The following essay shall examine the representation of the American Dream and modernity through the images of the visual culture in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Therefor, a historical and cultural background is of necessity to fully understand the literary work. Also the relation between the novel and its time will be discussed. In order to elaborate on modernist writing techniques and the use of symbols, a close reading is given in chapter three. Finally, the reception in film shall be discussed with regard to portrayal of visual images.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby (1925) is without any controversy a classic of its time and still finds reception in scholarships and films. Due to current issues like class inequality or the pursuit of wealth, “Fitzgerald´s masterpiece has never been more relevant” (The Guardian). Written during the Golden 20s, the novel is set in a time in which social and political norms were transformed drastically. On the one hand this generation celebrated wealth and economic success, but on the other the loss of norms and traditions stamped this time. The majority of people moved to the modernized city, driven by the Dream of Success.The Jazz Age embodies the social and cultural changes associated with the modernism movement, which counts any literary production from the interwar period that discusses the issues of modernity (Baym). A society that experienced the breakdown of norms and beliefs wanted to anticipated from former rules also in writing and focused “realist expression[s]” (Le Fustec) of their environment. Likewise, modernity and inventions, as well as the belief in the American Dream are mirrored critically in literature of that time. As a result of inventions, the visual culture, i.e. culture expressed through images, became increasingly established. This also shows up in contemporaneous literary production through the agglomerated use of symbols. The belief in the great American Dream encouraged generations of Americans to pursue their hopes and go further, despite race or social standards. Though, the experience of failure likewise affected people´s dreams. As a matter of historical and cultural criticism, The Great Gatsby perfectly captures the contradictions of that time, when it tells the story of a young male who believes in the Self-Made Man and enters upper class just to reacquire his early love Daisy. [...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. The Era of Modernism
- 1.1 The Golden 20s and Modernity
- 1.2 Modernism Movement
- 1.3 The Rise of the American Dream
- 1.4 The Great Gatsby in front of its Time
- 2. Case Study
- 2.1 Symbols of Visual Culture in The Great Gatsby
- 2.2 Close Reading
- 2.3 Narrative Situation: Nick as Narrator
- 2.4 Narrative Situation: Style and Content
- 3. The Great Gatsby's reception in film
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines the representation of the American Dream and modernity through visual culture in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It explores the novel's historical and cultural context, analyzing its portrayal of the 1920s, the modernist movement, and the complexities of the American Dream. The analysis will incorporate a close reading of the text, focusing on its stylistic features and symbolic imagery. Finally, the essay will discuss the novel's reception in film and its adaptations of visual imagery.
- The American Dream and its contradictions in the Jazz Age
- Modernity and the transformation of social and political norms
- The role of visual culture and symbolism in conveying the novel's themes
- The stylistic features of modernist writing in The Great Gatsby
- The novel's lasting impact and its adaptations in film
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the essay by establishing The Great Gatsby as a timeless classic, relevant even today due to its exploration of themes such as class inequality and the pursuit of wealth. It highlights the novel's setting within the transformative era of the 1920s, characterized by both the celebration of wealth and the loss of traditional norms. The introduction establishes the connection between the Jazz Age, the modernist movement, and the critical portrayal of the American Dream, emphasizing the growing importance of visual culture in literature during this time. The introduction clearly lays out the essay's objectives, focusing on the representation of the American Dream and modernity through visual imagery in Fitzgerald's work.
1. The Era of Modernism: This chapter provides a historical and cultural context for The Great Gatsby, focusing on the defining characteristics of the 1920s, often referred to as the "Jazz Age." It discusses the rapid economic growth, technological advancements, and social changes that shaped the era, contrasting the celebration of wealth with a simultaneous loss of traditional values and norms. The chapter examines the impact of World War I, the rise of new technologies (radios, automobiles, motion pictures), and the changing roles of women, all contributing to a sense of societal upheaval and a yearning for something new. The chapter emphasizes the moral bankruptcy that coexisted with financial prosperity, setting the stage for understanding the complexities of the American Dream as depicted in The Great Gatsby.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby*: A Comprehensive Guide - FAQ
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an essay analyzing F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, offering a structured overview of the essay's content and arguments.
What are the main topics covered in the essay?
The essay examines the representation of the American Dream and modernity through visual culture in The Great Gatsby. It explores the novel's historical and cultural context (the 1920s, the modernist movement), analyzes its portrayal of the American Dream, and incorporates a close reading of the text, focusing on stylistic features and symbolic imagery. Finally, it discusses the novel's reception in film and its adaptations of visual imagery.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include: the American Dream and its contradictions in the Jazz Age; modernity and the transformation of social and political norms; the role of visual culture and symbolism in conveying the novel's themes; the stylistic features of modernist writing in The Great Gatsby; and the novel's lasting impact and its adaptations in film.
What is included in the "Table of Contents"?
The table of contents outlines the essay's structure, including an introduction, a chapter on the Era of Modernism (covering the 1920s, the Modernist movement, and the American Dream), a case study chapter focusing on visual culture and narrative aspects of The Great Gatsby, and a final chapter discussing the novel's film adaptations.
What does the introduction cover?
The introduction establishes The Great Gatsby as a timeless classic, relevant due to its exploration of themes like class inequality and the pursuit of wealth. It highlights the novel's setting in the transformative 1920s and establishes the connection between the Jazz Age, the modernist movement, and the critical portrayal of the American Dream, emphasizing the importance of visual culture in literature of that time.
What is covered in the chapter on "The Era of Modernism"?
This chapter provides historical and cultural context, focusing on the defining characteristics of the 1920s ("Jazz Age"). It discusses rapid economic growth, technological advancements, and social changes, contrasting the celebration of wealth with the loss of traditional values. The chapter examines the impact of World War I, the rise of new technologies, and changing roles of women, highlighting the societal upheaval and yearning for something new, and the moral bankruptcy coexisting with financial prosperity.
What does the "Case Study" chapter analyze?
The case study delves into a close reading of The Great Gatsby, analyzing symbols of visual culture, narrative situations (Nick as narrator, style and content) to further understand the novel's themes and artistic choices.
What is discussed in the chapter on film adaptations?
This chapter explores the novel's reception and adaptations in film, likely analyzing how visual imagery has been interpreted and translated across different film versions of The Great Gatsby.
What type of analysis is used in the essay?
The essay employs a combination of historical and cultural analysis, close reading of the text focusing on stylistic features and symbolism, and an examination of visual culture to understand the novel's themes and their lasting impact.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2019, The Representation of American Dream and Modernity through the Images of Visual Culture in Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1032008
