Post on 24-Feb-2016
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THE CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENT OF LITERATURE
Brief Historical Background, Characteristics, and Significant Authors of this Era
1945-Present
Important information to know: These events include the following: The Civil Rights Movement, The Vietnam War,
Atomic bombing/rise of weapons of mass destruction, the Cold War, Women’s Rights Movement, and Native American Right’s Movement
Influential Historical Events:
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Characteristics of Contemporary Texts:
New types of poetry are being introduced
“I” vs. “We” Literature is generally very
emotional Global dialogue Ethnicity/races begins to
dissolve predetermined “boundaries”
Heavy theme of “just getting by”
Many authors confess fears and realities; in other words very “confessional”
Characteristics of Contemporary Texts Continued… Authors’ humor is often
incorporated and evident Themes include the following:
The Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, The Cold War, Post World War II Prosperity, Women’s Rights, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Native American Rights, Gay/Lesbian Rights, Advancements in Technology
Popular techniques include: fragmentation, postiche/collage, cynicism, and magical realism
Key authors of this movement include:
Tillie Olsen (1913) Robert Creeley (1926) Frank O’Hara (1926-1966) Toni Morrison (1931) Michael S. Harper (1938) Sherman Alexie (1966) Aurora Levins Morales (1954) Li-Young Lee (1957) Carolyn Forché (1950) Wendy Rose (Hopi) (1948)
Well Known Contemporary Texts Include:
I Have A Dream Speech
The Bluest Eye Howl
Frame The Sandbox
Love Medicine Lady Lazarus
Tell Me a Riddle
Example: Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech
http://youtube/PbUtL_0vAJk
Credits www.yahoo.com/im
ages www.youtube.com “The Heath
Anthology of American Literature” Publisher: Houghton/Mifflin, Fifth Edition