Applied Modernism

So what is modernism anyway?
From what I've gathered on Modernism, it can be a very difficult word to define because it can be seen and understood in many different shapes and forms. Modernism is a style or movement of the arts that aims to break away from traditional and classical forms of life. I find it funny how Modernism was considered to be low quality compared to Romanticism when they both tie together in the sense that they try to break away from tradition. . .

Anyways, every story we have read in Dr. Preston's class has been considered to be a form of Modernism. For example;

Fahrenheit 451:
Genre: Modernism
How is this Modernism you might ask?
Well if you've read the book it practically screams why it's important to break away from certain rules and traditions. The entire story the main character is going against the law and the government because society was destroying peoples thought processes. Only but a few throughout the story actually had their own opinions and most of those opinions were only meant to save their own asses.  This book had not only unintentionally predicted today's brainwashed society but also pointed out what the world will become of if people don't break away from some of the insane traditions some expect us to follow.

Another example you ask? I'll name three more for you.

Theme for English B
Genre: Modernism
This poem's modernist nature is rather subtle in my opinion. At the time Langston Hughes wrote this poem some of the "traditions" of his time were that blacks were not to be treated equal as the white man was. This poem was about racism and how it should cease to exist and never should have existed. He wrote about how we are all human so we should be treated equally. Do you recall my definition of modernism earlier? "to break away from traditional and classical form of life. ." Langston Hughes wanted to be heard regardless of the color of his skin, he wanted people to shake away the residue of racism so they could begin to build a wall of equality. Racism was a "traditional" form of life when this poem was written, so when he were to write against it? That is what made it modernism

Richard Cory
Genre: Modernism
Have you ever heard of the phrase "money can't buy happiness.?" Though the saying is very straight forward and in most cases it's true many people fail to see the big picture of it all. I feel as if this was a modernist poem in the sense that many people DO believe that money can buy them happiness. I mean, who wouldn't be happy if they could pay all their bills and still have a little somethin' somethin' to upgrade their car or plasma screen? But does that material thing give you real happiness? If a relative passes or your significant other leaves you, does that item still bring you happiness.? Not a damn chance.
But then again, one might say;

"Whenever Richard Cory went down town, we people on the pavement looked at him. He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored and imperially slim." I mean, he's rich and he appears to be happy right? "In fine we thought he was everything, To make us wish that we were in his place." And look.! His money even brought him admirers and friends! Why money can obviously get you more than material items right? RIGHT!?

Simmer down, simmer down now. If you take no less than three seconds to skim the last line . . "And Richard Cory, oine calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head."

Didn't expect that did you? One might wonder HOW and WHY someone with so much wealth and power could be so depressed to the point of suicide. As i stated earlier money does not bring you happiness. You could ask Oprah Winfrey herself if having a little extra change made her life more joyful. And just like any other human being with money would say, her answer would be a big N to the O, NO. In fact i know some of the most less fortunate people around and even they seem to live a life for of more joy and happiness than mine. Apologies for the rambling, the main point i tried to get across was that money never has and never will bring you happiness. I consider this modernism in the sense that the world idolizes money. All these commercials and upgrades for technology, who wouldn't want more money? Richard Cory was a poem that reminds us that you can have all the money in the world but still never have enough to buy your true happiness.

And last but very far from the least;
The Seven Years. (You can watch the story here )
Genre: Modernism
I'm going to sum this eight page story up in less than eight sentences so those who have not read the story (though i recommend you read most of the things i post about), will understand where i'm coming from. Basically this is a story about a shoemaker(Feld), a college student (Max), his assistant (Sobel) and his daughter (Miriam). Feld's daughter Miriam is a very hardworking and bright young lady, though regardless of her intelligence she would rather be independent than go off to college. This troubles Feld so he set's his eyes on one of his customers, a college student named Max. He hopes that Max will rub off on his daughter and convince her to go to college and provide her a secure future. He sets up an outing for the two and this upsets Sobel and leaves work and does not return. Miriam and Max go on two dates before Miriam tells her dad she no longer wishes to see Max because of his materialist nature. Feld goes looking for Sobel after failing to find a replacement assistant, when he goes after Sobel he finds out that he left because Sobel is deeply in love with Miriam. After becoming rather angry at Sobels feelings, Feld decides Sobel may marry Miriam when she turns 21. Sobel returns to work the next day.

I had a few mixed feelings about this pieces but none the less it has quite a few messages within it. I'm not entirely sure what the modernist nature in this was but i think because of the fact that when this story was written, women were not considered to have the ability of independence. The shoemakers daughter Miriam is a very unique character considering the time the story was written. Not only was she offered a college education but she also had the ability to do things on her own. In a sense Miriam was the modernist of the story, she didn't care to be a housewife but a independent worker with a business of her own. For her time that was considered to be rather unusual. She didn't care about the rules (breaking free of traditional or classical forms of life ) as long as she did what she wanted to do.



And that Ladies and Gents, is how i applied Modernism.