Modernist Art In Winesburg, Ohio

Which term can best express Winesburg, Ohio's formal approach? Naturalism? Realism? or Modernism? For this American novelist Sherwood Anderson's representative work, there have been divergency wherever in China or his native country. In this thesis, I will focus on the text to analyze its modernist art. As a whole, this thesis is framed two levels according to "histoire" and "discours". And through discussing "gender theme" and "discours" of the text, its modernist art is revealed in multiple perspective of culture, writer and aesthetics.Foreword: After introducing study condition in China and United States, I will Point out that the common crux in their studies is the ignorance of text analysis. And then put forward the thought focusing on the text to analyze Winesburg, Ohio's modernist art.Part one: Winesburg, Ohio is new and developing in its contemporary literature. The new and developing literature emerged from resisting to "Smiling Realism" and popular literature. In this process, young writers lived in those metropolises assimilated European Realism, Naturalism, Aestheticism, Decadents and so on. Synchronical influence of these thoughts is one of the reason not able to orientate Winesburg, Ohio in literature. But I think it should be focus on the text to discuss its modernist art. Before exploring it, I will explain the following terms: Modernism, "Histoire" and "Discours".Part Two: There are two aspects in winesburg, Ohio's "gender theme". One is about gender role and relations. The other is the conflict between "Eros" and "Agape". Firstly, I will describe traditional and anti-traditional gender role and relations in "histoire "level. Secondly, in "discours" level I will inquire the redemptive connotation in the "gender theme" by comparision with the sex depiction in naturalist literature. Part Three: As a modernist work, winesburg, Ohio's most important characteristic is the independence of its "discours". On the one hand, I will discuss the time arrangement and plot pattern through analyzing the "moments" appearance of the text. On the other hand, I will make an aesthetic analysis from Winesburg, Ohio's "discours" and make a conclusion that there is modernist aesthetic value notion: Ugliness.Conclusion: Winesburg, Ohio is an initiating work in modernist art. And in historical perspective, it describes modernist "denying" spirit.