Modernism (roughly 1890-1945):
* Emphasis on Form and Structure: Modernist writers often experimented with innovative forms and structures to reflect a fragmented world. Think of the stream-of-consciousness technique in Virginia Woolf's work or the fragmented narratives in T.S. Eliot's poetry. There was a search for order and meaning amidst chaos.
* High Modernism: Focused on universal themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world, often reflecting the trauma of World War I. Authors aimed for a sense of objective truth, even if that truth was bleak.
* Grand Narratives: Modernists, despite their disillusionment, still often clung to the idea of overarching narratives – explanations for human existence and history. They might critique these narratives, but they still acknowledged their existence.
* Elevated Language: Modernist writing frequently used complex language and sophisticated literary techniques.
Postmodernism (roughly 1945-present):
* Rejection of Grand Narratives: Postmodernism fundamentally questioned or rejected the idea of overarching explanations for human existence. Instead, it embraced relativism, acknowledging the subjective nature of truth and meaning.
* Metafiction and Self-Reflexivity: Postmodern literature often draws attention to its own artificiality as a constructed text. It breaks the fourth wall, engages in self-referential humor, and plays with the reader's expectations.
* Fragmentation and Pastiche: Postmodern works often feature fragmented narratives, incorporating elements from various sources and styles (pastiche). This reflects the fragmented nature of modern experience and the blurring of boundaries between high and low culture.
* Irony and Dark Humor: Postmodernism frequently utilizes irony and dark humor to undermine traditional notions of heroism, authority, and meaning.
* Blurring of Genres: The lines between genres become increasingly blurred. Postmodern novels might incorporate elements of science fiction, fantasy, and detective fiction, creating hybrid forms.
* Focus on Subjectivity: Postmodern literature often explores the subjective experiences of individuals, emphasizing the multiplicity of perspectives and the impossibility of attaining objective truth.
* Playfulness and Experimentation: Postmodern writers frequently experiment with language, form, and narrative structure in playful and often ironic ways.
Examples of the Shift:
Compare the stream-of-consciousness of a Modernist like James Joyce ( *Ulysses*) with the metafictional techniques of a Postmodernist like Thomas Pynchon (*Gravity's Rainbow*). Joyce seeks to capture the inner workings of the mind, while Pynchon explicitly manipulates narrative and language to comment on the very act of storytelling. Similarly, the stark realism of Ernest Hemingway (Modernist) contrasts with the playful absurdity of Kurt Vonnegut (Postmodernist).
In short, while Modernism sought order and meaning in a chaotic world through innovative forms, Postmodernism embraced the chaos, questioning the very possibility of objective truth and meaning, and often employing irony and self-reflexivity to highlight the constructed nature of reality and narratives. The shift wasn't a clean break, but a gradual evolution with overlapping characteristics and ongoing debates about its defining features.