21ST CENTURY LITERARY

ELEMENTS, STRUCTURES
AND TRADITIONS

21st Century Literature

Lesson 2
 21st century literature
• refers to all literary works written and published
at the latter part of the 21st century (from 2001
onwards). These works are often characterized
as gender sensitive, technologically alluding,
culturally pluralistic, operates on the extreme
reality or extreme fiction, and questions
conventions and supposedly absolute norms.
 Literary genre
• is a category of literary composition. Genres may be
determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even (as in
the case of fiction) length. The distinctions between genres and
categories are flexible and loosely defined, often with
subgroups.
• The most general genres in literature are (in loose chronological
order) epic, tragedy, comedy, and creative nonfiction. They can
all be in the form of prose or poetry. Additionally, a genre such
as satire, allegory or pastoral might appear in any of the above,
not only as a sub-genre, but as a mixture of genres.
• Finally, they are defined by the general cultural
movement of the historical period in which they
were composed. Genre should not be confused
with age categories, by which literature may be
classified as either adult, young-adult, or children.
They also must not be confused with format, such
as graphic novel or picture book.
• Genre, in broad terms, refers to any works that
share certain characteristics. If enough
characteristics are in common, then the pieces
are said to be in the same genre.
 21st Century Literary Genres,
Traditions and Forms from Different
Cultures
• Contemporary literature
--Reflects current trends in life and culture and
because these things change often, contemporary
literature changes often as well.
- Reflects author's perspective and can be cynical.
- Questions facts, historical perspectives and
presents 2 contradictory arguments side by side.
 Contemporary literature began in the
1940s or so. A few of its qualities:
- Reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story;
- Well-defined, realistic, highly developed characters in realistic, sometimes harsh
environments;
- Often the stories are character driven;
- The literature is ironic and reflects current political, social and personal
issues;
- May reflect a personal cynicism, disillusionment and frustration;
- Facts are questioned as are historical perspectives;
- Often presents two contradictory arguments;
- The literature may reflect a growing skepticism in the existence of God as well as
distrust or lack of faith in traditional institutions.
 The 2000s
• Saw a steep increase in the
acceptability of literature of all
types, inspired by the coming of
age of millions of people who
enjoyed the work of writers of
speculative fiction.
 Speculative fiction
•an umbrella term encompassing the more
fantastical fiction genres, specifically science
fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, supernatural
fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian
fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction,
and alternate history in literature as well as
related static, motion, and virtual arts.
 Chinese literature
- Affected by the impact of the Internet, which has
become an important medium for the dissemination of
politically sensitive works.
- Resurgence of science fantasy not seen since the late
Qing dynasty.
- No epics of either folk or literary variety and hardly any
narrative or descriptive poems that are long by the
standards of the world literature.
• Sinophone literature- Redefines
Chinese literature as a field
determined by language rather
than purely by geography.
• Modern Chinese poetry-
Depends on end rhyme and
tonal metre for its cadence and
characterized by its
compactness and brevity.
 Japanese literature
- Marked by a strong and intentional break with tradition and the nation-
centered and group orientation values.
- This break included:
• A strong reaction against established religious, political, and social views.
- Feminism, individualism, internationalism, liberalism, and proletarian
emerged during this period
- Concerned with the subconscious.
- New literary forms and style like:
• A novel in 1st POV is written like an autobiographical confessional type of
narration.
Indian Literature
•Simultaneous co-existence of the
postcolonial state apparatuses with
an ideology which was: Liberal and
Humanist, seen in the areas of
public life like the academic scene.
Realism
• Outcome of the creation of a reading public which
was trying to construct an identity in the context
of the anti-colonial struggles and nation-building.
• This combined liberal-reformist ideology with an
affirmation of an 'Indian' cultural specificity.
- This concept however was middle-class and
Hindu.
•The realist novel- Its focus on growth
and individual freedom is transformed
in the Indian context with the economic
conditions of uneven capitalism.
•Basis for Realism- The economic: seen
the existence of capitalist exploitation -
Political; and -Social conditions.
African literature
• Distinct influence from African current events and recent history.
- Themes:
-Post imperialism
-Cultural upheaval
-Violence
- These are topics present in previous centuries which are still
very much
relevant in modern day African nations.
• African poetry- This a form of protest.
- Theorists describe it as having a post colonial viewpoint, referring
to: The period after European nations tried to govern African nations
• Africa's modern history- It is Influenced by neocolonialism, cultural
change, and clashes between political parties and religious
ideologies
• Modern African writer- Look away from the internal, individual
struggle and instead shift the focus to the: Struggles of African
nations still trying to develop after gaining independence from
European imperialism
-economic struggles of the people
-divisions of classes
-and various other conflicts that modern day African nations face.
 American literature
• Concerned with relationships and connections between
people and emotion-provoking storytelling is common. The
value of media in culture is changing the way this
movement is perceived
- Diversity and acceptance
- Address universal themes seen through the eyes of their
culture
-juxtaposition of the ordinary with magical elements
- Fantastic elements are interwoven into realistic fiction.
 English Literature
• As the 21st century got underway, history remained the
outstanding concern of English literature. Although
contemporary issues such as global warming and
international conflicts (especially the Second Persian Gulf
War and its aftermath) received attention, writers were
still more disposed to look back.
- Although they had entered a new millennium, writers
seemed to find greater imaginative stimulus in the past
than in the present and the future.