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Modern-
generally means something that is "up-to-date", "new", or from the present time. The term was invented in the early 16th century to describe recent trends.

Characteristics: Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form. The reflection of fragmentation of a society. Rejection of tradtional themes and subjects. Sense of disilluionment and loss of faith in the American dream. Rejection of the ideal hero as infallible in favor of a hero who is flawed and disillusioned but shows "grace under pressure." Interest in the inner workings of the human mind which are sometimes expressed through new narrative techniques such as stream of consciousness.

Modern writers both echoed and challenged the American dream resulting in a second American renaisance.

A model of the world
"Modernism describes an array of cultural movements rooted in the changes in Western Society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The term covers a series of reforming movements in art, architecture, music, literature and the applied arts which emerged during this period." (Wikipedia)

Explanation
Our roots go back to the Western Societies in the late 19th century.


Futurology
America is a new Eden, a "promised land" of beauty, unlimited resources, and endless opportunities. We are all in search of finding this new Eden.

Values
"What is good and what is evil?"

Action
We should be optimistic in everything, in search of the American Dream. If we are optimistic, then we can expect life to keep getting better and better. Everything is possible for the person who places trust in his or her own powers and potential.

Modernism encouraged the re-examination of every aspect of existence, from commerce to philosophy, with the goal of finding that which was 'holding back' progress, and replacing it with new, progressive and therefore better, ways of reaching the same end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernists

Knowledge
We know that in Modern Literature the concept of Speculative fiction is widely excepted. This type of fiction asks the "what if" question and attempts to answer it.

Modernism

modern poetry
the poem,"Trying to Name What Doesn't Change" talks about how the only thing that is ever the same is the train tracks. And there is controversary because another person in the poem says that even the train tracks change. And it gives the train almost human characteristics (personification) because they say that abandoned tracks with no train is a changed track. Also they say that trains go to different places and they change just because they have been there.

The poem,"Once by the pacific" talks about a tsunami and how the water is so big it looks like there is a cliff behind it. Also it talks about how the water is most likely going to rage, but no one really knows it. And it's going to be a total surprise. And I don't think they except a tsunami because it said that the water is going to do something to land it's never done before.