Modernism vs. Realism

The two writing styles are quite similar, yet different at the same time. Because they are so close together, it makes sense that the writing styles as well as the authors' viewpoints would be similar. Both styles inform the reader about the events of that time, but Modernism seems to be more straightforward as opposed to realism. Modernism seems to go into a lot more graphic detail. World War I is just starting to happen when Modernism emerges. The Modernism writing style might have even been sparked by the start of World War I. The authors wanted the readers to know what exactly was happening. But, the mental aspect of the writing is intriguing as well. Readers had to actually stop and think about what they were reading. The Grapes of Wrath is a great example. That entire novel is about the hardships the Joad family faces throughout the novel. There really is not a happy part to that story. It makes the reader sad as well as thankful for how fortunate they really are. Or, it can also work the other way and inform the reader of the many hardships that helped us get to the modern society of today. John Steinbeck created a modernism novel that not many people will ever forget. Heck, it is my mom's favorite book for whatever her reasons are for liking it. I thought it was an extremely graphic novel that went into great detail about the conditions upon which people had to live in during the Great Depression. Plus, the advantage we have in reading the story is that we do not have to actually live in the Great Depression in order to relive the experience. We just read the book with its Modernism writing style and we are transported there. And that is just with the one book. The Old Man and the Sea was another depressing story we read. Which, that was a common theme I noticed in the novels we read. However, The Old Man and the Sea did not have a happy ending to its story either. Part of the reason I think is because a characteristic of Modernism is that there are not always happily ever afters. Most stories do not have those if they are more of the reality type novels or shorter stories like The Old Man and the Sea is. I think Walt Disney came along a couple years into the Modernism period and introduced the happily ever afters because he got tired of the depressing novels being written and none of the Modernism type writings were for kids. Because no kid wants to read about hard labor and everything. They would rather read about Peter Pan and Cinderella. They needed an escape from the world around them that was so depressing. Maybe I am a couple years off with that theory, but that is just an idea I had while writing this. I know I would rather read about the Little Mermaid than working in a vineyard struggling for survival. Some of that is ok, but there comes a point and age limit when that Modernism writing style really isn't appropriate.