[New-Poetry] modernism/postmodernism

[Jeff Newberry]

Now this is a *huge* question.

I suppose, for me, one of the by-words in Modernist studies is
'fragmentation'.  Post-WWI & all that.  Of course, that's an easy
over-simplification; it's useful in undergraduate courses.  But it's also a
useful place to start.

One prof of mine used to say something along these lines:  the Moderns
lamented the fragmentation of the world.  They sought, through various
means, to recreate the world:  through art (Stevens), through forging a new
mythology (Eliot), through forging new religions and world views (Yeats).
The Postmoderns see this fragmentation as liberation; fragmentation is
celebrated.  They stare, my professor Ron Miller once said, into the abyss
and dance.

Of course, as someone's already pointed out, *The Pound Era* is a good place
to start for Modernism.  I'd also recommend Kenner's *A Homemade World*.
It's about American Modernist writers.  I'd try any essay by Bruce Andrews
if you're interested in Postmodernism.  I think Terry Eagleton is another
good source.

Here's a web source I've used in the American literature survey I'm teaching
this term:  *
http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html
*
Best,
Jeff Newberry*
*
On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 6:58 AM, Linda Sue Grimes <lsgrimes at stonegulch.com>
wrote:

>  What suggestions would you all offer to one beginning a study "modernism"
> and "postmodernism"?  Also what nuggets of insight might you offer?  That
> is, what impressions or definitions do you operate with about these terms?
> And teachers, what do you teach about them?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> lsg
>
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"Memory believes before knowing remembers.  Believes longer than recollects,
longer than knowing even wonders."
—William Faulkner, Light in August


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