bidding her farewell. The narrator here is nostalgic for a simpler and more optimistic kind of music—a music that can make people smile, and that could help them forget their troubles. “Born in the USA” 1981 The song was in part a tribute to Springsteen's friends who had experienced the Vietnam War ( ), some of whom did not come back; it also protests the hardships Vietnam veterans faced upon their return from the war.Vietnam War Vietnam veterans

Some definitions.  Hyperreality - a hypothetical inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from fantasy, especially in technologically advanced postmodern cultures.consciousnessrealityfantasy  A parody ; also called send-up, spoof or lampoon ), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or make fun at an original work.   0-:50   0-:52  A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre that is a "hodge-podge" or an imitation.genrehodge-podgeimitation

As we read “Harrison Bergeron,” underline any qualities that call in to question the individual, society, the media etc. (qualities of postmodernism literature)

How is this short story a critique of the following terms?:  SOCIETY  MEDIA  GOVERNMENT  HUMAN NATURE

“Harrison Bergeron” Reading Questions  What is the state of U.S. society as described in the first paragraph of the story? How has “equality” been achieved?  Consider the characters of Hazel and George. Why isn’t Hazel handicapped? How does George seem to feel about his handicaps?  Consider the character of Harrison in terms of both his physical qualities and personality traits. Why is he considered a threat to society?  What is the significance of the dance that Harrison performs with the ballerina? How does the style in which the story is written change in this passage?  How do Hazel and George react to the televised murder of their son?  What do you consider to be Vonnegut’s message (there are multiple) in this story? What leads you to this conclusion?

“Harrison Bergeron” …  is representative of postmodernism in that is somewhat darkly comedic, has a fragmented storyline (with the thought interrupters), is full of sarcasm and irony, and is set in a distant dystopian technologically advanced future. It also represents a loss of faith in society and in humanity in general.

Thursday, April  Read “The Lottery”  As you read, underline any qualities that call in to question the individual, society, the media etc.  Complete a SOAPSTONE  Come to class having taken notes on how the story is a critique on these terms:  SOCIETY  MEDIA  GOVERNMENT  HUMAN NATURE Be ready to share your answers with the class.