Poet Ezra Pound defined modernism as a ‘world in fragments’ and ‘making it new’ in response to the technological innovations that created mass culture. Entertainment- radio, jazz, theater, phonographs, film and television-- played decisive roles in blending cultures and revealing the deep, wide differences based on race, gender, social class and political issues. Course readings across genres and ethnic/racial lines ca. 1910-1950 will be organized chronologically and thematically, blending literary texts and newspaper/radio/television commentary: from social fads to world-shaking events. This course is writing focused.
The primary discipline of this course is English.
Prerequisites
Through Cultural Lenses.