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American Modernism

American Modernism. (1910-1945). What is MODERNISM?. Artistic movement that breaks with classical and traditional forms American Modernism: WWI - Roaring 20s - Great Depression - WWII Modernist writers = voices of a nation coming of age in complex times Characterized by disillusionment

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American Modernism

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  1. American Modernism (1910-1945)

  2. What is MODERNISM? Artistic movement that breaks with classical and traditional forms American Modernism: WWI - Roaring 20s - Great Depression - WWII Modernist writers = voices of a nation coming of age in complex times Characterized by disillusionment “You are a lost generation” - Hemingway

  3. AMERICAN MODERNISM OLD American Dream: Capitalism = heroic Self-made person = cornerstone of American business mythology Puritan work ethic B. Franklin’s 13 virtues

  4. AMERICAN MODERNISM NEW American Dream: post-Civil War Role of individual becomes more ambiguous Success = power Wealth = power (social) Nationalism = power (WWI)

  5. MODERN LITERATURE: Influences WWI Nationalism Militarism Ends romantic illusions of war New weapons (tanks, machineguns, chemical warfare) 10 million dead

  6. MODERN LITERATURE: Influences NIHILISM Doctrine that existing institutions must be completely destroyed to make way for the new “LOST GENERATION” Americans lose faith in government, God, and peers/elders Life in United States = shallow, empty, vulgar, unfulfilling (expatriates: Fitzgerald, Hemingway)

  7. MODERN LITERATURE: Influences HARLEM RENAISSANCE Great Migration: blacks from South to Chicago and cities in the north (e.g., Harlem, NY) Harlem: “Negro was in vogue” - Langston Hughes Whites came to hear/see the fountain of creativity coming from black artists

  8. MODERN LITERATURE: Influences Nouveau Riche (Fr. “new rich”) Conflict between Old Money and New Money

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