Post Modernism

The end of World War II marked a shift in the American short story that correlated with the literary movement known as Postmodernism. Postmodernism began in 1945 and gained traction in the United States in the mid-1960s (Baldwin 1157). A global depression bookended by world wars fundamentally changed the world. People began realizing that life could be crueler and more bizarre than any imagined situation. Writers struggled to make sense of this new reality, and the establishments they once trusted were no longer perceived as reliable (Baldwin 1158).

Due to the disorder and cynicism during this period, authors ceased attempts to make sense of reality in their writings. Instead, Postmodern writers offered new realities in their works. Artists of the period strove to produce stories that differed in form, content, and style from any of the earlier periods. This departure from Modernism resulted in texts that are rich with fragmentation, pastiche, and intertextuality. Postmodern literature also blends genres and is self-reflexive (Belasco et al. 1067-8). The complexity and wide variety of techniques employed in Postmodern literature make describing the movement difficult.

Post-World War II, American writing has “displayed the regional, racial, and ethnic diversity of the United States” (Belasco et al. 1074), and many diverse voices emerged during this period.