What did the Great Depression do to American literature? The stock market crash in October 1929 and the subsequent mass unemployment caused many writers to seek new inspiration. They looked to economics and politics to inspire their works. The Depression was also a turning point for American literature, spurring writers to explore new forms and subject matter. How did the Great Depression affect modernism? Below, we’ll discuss some key examples….Read More: How Did the Great Depression Affect Modernism?
Although the Depression was a traumatic time, it also gave birth to some of the most influential art from the time. The “Harlem Renaissance,” for example, was inspired by the Great Depression. The Harlem Renaissance reflected African American identity in the 1920s. The art movement of the time also reflected the attitude of the average American citizen, which was one of the defining characteristics of modernism.
Poets of the 1930s reflected a variety of perspectives. From conservative to iconoclastic, 1930s poets included E.E. Cummings, the son of a Harvard professor, and Robert Frost, who was a nationalist. The Depression forged the spirit of national self-awareness, and many of these writers worked to create solutions for the Depression. This era also spawned the creation of the New York School, which is still revered today.
The Great Depression impacted the literary world, causing an enormous change in the way that writers approached social issues. The Depression made the writing community acutely aware of the millions of Americans in need of social assistance. The writing community began questioning the value of art, particularly the value of writing about aristocrats and sharecroppers when millions of people were going hungry. Suddenly, the literary community became more concerned about social issues – and evangelized these issues to their fellow citizens.
