Differences between Modernism and Postmodernism

Modernism

  • Idiosyncratic language
  • Focuses on the writer
  • Challenges romanticism
  • Narrative of progress through science and technology
  • Techniques: stream of consciousness, free writing
  • Searches for an abstract truth of life
  • Inner self and consciousness were predominant
  • Rejects tradiotional forms
  • Use of reason provides indisputable knowledge
  • Focuses on the internal world

Postmodernism

  • Simple language
  • Focuses on the reader
  • Challenges Modernism
  • Skepticism of progress, anti-technology
  • Techniques: Metafiction, pastiche
  • Believes that there is no universal truth of life
  • It could have multiple meanings within a single literary work or a complete lack of meaning
  • Focuses on the external world
  • There is no objective truth just subjective knowledge
  • Irony and humor in writing
  • Hierarchy, order, centralized control
  • Subverted order, loss of centralized control, fragmentation