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Modernism 1918-1945
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Difference between Realism and Modernism Whereas REALISM Emphasized absolutism, and Believed that a single reality could be determined through the observation of nature MODERNISM Argued for cultural relativism, And believed that people make their own meaning in the world.
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Value Differences in the Modern World Pre-Modern WorldModern World (Early 20 th Century) OrderedChaotic MeaningfulFutile OptimisticPessimistic StableFluctuating FaithLoss of faith Morality/ValuesCollapse of Morality/Values Clear Sense of IdentityConfused Sense of Identity and Place in the World
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World War I:1914 (1917-1918)
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WWI: Doughboys and Air Fights
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WWI: Trench War Fare and Poison Gas
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Russian Revolution: 1917
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Social Snapshot of the Times Result of Political Turmoil Revolutionary Ideologies Rise Fascism The separation and persecution or denial of equality to a certain group based on race, creed, or origin Nazism Socialism featuring racism, expansionism and obedience to a strong leader Communism Control of the means of production should rest in the hands of the laborers.
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Fascism and Nazism
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Communism
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Social Snapshot of the Times Scientific Revolution Quantum theory Explains the nature of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level Principle of Uncertainty In quantum mechanics: increasing the accuracy of measurement of one observable quantity increases the uncertainty with which another may be known
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Forces Behind Modernism The sense that our culture has no center, no values. Paradigm shift from the closed, finite, measurable, cause- and-effect universe of the 19th century to an open, relativistic, changing, strange universe;
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Characteristics of Modernism in Literature Literature Exhibits Perspectivism Meaning comes from the individual’s perspective and is thus personalized; A single story might be told from the perspective of several different people, with the assumption that the “truth” is somewhere in the middle
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Characteristics of Modernism in Literature Inner psychological reality or “interiority” is represented o Stream of consciousness—portraying the character’s inner monologue
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Characteristic of Modernism in Literature Perception of language changes: No longer seen as transparent, allowing us to “see through” to reality; But now considered the way an individual constructs reality; Language is “thick” with multiple meanings and varied connotative forces.
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Characteristic of Modernism in Literature Emphasis on the Experimental Art is artifact rather than reality; Organized non-sequentially Experience portrayed as layered, allusive, discontinuous, using fragmentation and juxtaposition. Ambiguous endings—open endings which are seen as more representative of reality.
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The Armory Show: International Exhibition of Modern Art, 1913 Watershed date in American art Introduced astonished New Yorkers, accustomed to realistic art, to modern art; Teddy Roosevelt said, “That’s not art!”
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Modernist Movement Swept along by disillusionment with traditions that seemed spiritually empty Called for bold experimentation and rejection of traditional themes and styles For some, the American Dream dies in this period
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Modernist Influences Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud The “unconscious mind” “Freudian slip” New understanding of sexuality “cigar just a cigar” “Oedipal conflict” Anxiety over our level of freedom – if influenced by our unconscious mind – little is left of free will RESULT BECOMES STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
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Disillusionment T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” “The Wasteland” Reflects sterility and barrenness of the land Spiritual decay and despair Ernest Hemingway Used plain style Hero was disillusioned yet noble and courageous
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Modernism Timeline 1914: Outbreak of WWI 1917: US enters war, Russian Revolution 1919: WWI ends, Einstein’s Relativity theory confirmed, Prohibition begins
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Modernism Timeline 1920 League of Nations begins; 19 th Amendment granting women the vote 1921—Irish Free State proclaimed 1922—Fascists march on Rome under Mussolini 1923—Charleston craze
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Modernism Timeline 1925— Image of human face televised Hitler published Mein Kampf 1927 Lindbergh flies solo across Atlantic Al Jolson, first talkie
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Modernism Timeline 1929—US stock market crashes; 1933 Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany First German concentration camps Prohibition ends in US
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Modernism Timeline 1934—Hitler becomes dictator 1936—Civil War in Spain begins 1938—Germany occupies Austria 1939 Hitler and Stalin make pact; Germany invades Poland Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
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Modernism Timeline 1941 Germany invades USSR Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, US enters war 1942 Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Midway; T-shirt invented 1944—D-Day invasion of France
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Modernism Timeline 1945 End of war in Europe Atomic bomb dropped on Japan First computer built Microwave oven invented United Nations founded
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Freewrite How do the stories in Dubliners exhibit the characteristics of Modernism? Give specific example
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