Literary Theories:
* Symbolism: Emphasized the use of symbols and suggestive imagery to evoke emotions and ideas rather than stating them directly. Key figures: Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, Arthur Rimbaud.
* Imagism: Focused on presenting clear, precise, and objective images in poetry. Key figures: Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell, H.D.
* Expressionism: Sought to express subjective emotions and experiences through distorted perspectives and exaggerated language. Key figures: Franz Kafka, August Strindberg, Rainer Maria Rilke.
* Surrealism: Explored the unconscious mind and its influence on art, using dreamlike imagery, illogical juxtapositions, and automatic writing. Key figures: André Breton, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso.
* Stream of Consciousness: Mimicked the flow of thoughts in the mind, often fragmented and nonlinear. Key figures: James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner.
* Modernism in Drama: Challenged traditional dramatic conventions, introducing themes of alienation, disillusionment, and fragmentation. Key figures: Samuel Beckett, Bertolt Brecht, Eugene O'Neill.
Literary Schools:
* The Bloomsbury Group: A group of intellectuals, writers, and artists who met in London, advocating for modern ideas and aesthetics. Key figures: Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, E.M. Forster.
* The Lost Generation: A group of American writers who lived in Europe after World War I, characterized by disillusionment and a sense of cultural fragmentation. Key figures: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein.
* The Harlem Renaissance: A flourishing of African American culture in the 1920s, with influential writers, poets, and musicians. Key figures: Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay.
* The Imagists: A group of poets who advocated for direct language, precise imagery, and a focus on free verse. Key figures: Ezra Pound, Amy Lowell, H.D.
It's important to note that these are just some of the most prominent theories and schools associated with Modernism. Modernism was a multifaceted movement that encompassed a variety of artistic disciplines, including literature, art, music, and architecture. The lines between these different schools and movements are often blurred, and many writers and artists were influenced by multiple theories and styles.
The emergence of Modernism can be traced back to several key events:
* The Industrial Revolution: This led to rapid urbanization, social change, and technological advancements that challenged traditional values and beliefs.
* World War I: This devastating conflict shattered the illusion of progress and rationalism, leaving many disillusioned and questioning the established order.
* The rise of psychoanalysis: Freud's work on the unconscious mind had a profound impact on modernist writers, who explored the dark side of human nature and the complexities of human experience.
Modernism's lasting legacy is undeniable. Its focus on experimentation, innovation, and the exploration of human consciousness continues to influence contemporary literature and art.