Contemporary Literature Quick Check Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

Contemporary Literature

Contemporary literature refers to works of prose, poetry, and drama published since 1945.
It reflects society's social and/or political viewpoints, shown through realistic characters, connections to current events, and socioeconomic messages.
It includes the horrors of war, corruption, and genocide, and writers use these themes to illuminate social strengths and weaknesses.
As society changes, the content and messages of contemporary literature change to reflect the present values and beliefs of society.
Examples of contemporary literature include: Red Russia, Kite Runner, Life of Pi, The Road, Beloved, and The Da Vinci Code.

Post-Modernist Era

This era began after World War II, as artists struggled with basic realities concerning human nature, knowability of reality, and absurdist notions of any all-encompassing accounting of the facts.
It raises questions about whether human life has meaning at all.
Examples of post-modernist literature include: Kafka on the Shore, Half of a Yellow Sun, Midnight's Children, Never Let Me Go, and God of Small Things.

Popular Literature

Popular literature is liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people, but is ephemeral and loses its appeal and significance with time.
It includes writing intended for the masses and those that find favor with large audiences, and is generally easy to read and understand.
The writer utilizes accessible language and concepts, and the plot and characters are constructed for maximum entertainment and reader engagement.
Popular literature is designed primarily to entertain and does not seek a high degree of formal beauty or subtlety.
Examples of popular literature include: Fifty Shades of Grey, Harry Potter, Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games.

Emergent Literature

Emergent literature refers to writing forms that are new or novel, and integrates technology, from the 1940s to the present.
It includes creative fiction, graphic novels, blogs, manga, and digi fiction, and uses unconventional techniques such as pictures, images, and comic book formats.
Digital fiction is read from a computer and can be web-based or app-based, and contains hyperlinks, moving images, mini-games, or sound effects.
Examples of emergent literature include doodle fiction, flash fiction, chick lit, manga, and science fiction.
Doodle fiction incorporates doodle drawings and hand-written graphics in place of a traditional font, and drawing enhances the story, often adding humorous elements.
Flash fiction is a very short story that has no set word count, and can be as short as just a few words.
Chick lit consists of heroine-centered narratives that focus on the trials and tribulations of the protagonist, and often addresses issues of modern womanhood.
Manga is a pop-culture phenomenon that has spun off from simply art and comic stories to Anime affairs, merchandise, and movies.
Science fiction deals with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals.

Description

Explore the characteristics and themes of contemporary literature, which began in the 1940s and encompasses works of prose, poetry, and drama published since 1945. Dive into how contemporary literature reflects society's social and political viewpoints through realistic characters, current events connections, and socioeconomic messages.