Bethany+L

1. Modernism is cultural movement that allows people to think freely and break free from traditional beliefs. Modernists used the premise of old thoughts and teachings and spiced them up a bit. Whether it is a new way of making art, or a new way of thinking about religion. For example, the people who thought that paintings with soft lines, and neutral colors of people were in style were thought to be traditional. The people who are modernists would be the people who believe that paintings of shapes with bold lines, and bright colors are in style. In other words, modernism is a “cool” way of thinking. Modernist broke free from tradition and sought a new definition for normal. They challenged society to think for themselves. Bethany Lilly

3. T.S Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a very modern poem. Eliot writes about things that were not allowed to be said in public during his time. Talking about how, “there well be time to murder and create,” (Elliot) or wondering if he has “…the strength to force the moment to its crisis” (Elliot.) Murder was something that people didn’t freely admit to wanting to do. This poem pushed the limits. Society must have been blown away by what was written. Feeling bad about yourself or hating people is a normal human characteristic, but writing about it and showing to the world was not something that was done back then. Eliot took thoughts that date back to the beginning of humanity but displays them in a way that relates to modern man . Bethany Lilly

4. Existentialism is “a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will” (Dictionary). Existentialists believe in the inward and what a person is like on the inside. The outside world is less important than what a person thinks about, acts like, and believes in. Existentialists also believe in making their own destiny. They believe that their actions determine what they will learn, and get out of life. To be true existentialists a person must cut off the outside world completely and only rely on him or herself, that way they can be totally independent. Existentialists are often the ‘rebels’ of society. Bethany Lilly