An Introduction to Modernism and Postmodernism

The concept of "modern" is a relative one, because it depends on the men's vision. However this is the best adjective found to describe the era we are living.

The greatest events of the modern era are the two World Wars, the huge changes in industry and technology, the rise in power and influence of international corporations and a Globe interconnection. Then there is also the change of values developed by many traditional societies and nations, which started a process of "Westernisation", that is to say that they become to wanted to start a process of industrialisation, to wanted individual politic rights, democracy, a private ownership of the means of production, in some cases the emancipation of women etc.

The literature of the period grows out as a reaction to Realism and Naturalism and it is not the unique literary movement that rejected them. Inside Modernism some critics found four literary movements that make up the modern literature: impressionism, expressionism, surrealism and nihilism.

Realism tried to portray external objects and events, on the contrary impressionism tries to portray psychological impressions these objects and events make on the character. Whereas Realism tried to focus on these objects and events as they really are, expressionism tries to express their inner vision and surrealism tries to portray them as they seem rather than as they are. Then, while Realism wants to show the supreme importance of rationalness and reason, absurdism tries to show  the absurd conditions of contemporary life.

Modernism and Realism have some points in common; overall they share the focus on the individual psychology and the consideration of an art work as a coherent whole worthy of study.

The main characteristics in Modern literature are:

• use of images and symbols
• use of a colloquial language in a very conscious way
• language is considered a sort of "medium"
• content, message, form, technique and style have all the same importance
• sometimes there is the writer' intention to change the way readers look at the World

The period we are living (starting from the last half of the 20^th century) is called Postmodernism.

This movement has lot in common with Modernism, but there are some points of disagreement because Postmodernism:

• rejects Western values and beliefs
• is suspicious of being "profound"
• avoids drawing conclusions or suggesting underlying meanings
• refuses a linear and stable vision of the human experience
• its writers give the readers a relevant position creating an open work in order to make them able to provide their own interpretation