English 3044

Late Modernism

Jacques Derrida, Literary Critic (1984):

The treatment of atomic war in literature can only be a hypothesis, as its actual occurrence would destroy any semantic system capable of describing it.

World War II (1939-45)• Deadliest conflict in human history• About 85 million deaths• Involves 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia• “Allies”: England, USSR, USA, China• “Axis”: Germany, Japan, Italy• Technological innovations of radar, computing; but also atomic bomb

World War II (1939-45)

Because of mass conscripted and volunteer armies, and because of civilian attacks and the economic burden of industrial war, everyone is affected.

To this day there are economic, political, and demographic consequences of World War II.

England at 1945: Rebuilding Although the war is won in April 1945, England sustained heavy damage and loss of life from German bombings. J.K. Rowling lost her mother and disliked her father, but it’s not surprising that being orphaned is a literary theme in postwar British literature.

England at 1945: Cynicism and Loss

WWII is not as heavy a blow to western civilization as WWI, but physically the English cities are badly damaged. As soldiers return, social and economic problems mount. Rationing continues. Winston Churchill, after leading the country during the war, is defeated in election. Intellectually, the ideologies of the war (Fascism; Communism; Holocaust; propaganda) and the bomb are difficult questions for humanity

English culture, 1945Technologically and culturally, by 1945 England is “modern.” The country has cars, television, movies, and early computers. The beginnings of a modern culture of consumer consumption, fashion, and music are forming.

Late Modernism (about 1930-60 (70?) → Postmodernism Reminder: What is literary “modernism”? A style of writing which rejected traditional and conventional methods and saw the experience of reality as individualistic, subjective, non-chronological, and often irrational.

Characteristics of late modernism• Strongly existentialist• Affected by WWII, Holocaust, and bombings of Japan• Urban and intellectual• Centered more on USA (Chicago, NY)

Art of the Holocaust

Late Modernist Painting

Late Modernism in Art- Art made from industrial objects- Beyond paint

Late Modernism in Art- Angles and cubes still popular- Abstract symbolism

Robert Rauschenberg 1925-2008

Late Modernism in Music

Pierre Schafer – Apostrophe (1948)

Dave Brubeck – Time Out (1959)

John Cage – A Flower (1950)

ExistentialismJohn-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) - Discussed by German /

English / French philosophers in the late 1800s and 1900s - Popular after WW II - Existence happens before meaning - The “angst” or fear of living - Meaning must be constructed - Absurdity: Things only mean something if we decide they do

“Theatre of the Absurd”

Waiting for Godot (1953) – Samuel Beckett

“Let's go." "We can't." "Why not?" "We're waiting for Godot.”

Two beggars state that they need to stay by a tree to wait for “Godot,” not knowing who/what this is. At the end they decide to commit suicide, having no reason to do anything.

“Theatre of the Absurd”

The American Dream (1961) – Edward Albee

Albee: “[It is] an examination of the American Scene, an attack on the substitution of artificial for real values in our society.”

‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy’ leave, and ‘Grandma’ tells ‘Mrs. Barker’ that Mommy and Daddy killed their adopted son. However, Mrs. Barker’s other son shows up (‘The American Dream’) and is adopted instead.

“Theatre of the Absurd”

The American Dream (1961) – Edward Albee

“Theatre of the Absurd”

“The characters in Absurdist drama are lost and floating in an incomprehensible universe and they abandon rational devices and discursive thought because these approaches are inadequate.”…Or no characters at all:

Beckett’s “Breath” (1969) – a 25 second play. The breakdown of communication leads to silence.

Animal Farm – George Orwell (1945)- Violent political fable

Meanwhile life was hard. Once again all rations were reduced, except those of the pigs and the dogs. A too rigid equality in rations, Squealer explained, would have been contrary to the principles of Animalism. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food, whatever the appearances might be. For the time being, certainly, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment," never as a "reduction"), but in comparison with the days of Jones, the improvement was enormous. The animals believed every word of it. Truth to tell, Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories. They knew that life nowadays was harsh and bare, that they were often hungry and often cold, and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days.

William Golding 1911-1993-Prolific author of novels and science fiction-Served in the Navy in WW II-Was a school teacher in England

Lord of the Flies (1954)

“There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy.” Alfred Henry Lewis (1906)

What are people really like without rules and laws?