Should we eliminate this forum?

This one doesn't look like it's caught on. Since I formed it, I think I can just push a button and "poof", no more Madeleines for Sweeney. Anyone care to keep it around?

I'm just a watcher, not really informed enough to join, though I was interested. Probably, deleting it is fine. Or, if you can put a lot into running it, it might catch on more strongly. In either case, I'm amenable: willing to be a more involved novice, but not pained if it ceases to be. I'm sorry there hasn't been a better response.... it's a neat idea.

I understand your dilemma. My "Bellow" group has only four members, and it's not looking good.

I think this is a fine idea for a group, but I would understand if you decided to axe it.

I'm guilty of watching but not posting here. I haven't seen any other groups for the discussion of modernism in general, and there's lots to discuss.

My interests in modernism include the intersection of the various arts, so I'm particularly fond of the little magazines, where one can find art, literature and ideas all cross pollinating, or at least cohabitating.

And as for literature - anyone here a fan of Pessoa?

Don't know Pessoa - should I? Looks like mostly poetry - is there a good place to start? Generally, I like dual language poetry editions for foreign poets - even if I can't understand the words, I can get an idea of the sounds.

I keep meaning to try to activate this forum, but haven't gotten to it. Maybe this will kick-start it.

I was hoping to read more modernist literature next year, so it could be helpful if the group gains some activity. Have you tried inviting anyone and everyone who has either large numbers of books by modernist authors, or obscure ones? It's most likely to be helpful. No one minds, and you usually end up with a good influx of members.

I keep waiting for someone to bring up a topic in order to contribute.

To kick something off - what do people think are the main characteristics of modernism?

For me, modernism is a time and an attitude less than a specific thing or movement; it is a reactive force, declaring "we are modern, we are different", and looking to consciously embrace a discordant and disconnected world. The best elements of modernism (e.g., Joyce) realize that's a bunch of hogwash and embrace and wallow in their own tradition, albeit while also embracing and exploring dynamic and changing forms.

all ears

Glad of the discussion beginning, little as I can add at this point.

By the way, Eurydice, if you're looking to read broadly in some modernism, a suggestion I'd make is to pick up one of the old New Directions Annuals (e.g., New Directions 1941 or New Directions in Prose or Poetry 1938), which you'd need to get off abebooks or ebay - any of the annuals in the late thirties or in the forties will have lots of selections from a wide range of modernist authors, ranging from poetry and short stories to full length plays, essays and commentary, and even a short novel or two, all with the flavor of a very lively contemporary movement. It's a much better way to survey, I think, than diving into, say Ulysses or the Cantos. Note that this is relatively late into the modernist movement, but criticism and translations of earlier work get included, as well as some work I wouldn't consider strickly modernist (like Dylan Thomas).

Thank you, A_Musing. That sounds not only more representative and interesting, but much more appealing to me, generally. I see two copies of the New Directions, 1941 on Abe for $20, each - so being able to get one of them soon is likely. The New Directions in Prose or Poetry 1938 will have to wait slightly longer, but also begins within reach.

With patience, you can grab most of these things for $10 to $20, though not always the slickest copy. The 1941 Annual was a very good one - it got me into chasing them regularly.

By the way, there are currently a lot of those New Direction Annuals up on ebay (I probably shouldn't be posting this since I'm planning on bidding on the one's I don't have - but, as long as they find a good home somewhere). I can particularly recommend the '41 and the '38, but I don't think there's a bad one in the bunch. Once you get to the 50s, there is more beat generation and less "modernism" per se (are the beats modernists?), but it is an interesting selection throughout.