Final answer:
Contemporary writers have been influenced by countercultural movements, the recognition of cultural diversity, advancements in technology, and evolving media forms. Postmodernist authors use experimental techniques to reflect the complexities of modern life. These factors echoed in literature shape and are shaped by broader social and cultural changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Writers of the contemporary era have been greatly influenced by the historical and cultural changes that occurred in the United States since 1945. These influences include the rise of the countercultural movements and the confessional poets, the emergence of radical feminism and conservative regionalism, as well as the concept of proud multiculturalism. The transition to a more diverse America is reflected in the literature, from the modernist to the postmodernist approach, encapsulating a range of American experiences including identity, technology, and disorientation within a rapidly evolving society.
This era in American literature reflects a reinvention of the nation's narrative, with post-1945 Southern writers contributing significant and critically acclaimed works. Writers such as Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, and Flannery O'Connor continued the Southern literary tradition while incorporating their own concerns and storytelling techniques. The diverse voices in contemporary literature have expanded the canon to include a broader representation of nonwhite and marginalized voices, aligning the literary world with the sociopolitical dynamics of the time.
The proliferation of science and technology, especially the computer and other media forms, has shaped the contemporary writers' views on reality and textuality. Postmodernist authors, such as Don DeLillo and David Foster Wallace, used experimental literary techniques to reflect the multifaceted lives of Americans, addressing themes of media saturation and the representation of reality through imagery and signs. This era's literary contributions are a testament to how authors both influence and are influenced by the culture, politics, and technology of their time.