This document provides an overview of modernism and postmodernism by comparing their key differences. Modernism arose in the early 20th century and championed science and individualism, while postmodernism emerged after World War II and challenged universal truths by embracing eclecticism. The document outlines some of the major differences between the two movements, such as modernism focusing on singular truths versus postmodernism embracing pluralism and diversity of meanings. It also discusses how their influences extended to various artistic and intellectual fields.

1. 'Modernism'
vs.
'Postmodernism'
: 'Key Differences’
Prepared by Aarti Sarvaiya

2. ★ Name :- Aarti Bhupatbhai Sarvaiya
★ Roll No :- 01
★ Enrollment No :- 4069206420220027
★ Sem :- 3(M.A.)
★ Batch :- 2022-2024
★ Paper No. :- 205
★ Paper Code :- 22410
★ Paper Name :- Cultural Studies
★ Submitted to :- Smt. S. B. Gardi, Department of English,M.K.B.U.
★ Dated on :- 23 October , 2023
★ Email :- aartisarvaiya7010@gmail.com
Personal Information

3. Table of Contents
01
04
02
05
03
Introduction About
Modernism
About
Postmodernism
Modernism Vs
Postmodernism : Key
Differences
Conclusions

4. Introduction
● Modernism and postmodernism, two contrasting ideological currents, have profoundly influenced art,
literature, and culture. Modernism, arising in the early 20th century, championed science and
individualism, while postmodernism, emerging after World War II, challenged universal truths and
embraced eclecticism.
● The concepts of modernism and postmodernism, which are often used together, actually express two
different views that advocate diametrically opposite thoughts. (DeCombo)
● It can be said that both are cultural currents that encompass a range of artistic expressions in
painting, sculpture, literature, and architecture over a certain period of time. (Matteo)

5. About Modernism
● The first half of the 20th century or more, modernism has been associated with the twentieth-century reaction
against realism and romanticism within the arts. Modernism is often used to refer to a twentieth-century belief in
the virtues of science, technology and social change. Writers of this period tended to pursue more experimental
and usually more highly individualistic forms of writing. (Yousef)
● Modernist writers became dissatisfied with linear plots and clear resolutions and used instead open and often
unresolved endings. (Yousef)
● The pioneers of modernism include Faulkner , T. S. Eliot, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf,D.H. Lawrence, Franz
Kafka, Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway.
● Modernist literature focused on the inner self and consciousness, the modernist works of art are basically
psychological and experimental.
● Formal characteristics of modernism include frequent use of indirect speech, stream of consciousness,
discontinuous narrative, multiple narrative points of view, wide use of quotations and classical allusions as clearly
noticeable in the works of T. S. Eliot, W.H. Auden and Virginia Woolf where the prosaic and the poetic are often
intermixed or juxtaposed.(Yousef)
● Modern art distinguishes between authentic art and mass art . Modern art is simple and universal, and is far away
from local standards. Modern art is abandoned from the determinations and social responsibility. (Amiri)

6. About Postmodernism
● Postmodernism is a school of thought or a movement that took place after World War II, but it gained
popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.
● Postmodernists advocated the belief that there are no universal truths and argued that many things are
irrational. Believing in chance and transience, they questioned the rationality of modernism, its principles and
its ways of thinking.
● In postmodernism, the ideas of order, sequence, and unity in works of art are sometimes abandoned.
Fragmentation in postmodernist literature is meant to reflect the reality of the flux and splintering of human
life. (Yousef)
● Postmodern authors often reject the boundaries between the different genres.
● The postmodern texts reveal scepticism about the ability of art to create meaning, the ability of history to
reveal truth, and the ability of language to convey reality.
● These writers include Thomas Berger, Richard Brautigan, Don DeLillo, William Gaddis, Vladimir Nabokov,
and Thomas Pynchon, Peter Ackroyd, Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie, and Umberto Eco.(Yousef)
● Postmodernist art leads to eclecticism and humour with the combination of past and present styles in
architecture with a combination of classic style, detective, western, etc in literature. Using a combination of
"multimedia '' to create an art work is one of the approaches of postmodernism. (Amiri)

7. Modernism Vs Postmodernism : Key Differences
● The modernist movement began to be seen in the middle of the 19th century.Postmodernism, on the other
hand, started to sprout after the Second World War and generally managed to reach large masses in the
second half of the 20th century.
● In the philosophy of modernism, which emerged with the thesis of "being human-oriented"; Concepts such as
rationalism, capitalism and positivism are defended. Postmodernist thought, which thinks that all these
concepts have begun to harm people over time, is positioned exactly opposite the aforementioned concepts.
● Modernism has followed a synthesis-oriented approach based on reason and science. Postmodernism, on
the other hand, cannot be integrated, but has an approach that focuses on attachable pieces and
eclecticism.
● Modernism, which started to be shaped by the thought of enlightenment after the Renaissance, is extremely
questioning against the concept of religion. Postmodernism, on the other hand, preferred to establish a
closer relationship with the past and approached the concept of religion more positively. (Decombo)

8. Modernism Vs Postmodernism : Key Differences
● Modernism defends general acceptances in parallel with the philosophy of universal integrity it has adopted. In
postmodernism, generalisation is rejected and pluralism is supported.
● In the early days of modernism, everyone adopted; Concepts such as democracy, secularism, technology and
human rights came to the fore and became the most important facts of the movement. Postmodernism, on the other
hand, claims that all these concepts are misoperated over time, bring more harm than good and enslave people.
● Modernism basically focuses on a single attainable truth and a single meaning. Postmodernism, on the other hand,
follows the philosophy of multiple truths and multiple meanings instead of a single concept.
● Due to the conditions and perspectives of the period, the modernists showed an approach away from politics.
Postmodernists, on the other hand, could not remain indifferent to the politics that spread to the masses in parallel
with the period and the developing world. Postmodernists have been more involved in politics than modernists.
(Decombo)

9. Modernism Vs Postmodernism : Key Differences
● In general, modernism has felt its influence in various fields such as
philosophy, painting, music, literature and architecture. Postmodernism, on the
other hand, showed a much wider range of effects. To give an example,
postmodernism has dealt with many different disciplines, from architecture to
zoology. Similarly; It has also shown its influence in the fields of history, law,
literature, biology, geography, all branches of art, medicine, politics and
philosophy.
● It is thought that the concepts of ethics and morality in modernism should be
the same for the whole world. Postmodernism, on the other hand, follows an
opposing attitude to common concepts. Pluralism is preferred in every sense.
● Modernism advocates a national and universal understanding of culture.
Postmodernism, on the other hand, has the opposite point of view.
● Modernism's view of the past is shallower. In postmodernism, the past is
important and the idea of keeping the past alive in line with its own realities is
advocated. (Decombo)

10. Conclusions
● These movements, with their stark differences, have left enduring marks on
artistic and intellectual landscapes. Modernism's pursuit of singular truths
contrasts with postmodernism's embrace of diversity, ensuring their continued
impact on art, literature, and philosophy.

11. References
Amiri, Niki. “MODERNISM AND POSTMODERNISM IN ARCHITECTURE, AN EMPHASIS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS,
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.” The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication , August 2016,
http://www.tojdac.org/tojdac/VOLUME6-AGUSPCL_files/tojdac_v060AGSE144.pdf . Accessed 23 October 2023.
DeCombo. “Modernism vs Postmodernism • DeCombo .” DeCombo , 1 July 2022, https://decombo.com/modernism-vs-
postmodernism/ . Accessed 23 October 2023.
Matteo, Virginia. “What's the Difference Between Modernism and Postmodernism in Literature?” Owlcation, 5 July 2022,
https://owlcation.com/humanities/Whats-The-Difference-Between-Modernism-and-Postmodernism . Accessed 23 October
2023.
Yousef, Tawfiq. “Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metamodernism: A Critique.” International Journal of Language & Literature, 28
September 2017, http://ijll-net.com/journals/ijll/Vol_5_No_1_June_2017/5.pdf . Accessed 23 October 2023.

12. Thank You