Modernism

Modernism is the time period that followed the Naturalism period. This period is also known for its series of culture shocks. For example, World War I was the war that occurred in Europe form 1914-1918. In fact, it helped boost the American economy because many European nations were now buying goods from the Americas. It was said to be the “War to End All Wars” because of the numerous conflictions between the European nations. World War I was followed by The Great Depression which had a major impact on the United States. It all began when the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, otherwise known as Black Tuesday. It devastated many Americans because it put most of them out of work. The major drought in the mid-west, the Dust Bowl, was also during the same time as the depression. It devastated many more people and leaving them homeless and hungry, but the beginning of World War II soon brought America out of this overwhelming period. Literature was another key factor during the Modernism period. Two different types of literature emerged during this era including Imagism and Objectivism. Imagism is a “style that sought to recreate an image, not interpret or comment on it.” While Objectivism is “a poetic style in which the poets let the objects they rendered to speak for themselves. Since the American short story was very popular, the period became to be known as “the Age of the Short Story.” The Harlem Renaissance also surfaced at this time. It revolutionized the literary, artistic, and musical movement for African Americans. The authors of the Renaissance displayed what it was like to be black and live in a white dominated world. Arthur Miller was a famous American dramatist that was born during the Modernism period. He was born into a wealthy family in New York City. His father owned a clothing manufacturing business which made him a well venerated person. Miller attended Abraham Lincoln High school in Brooklyn. He was the night editor for the student paper,