Modernism

Modernism is a movement that has characteristics some different and some similar to that of the Romanticism and Realism. Modernists reject the ideal belief of a hero as an infallible person (Romanticism belief), they favor the belief of a hero who is flawed and disillusioned, but shows “grace under pressure”. One of the beliefs that are similar to that of the realists is the rejection of sentimentality and artificiality. One of the most important characteristics of Modernism is the sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the American dream. The people’s beliefs of the American dream were badly destroyed by the devastation of World War I. Kind of like when the people’s Romantic beliefs were shattered by the Civil War. The devastation of World War I and the economic crash severely damaged the belief of America as a New Eden, the belief in progress, and the belief of triumph of the individual. People no longer think America is perfect. I think Modernism is kind of similar to Realism in a way that both movements focused on portraying society “realistically”, they emphasize the bad along with the good, not just the good alone.