Topics for Further Study
Modernism emerged as an artistic response to significant changes in politics, culture, society, and technology. Investigate some of the technologies developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s that might have fundamentally altered the world. Consider exploring inventions such as those that captured and recorded reality (photography, sound recording, film), as well as advancements in communication, transportation, and weaponry.
The two world wars of the twentieth century greatly influenced the modernist movement. Many critics believe that the movement reached its peak just after World War I and was effectively ended by World War II. Research the impact of the wars on modernist writers. What activities did they engage in during the war years? How did the wars transform their lives? You might want to explore lesser-known writers like Rupert Brooke or Wilfred Owen, who actually participated in the conflict.
Most prominent modernist writers were born between 1880 and 1900, and many of them passed away in the 1960s. The world underwent dramatic changes during this period. In 1890, which countries were considered the world's great powers? Who were the key leaders? What were the major issues in international relations? What products were commonly used, and how did people travel? Compare these aspects with the state of the world in 1965.
Besides being a reaction to technological and political changes, Modernism was also a response to significant developments in Western thought. Numerous philosophers and scholars of the late nineteenth century dismissed traditional explanations about the world and introduced their own theories. Among these, the thinkers who had the most profound impact on Modernism were economist Karl Marx, naturalist Charles Darwin, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. Research any one of these figures. What were their most crucial insights? Which previous explanations did their writings challenge? How do their ideas continue to influence the world today?
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