Question

Match each characteristic to the correct literary movement.

Answer 1

Answer:

MODERNISM:

-Rejection of seriousness

-Art as exclusive, elevated, and set apart

-Emphasis on a psychological construction of meaning

POST-MODERNISM:

-Cynical and pessimistic outlook

-Fragmentation of the self

-Blending of literary genres, blurring of the lines between fact and fiction, exploration of "high culture" and "low culture"

Explanation:

Modernism is the age or literary movement that begins during the end of the 19th century till early 20th century. This phase concerns the new acceptance of the more recent ways in the arts instead of the usual interest in the classics. It rejects the serious traditional and religious approaches of the society, instead emphasizing on the psychological construction of meaning. It also laid emphasis on the importance of art as exclusive, elevated from any other form and was set apart.

Post-modernism, on the other hand, begins in the late 20th century only. This age departs from the concepts of modernism and was more interested in the reasoning side of humans. It approaches a cynical and pessimistic outlook of the human life, fragmentation of the self and blends the literary genres. This in turn led to the blurred lines in between 'fact' and 'fiction', exploration of what is high culture and what constitutes low culture.

Answer 2

Modernism

-Art as exclusive, elevated, and set apart ( Pieces of art were made by an elite and were appreciated by them. Art reflected sophisticated tastes that belonged to the effects of  the Industrial Revolution. Reason and formal expressions were important.)

Postmodernism

-Rejection of seriousness ( This literary movement is against the formal and rational characteristics of modern art.)

-Cynical and pessimistic outlook ( This movement reacts against the effect science had in the past. Science and reason were used to plan wars - the World Wars-).

-Fragmentation of the self ( The "I" , source of reason, is fragmented. The unconscious emerges. The "I" is disrupted by emotions it cannot control).

-Emphasis on a psychological construction of meaning ( Meaning is not constructed only through reason but through emotions)

-Blending of literary genres, blurring of the lines between fact and fiction, exploration of "high culture" and "low culture" ( There are not clear boundaries bewteen narratives and culture because the artist is different. The artist is disrupted by his / her unconscious and his / her socio-cultural context affects his / her view of the world. Popular culure emerges).