Final answer:
The genre that mocked modern civilization and represented a departure from conformity is Modernism, which emerged in the arts around 1900 and was characterized by skepticism towards traditional values, and a penchant for experimentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre that represented a break away from conformity and mocked modern civilization is best described as Modernism. Modernism in the arts was a movement that emerged around the beginning of the 20th century and gained momentum into the 1920s. This movement was characterized by a strong reaction against established societal norms and artistic conventions.
Modernism rejected established authority and traditional moral values, instead favoring experimentation and a critique of post-Victorian middle class society. Modernist artists and writers indulged in wild experiments with form and content, creating works that were often designed to provoke their audience. Rather than representing the noble and beautiful, Modernism allowed for disturbing pieces, which at times glorified industrialism and technology, or advocated for 'art for art's sake'.
A notable example of Modernism in literature is the work of the Beat Generation. This group of anti-conformist writers, such as Jack Kerouac, embraced jazz, radical politics, and a lifestyle that outright rejected materialistic values of the mainstream culture.