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By Modernism I mean the positive rejection of the past and the blind belief in the process of change, in novelty for its own sake, in the idea that progress through time equates with cultural progress; in the cult of individuality, originality and self-expression.
ATTRIBUTION: Dan Cruickshank (b. 1949), British architectural critic. Commerce and Culture, ch. 4 (1989).
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THIS MONTH: We will move on and address this question:
Submitted By: C.J. 
Submitted Comment:
Flash fiction is awesome when done suitably, I'm glad you've chosen to do a few newsletters about it. May I suggest a future newsletter on modernism and post-modernism? I’ve written a short story in the post-modern form and I find a lot of members here don’t know what modernism is. I wrote a short piece explaining it, but a newsletter would surely be helpful I think. C.J.
The first thing I thought when I researched Modernism and Postmodernism was, “I’ve seen movies like that,” but both Modernism and Postmodernism apply to more than movies and books – they apply to art, architecture, philosophy and more.
The second thing I thought was, “there are more definitions of Modernism and Postmodernism than there are excuses from my kids for why there rooms aren’t clean!”
To help sort it out for you I will give you my take on the subject and then share with your some links that will help you get as acquainted as you want to with this complicated, yet interesting subject.
Picture yourself (or your child) beginning to become their own person. In order to define themselves, they need to distance themselves from their parents. Sometimes they rebel and come back only slightly altered from their parents and sometimes they come back as total opposites.
Modernism rebelled from its Victorian parents. Postmodernism rebelled from its Modernism parents. Of course, this is simplifying the subject to the very basics but I wanted to consider the huge variance in audience age for this newsletter.
Modernism had many factors besides Victorian parents that shaped it. The excesses of the “Roaring 20’s” (which had a flu epidemic prior, prohibition during, and other factors which effected that era) and World War I shaped it, as well.
For Postmodernism there was more than Modernism. World War II, Vietnam and the cold war all had their part in it.
For a list of characteristics in literature for modernism and postmodernism check out cj’s item on the subject:
(It is also in the Editors Picks listed below)
I found another list that can help you understand it from a philosophical standpoint: http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/pomoch1.htm
Here is a table that compares Modernism and Postmodernism on a Socioeconomic, job (and important people who held them), and Poetic level: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~amerstu/573/pomochart.html
Here is a site that includes definitions of Modernism and Postmodernism from several sources: http://www.hku.hk/english/courses2000/7006/figitne3.htm
Finally, I’d like to conclude with an excerpt from and link to the site that has my favorite definition on the subject:
The postmodern is deliberately elusive as a concept,
avoiding as much as possible the modernist desire to
classify and thereby delimit, bound, and confine.
Postmodernism partakes of uncertainty, insecurity,
doubt, and accepts ambiguity. Whereas Modernism seeks
closure in form and is concerned with conclusions,
postmodernism is open, unbounded, and concerned with
process and "becoming."
The post-modern artist is "reflexive" in that he/she
is self-aware and consciously involved in a process of
thinking about him/herself and society in a deconstructive
manner, "demasking" pretensions, becoming aware of his/her
cultural self in history, and accelerating the process
of self-consciousness.
This sort of sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, and
human conditions and experiences has been ridiculed by
conservatives in recent years as "political correctness."
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/modpostmod.html
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Our Two Items Critiqued Last Month (along with their comments that they made when they submitted their items)
Submitted Item:
Submitted Comment:
After reading your newsletter, I see there may be a name for what I write. The item I have highlighted is titled 'The Room'. I would appreciate your comments. Thank you, Dmack
Submitted By: Susannah Deschain
Submitted Comment:
I'd like to offer up a flash fiction piece for mass critique:
Or, you can check out any of the pieces in my flash fiction folder, if you want to use any of them for an example, I don't mind!
THEME: Modernism/Post-Modernism
EXCERPT: After the First World War many people questioned the chaos and the insanity of it all.
EXCERPT: Not unhere massform:liquidsolid-bigsmall lithity in black.
EXCERPT: “No Colorless Allowed,” the sign cries out in bold black letters.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Submitted By: dmack
Submitted Comment:
Hello Red Writing Hood, I enjoy reading your newsletters. I feel I learn a little something from each one. I've been writing flash fiction for a long time and didn't know it.
I can hardly wait for the results of this round of mass critque. I've made some changes to "The Room" since you selected it. I wonder if the changes suggested will be the same ones I've made.
I look forward to reading future newsletters.
Submitted By: VerySara 
Submitted Comment:
I just want to second the newsletter on postmodernism! I'll even try to help if anyone
needs it. Thanks. VerySara
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Short Stories: November 02, 2005 Issue [#690]
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