Modernism 1890-1960
Modernism 1890-1960
Modernism has been described as “the tradition of the new” (Childs 2008:2).
Modernist literature such as that of James, Joyce, Woolf, Conrad & Mansfield stepped away from the pedantic details of realist literature. Modernist texts encompass stream of conscious, multiple perception, emotion and offer revolutionary ways of expression of experience; this can be achieved through defamiliarization, symbolism or even allusion (Childs 2008 :3). Modernism recognises a shift in representation of aesthetic and cultural sensibilities as well as shifting from the external experience and a delving into of the subconscious experience. Modernism tries to break away with break with traditional literary styles and create a sense of mystery (Matthews 2008:124)
This attempt to offer an alternative mode of representing what is real was seen as radical and innovative (Childs 2008:2). The modernist period is a period of change; the socio historical influence can be seen in contemporary literate. Ideas about reality and evolution and nature in the period were changing and developing with the help of critical thinkers such as Darwin, Freud, Nietzsche, Bergson. WW1 also had an enormous effect on society and the aftermath changed people’s views of, not only human nature, but how societies were run.
References:
Childs, P. (2008). Modernism. The new critical idiom. 2nd Edition. Oxon: Routledge.
Matthews, S (2008). Modernism a source book. [online] Available from https://don.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-197581-dt-content-rid-189958_1/courses/1314-T372-02/ENG504%20Modernism Accessed 05/03/2014
Modernism 1890-1960
Modernism has been described as “the tradition of the new” (Childs 2008:2).
Modernist literature such as that of James, Joyce, Woolf, Conrad & Mansfield stepped away from the pedantic details of realist literature. Modernist texts encompass stream of conscious, multiple perception, emotion and offer revolutionary ways of expression of experience; this can be achieved through defamiliarization, symbolism or even allusion (Childs 2008 :3). Modernism recognises a shift in representation of aesthetic and cultural sensibilities as well as shifting from the external experience and a delving into of the subconscious experience. Modernism tries to break away with break with traditional literary styles and create a sense of mystery (Matthews 2008:124)
This attempt to offer an alternative mode of representing what is real was seen as radical and innovative (Childs 2008:2). The modernist period is a period of change; the socio historical influence can be seen in contemporary literate. Ideas about reality and evolution and nature in the period were changing and developing with the help of critical thinkers such as Darwin, Freud, Nietzsche, Bergson. WW1 also had an enormous effect on society and the aftermath changed people’s views of, not only human nature, but how societies were run.
References:
Childs, P. (2008). Modernism. The new critical idiom. 2nd Edition. Oxon: Routledge.
Matthews, S (2008). Modernism a source book. [online] Available from https://don.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-197581-dt-content-rid-189958_1/courses/1314-T372-02/ENG504%20Modernism Accessed 05/03/2014