EL 116 Contemporary, Popular & Emergent Literature

Report Title: Contemporary Literature
Reporters: Lovely Grace F. Sampaga

Emely Guiuo
Contemporary Literature
 The literature contemporary or contemporary movement includes all literary events

that have occurred since the posmodernidad. It is defined by a period but also by its
very particular style. Most scholars call all literary production after World War II, in the
1940s, contemporary literature.
 This period extends to the present day. Contemporary literature is characterized by
fragmentation, unreliable storytellers, pastiche (imitation of styles and authors),
changing narration, non-linear presentation, and play and uncertainty in language.
 Similarly, this literature is recognized for its historically postmodern content. This is
related to the era of computers, robotics, mobile phones, globalization, among
others. Now, some work or some writer could be considered contemporary if they share
current stylistic, artistic or thematic qualities .
 Under this concept, even some writers of other centuries seem contemporary. Much of
contemporary literature comes from Western authors, although the term is not
exclusive to European or American literatures.
 In fact, globalization has made it possible to appreciate contemporary works written by
many literary figures in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In addition to novels and
poetry, this literary style encompasses a wide variety of genres, such as traditional
fiction and other forms adapted to the new reality ( graphic novel or blog literature).
1940-1990
 In the course of this half century, humanity witnessed many changes. The end of World
War II, the fall of communism in Europe, and the end of the Cold War marked the
beginning of a new society.
 In addition, technological innovations such as cell phones and the Internet, color
televisions and digital discs (DVD), among others, emerged. It was also the era of new
music, like hip hop, and the acceptance of new cultures.
 Within all this wave of changes, literature was enriched with new genres. Many of these
were a response to technological changes and the new social reality.
 A feature of contemporary literature of this time was that many stories were based on
reality and had a credible plot. During the first two decades, contemporary literature
shared spaces with Modernism, preserving certain features such as, for example,
focusing on the characters rather than the plot.
 In its further development until the 1990s, the contemporary shifted towards the
description of harsh realities. Likewise, he focused his attention on the exposure of
psychological problems such as exclusion and loneliness.
1990-To The Present

 The period from the 1990s to the year 2000 was characterized by globalization, growing
concern about global warming, and the war on Islamic terrorism.
 Furthermore, it is a decade marked by wars, natural disasters and a growing
population. The biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, the 2008 recession,
also occurred, and many people lost their jobs.
 Thus, contemporary literature received all these influences and fed on all these new
contexts. In response to the communicational needs of society, new genres appeared.
 The cyberpunk , the postcyberpunk , new fantasy novels and return to the meter and
rhyme in poetry are indicative of the new time.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
 Stories in Contemporary Literature are very influencing and based on real issues which
are presented through strong characters.
 Contemporary Literature reflects current political, social and individual issues
 Contemporary Literature often tends towards reflecting an individual criticism,
bafflement and dissatisfaction
 Well-characterized, practical, exceptionally created characters in realistic, at times cruel
conditions
1. Personal point of view

Works of contemporary literature reflect the social and political views of their
authors. These are shown through the characters, the connections with the events and
the socio-economic messages of his works.
2. Innovative narrative resources

There is a break with previous narrative techniques. Contemporary literature
uses avant-garde narrative resources, such as the modification of time and the
presentation of the inner world of the characters.
3. Magical realism
The development of magical realism as a narrative technique represents a
breakthrough in contemporary 20th century literature. This revolutionary technique is
marked by a deep social and political character.
4. Pressing topics
Most of the topics in contemporary literature are related to the crippling
problems of the world today, such as globalization, race and gender, inequality, climate
and environment, wars and terrorism.
Likewise, in this extensive list you can find other topics, such as politics and
economics, ethics and morals, mass culture and the media, international crime and
others.
5. Influence of World War II

Contemporary works of literature tend to be influenced by the prosperous
lifestyle that followed World War II. This literary style has its roots in the devastation
that war brought to the world.
6. Fiction and non-fiction superimposed

In contemporary literature the distinction between fiction and nonfiction can be
blurred; This is known as crosses. Fiction writers base stories on real life events and can
even include authentic material.
On the other hand, nonfiction writers bring historical figures to life by
incorporating imaginary dialogue and scenes.
GENRES OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
A. Classic fiction genre

B. Ghostwriter literature
C. Graphic novels
D. Children’s literature
E. Science fiction
F. Blog Literature
A. Classic fiction genre

This genre is made up of stories, novels, plays, poems, and movies. Everything is
imaginary and invented, but it is presented as a mirror that reflects life and human
experience, in a concrete or abstract way.
Now, the first way to distinguish contemporary fiction is that it will have
universal truths and emotions that every human being can experience. In some way,
it gives expression to emotions.
Similarly, fiction in contemporary literature is realistic, which means that it has
the following characteristics:
 Contains characters that behave the way most readers would. The characters
must be credible.
 The story is set in the present.
 The environment is a real place, or at least it looks like a real place.
 Events are events that could happen in real life.
 The dialogue is informal and conversational, and often includes
regional dialects.
B. Ghostwriter literature
A surprising number of successful books are written by ghostwriters. But there
are also ghost novels.
By definition, these authors do not have names and are known only to their
peers and their dependent publishers
C. Graphic novels
The graphic novel is usually interpreted as a comic with a long narrative for a
mature audience, published in hardcover or paperback and sold in bookstores, with
serious literary themes and sophisticated works of art.
D. Children’s literature
The last 20 years have seen a flowering of children’s writing. Among the top
representatives of this literature are CS Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and JK Rowling
(Harry Potter).
E. Science fiction
Science fiction is a very popular branch of contemporary literature. This is
intertwined with the technological progress of the world.
However, science fiction literary works do not necessarily imply a solid scientific
foundation. A writer can create a science fiction literary work to express an
alternative point of view or concept.
F. Blog Literature
Blogs (online magazine of individual or joint authorship) have become a new
medium for creating literary works. There are even cases in which these creations
have been turned into books.
CONCLUSION
Literature always has a very significant role in our society. It is because of that it gives
readers the knowledge of History and different cultures and it makes them liberate towards
everything such as Love, War, Justice etc.
Contemporary Literature also has a very important role because it reflects a society’s
social as well as political point of views. Writers, in general, look for what is trending in their
time for their literary work. Because it helps them to illuminate the strength or weakness of
society. Literature or to be more specific, Contemporary Literature helps the readers to develop
their rational thinking. So when we talk about Contemporary Literature, we can’t just simply
take a couple of subjects or settings. Since society changes after some time, so do the substance
and messages of this composition.
REFERENCES
https://englopedia.com/what-is-contemporary-literature-definition/

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Report Title: Contemporary Literature

Reporters: Lovely Grace F. Sampaga

 The literature contemporary or contemporary movement includes all literary events

1990-To The Present

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

1. Personal point of view

2. Innovative narrative resources

5. Influence of World War II

6. Fiction and non-fiction superimposed

GENRES OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

A. Classic fiction genre

A. Classic fiction genre

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