Postmodernist/Contemporary Period
(1945-Present)
Introduction
The Postmodernist Period, also known as the Contemporary Period, was the era of American literature immediately succeeding the Modernist Period, hence the name. The Postmodernist Period came with the ending of World War II, specifically the dropping of the atomic bombs upon the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With this event, people all over the world began to see the terrors of nuclear warfare and how quickly a nation could be destroyed. The meaning of life was undercut, and similar to Modernism, the works of Postmodernism included themes of confusion chaos, and fragmentation. However, unlike the Modernist Period, Postmodernism reflected the loss of reality and effectiveness in life and language. Writers and philosophers believed that language was fundamentally flawed and could never completely communicate a person’s real meanings or ideas. Due to the lack of value of human life, dark humor and grotesque characters came about, depicting the dark nature of the period. In addition to that, there was an equaling of the levels of “high” and “low” art. Both became similar, as the divide between the two grew fainter.
Despite the depressing beliefs about life and language that people felt, the Postmodernist period was also the set for huge change within the nation of America. Civil Rights activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks arose during this time, encouraging non-violent ways for African Americans to protest for their equal rights. They saw the products of their hard work with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. While racial equality grew during this time, there were many who still opposed it, and so racism can be found in works of this time period, too. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a historic book of the time, and it includes elements of racism and the struggle for equality that were present in Postmodernist literature.
The Period of Postmodernism was a dark shift in American thinking and writing. Americans began to be scared of the future, and believed only destruction could come from it, reflected in the dark elements of the writing at the time. However, large steps towards change occurred for the African Americans and other minorities, adding a positive light to this otherwise dark time period. Despite the negativity, this period of American literature is still ongoing, and might bring about more positive changes in the future, as this nation and this world continue to grow and develop.
Despite the depressing beliefs about life and language that people felt, the Postmodernist period was also the set for huge change within the nation of America. Civil Rights activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks arose during this time, encouraging non-violent ways for African Americans to protest for their equal rights. They saw the products of their hard work with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. While racial equality grew during this time, there were many who still opposed it, and so racism can be found in works of this time period, too. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a historic book of the time, and it includes elements of racism and the struggle for equality that were present in Postmodernist literature.
The Period of Postmodernism was a dark shift in American thinking and writing. Americans began to be scared of the future, and believed only destruction could come from it, reflected in the dark elements of the writing at the time. However, large steps towards change occurred for the African Americans and other minorities, adding a positive light to this otherwise dark time period. Despite the negativity, this period of American literature is still ongoing, and might bring about more positive changes in the future, as this nation and this world continue to grow and develop.
Author: Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O’Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 25, 1925. She began learning at a young age when she was enrolled at the local city schools. When her family moved to Milledgeville, GA in 1938, she joined another school, the Peabody Laboratory School. O’Connor’s hardships as a child began when she was 15 years old when she lost her father to systemic lupus erythematosus. She continued to attend school at the Georgia State College for Women despite the loss.
During this time in her life, O’Connor began her literary work by editing the Corinthian, her school’s college magazine, and served as an unofficial cartoonist. Most important were her essays and works of fiction she wrote for the Corinthian, where she first demonstrated her knack for using satire and comedy in her writing. In 1954, she received a journalism scholarship to attend the University of Iowa where she received her master’s degree in 1947. During her master’s education, O’Connor got to meet many influential writers such as Andrew Lytle, who later on published some of O’Connor’s works in the Sewanee Review, for which he was an editor. Most notably during this time was O’Connor’s first official story, The Geranium, which was finished in 1946. She had also started working on her first novel, Wise Blood, which was published in 1952.
After graduating with her master’s degree in 1947, O’Connor won the Rinehart-Iowa Fiction Award for a part of Wise Blood and this allowed her to go to Yaddo, a New York artist’s retreat in Saratoga Springs. Here she became friends with Robert Lowell, an American poet. In 1949, O’Connor moved into the garage of a Catholic family, Sally and Robert Fitzgerald. She received a different environment while living with them for almost two years, which helped O’Connor develop her creativity and writing. Some of her works were influenced by the religious background she received while she lived there.
All was well with O’Connor until she suffered her first attack in 1950 from the same autoimmune disease that had killed her father, lupus. While she survived, she was forced to return to Milledgeville, where she spent the rest of her life. Despite the effects of the medication she was on, O’Connor continued to write, and in 1955 finished one of her more famous collections of short stories, A Good Man Is Hard To Find and Other Stories. While living in Milledgeville, O’Connor kept in touch with the Fitzgeralds, Robert Lowell, and other influential people who helped her writing. She continued to receive awards and merits for her efforts in the literary world, an example being several O’Henry awards.
In 1964, after receiving surgery for a fibroid tumor, O’Connor’s lupus returned and she battled the disease for several months. On August 3, 1964, O’Connor passed away at the age of 39 from the same disease as her father. Despite her death, her works continued to be praised and published. In 1972, O’Connor’s The Complete Stories received the National Book Award.
Flannery O’Connor became a famous author in the Postmodernist period despite her short life. Her use of satire and comedic elements played a large role in her writing of dark humor. She also included elements of the Southern background she grew up in as well as the religious influence she received while living with the Fitzgerald’s. Her diverse writing made an impact in American literature even after her death, and will continue to be a great example of the literary period of Postmodernism for years to come.
During this time in her life, O’Connor began her literary work by editing the Corinthian, her school’s college magazine, and served as an unofficial cartoonist. Most important were her essays and works of fiction she wrote for the Corinthian, where she first demonstrated her knack for using satire and comedy in her writing. In 1954, she received a journalism scholarship to attend the University of Iowa where she received her master’s degree in 1947. During her master’s education, O’Connor got to meet many influential writers such as Andrew Lytle, who later on published some of O’Connor’s works in the Sewanee Review, for which he was an editor. Most notably during this time was O’Connor’s first official story, The Geranium, which was finished in 1946. She had also started working on her first novel, Wise Blood, which was published in 1952.
After graduating with her master’s degree in 1947, O’Connor won the Rinehart-Iowa Fiction Award for a part of Wise Blood and this allowed her to go to Yaddo, a New York artist’s retreat in Saratoga Springs. Here she became friends with Robert Lowell, an American poet. In 1949, O’Connor moved into the garage of a Catholic family, Sally and Robert Fitzgerald. She received a different environment while living with them for almost two years, which helped O’Connor develop her creativity and writing. Some of her works were influenced by the religious background she received while she lived there.
All was well with O’Connor until she suffered her first attack in 1950 from the same autoimmune disease that had killed her father, lupus. While she survived, she was forced to return to Milledgeville, where she spent the rest of her life. Despite the effects of the medication she was on, O’Connor continued to write, and in 1955 finished one of her more famous collections of short stories, A Good Man Is Hard To Find and Other Stories. While living in Milledgeville, O’Connor kept in touch with the Fitzgeralds, Robert Lowell, and other influential people who helped her writing. She continued to receive awards and merits for her efforts in the literary world, an example being several O’Henry awards.
In 1964, after receiving surgery for a fibroid tumor, O’Connor’s lupus returned and she battled the disease for several months. On August 3, 1964, O’Connor passed away at the age of 39 from the same disease as her father. Despite her death, her works continued to be praised and published. In 1972, O’Connor’s The Complete Stories received the National Book Award.
Flannery O’Connor became a famous author in the Postmodernist period despite her short life. Her use of satire and comedic elements played a large role in her writing of dark humor. She also included elements of the Southern background she grew up in as well as the religious influence she received while living with the Fitzgerald’s. Her diverse writing made an impact in American literature even after her death, and will continue to be a great example of the literary period of Postmodernism for years to come.
Literary Themes
The literature from the Postmodernist Period reflected the historical events that were happening in the thematic elements of within the writing. The themes of confusion and chaos were merely carried over from the Modernist era, as WWII had left a nasty scar upon Americans just as WWI and the Great Depression had. However, newer themes, such as dark humor, came about as a way of reflecting the loss of humanity and the darkness brought about with the threat of nuclear warfare during the Cold War.
Another important theme was the search for identity in writing. The Civil Rights movement that occurred during the late 50's into the 60's was the African American push to find their identity in America. Some, such as Malcolm X wanted to form an independent nation for black people where they could embrace their ethnic heritage. Others, such as Rosa Parks and MLK fought for racial equality with white people. This theme of searching for identity also led to a "side-effect" within literature, the theme of racism. While many people supported the Civil Rights Movement, there were some who opposed it and therefore reflected that in their writings.
A final theme present during this literary period was that language was fundamentally flawed and that it could not communicate truth and the actual meaning of things. This led to Postmodernists believing that society is what people make it, there is no actual "right way". Therefore, some authors reflected their ideas and beliefs about the world and humanity in their works. Some believed that life was about preserving the world and nature, such as the poet Robert Penn Warren in his poem Golden Glade. There were so many different ideas presented during this time that truth could easily have become lost or misinterpreted, creating even more doubt and curiosity among authors and philosophers.
Another important theme was the search for identity in writing. The Civil Rights movement that occurred during the late 50's into the 60's was the African American push to find their identity in America. Some, such as Malcolm X wanted to form an independent nation for black people where they could embrace their ethnic heritage. Others, such as Rosa Parks and MLK fought for racial equality with white people. This theme of searching for identity also led to a "side-effect" within literature, the theme of racism. While many people supported the Civil Rights Movement, there were some who opposed it and therefore reflected that in their writings.
A final theme present during this literary period was that language was fundamentally flawed and that it could not communicate truth and the actual meaning of things. This led to Postmodernists believing that society is what people make it, there is no actual "right way". Therefore, some authors reflected their ideas and beliefs about the world and humanity in their works. Some believed that life was about preserving the world and nature, such as the poet Robert Penn Warren in his poem Golden Glade. There were so many different ideas presented during this time that truth could easily have become lost or misinterpreted, creating even more doubt and curiosity among authors and philosophers.
IMportant Authors
Flannery O'Connor: The Life You Save May Be Your Own, The Geranium, Wise Blood
Bernard Malamud: The First Seven Years
Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird
Robert Warren Penn: Gold Glade
Martin Luther King Jr : I Have A Dream speech
Bernard Malamud: The First Seven Years
Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird
Robert Warren Penn: Gold Glade
Martin Luther King Jr : I Have A Dream speech
Now Take a trip through time with some of the most historic moments in Postmodernist History!
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9/11 Tribute Lights in New York City
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