Freewrite on Modernism

I must admit, at first I did not like modern literature. Now I am still not certain. It seems very complicated and I am not certain what the authors are trying to do. After reading the E reserve about modernism movements, I think I have a better understanding of it, though.

Gertrude stein and her poem (read in class) must have some meaning, and I have been looking for it on line. The poem is full of alliteration and I believe this is deliberate. It has a bird sound to it, but is seems so nonsensical to me. When we discussed in class how children begin to speak, the simplicity of the poem seems important. It is the deliberate elusiveness that make me turn away from this form. I like meaning, even if it is hidden. Decoding can be fun. Still, the difference between communication and expression is vast. Art forms from this era seem full of self, meaning author/painter and not for the masses in general. They seem to target a specific audience, one that shares there views on life and direction.

Williams is entirely different, and through my reading of his work, I believe that I am beginning to enjoy modernism. There is meaning here, and the nonsense is dismissed somewhat. But the meaning is so vast and interpretation is for the reader. After taking a poetry class, I believe that poetry is very self oriented both for the reader and the poet. Meaning is tweezed out by experience and beliefs. I find Williams work thus far to be somewhat angry, very vivid. He seems to show ordinary average objects and ideas with great image and beauty. I look forward to class to learn more about him.

Finally, a word on some of the developments of Modernism. I was amazed in a previous reading to see that Hemingway and Pound discouraged women writers. Is the disenfranchisement of women during this time period the reflection of a coming change created by modernism thinking? I believe it is at least a part of it. The strong portrayal of women in this part of the century seems to answer this question, at least to a minor degree.