395,912 views
15 votes
15 votes
How do the many works of visual art, literature, and social philosophy that emerged from this period reflect the massive changes that were taking place? How were Americans—both those who created these works and those who read or viewed them—struggling to understand the new reality through art, literature, and scholarship?

User Ofirov
by
3.3k points

1 Answer

14 votes
14 votes

Final answer:

During the period of 1930-1945, American Modernism captured enormous sociocultural changes through experimentation in art, the use of realism in literature, and diverse philosophical discussions, all reflecting the complexities of the era's rapid industrial and social transformations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The period from 1930-1945 in American history is an era that is deeply studied for the immense sociocultural, economic, and political changes that took place. American Modernism, as a part of this, reflected these changes through its innovative approaches to visual art, literature, and social philosophy. This cultural shift is evident in the move towards abstraction in art, where artists began experimenting more with color and shapes, and less on realistic portrayals, thereby capturing the complex emotions and political upheavals of the time.

The advent of industrialization, rapid urban growth, and the technological boom impacted not only the physical landscapes but also the cultural and social fabric of American society. Authors and thinkers of the time used realism and the burgeoning idea of social Darwinism to cope with the rapid changes. The works reflected both excitement for advancement and a critique of the resulting societal inequities.

The impact of these changes broadened the scope of what constituted art, expanding to include a wider array of disciplines and media. Emphasis grew on including diverse voices, like artists of color and women, and considering non-Western art more seriously. Ultimately, these shifts in perception led to a richer and more inclusive historical narrative of American art and culture.

User Longwalker
by
2.8k points