Lost Generation

Definition

The Lost Generation refers to a group of American writers, artists, and intellectuals who came of age during or immediately after World War I. Disillusioned by the horrors of the war and the failure of traditional values, they rejected conventional society and sought to redefine themselves and their art in a new, modernist context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Lost Generation was heavily influenced by the disillusionment and trauma of World War I, which shattered their faith in traditional institutions and values.
2. Many members of the Lost Generation, such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein, chose to live as expatriates in Europe, particularly in Paris, where they could explore new artistic and intellectual ideas.
3. The works of the Lost Generation often reflected a sense of alienation, cynicism, and a search for meaning in a world that seemed to have lost its way.
4. The Lost Generation's rejection of conventional society and its embrace of modernist experimentation had a profound influence on the development of American literature, art, and culture in the 20th century.
5. The term 'Lost Generation' was coined by Gertrude Stein, who famously described the young people of the post-war era as a 'lost generation' that had been 'destroyed by the war.'

Review Questions

• Explain the historical context that gave rise to the Lost Generation and how it shaped their worldview and artistic expression.
  • The Lost Generation came of age in the aftermath of World War I, a conflict that had shattered their faith in traditional values and institutions. Disillusioned by the horrors of the war and the failure of the old order to prevent such devastation, members of the Lost Generation rejected conventional society and sought to redefine themselves and their art in a new, modernist context. This sense of disillusionment and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world deeply influenced the themes and styles of their literary and artistic works, which often reflected a sense of alienation, cynicism, and a desire to break free from the constraints of the past.
• Analyze the role of expatriation and the cultural environment of Paris in shaping the artistic and intellectual development of the Lost Generation.
  • Many members of the Lost Generation, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein, chose to live as expatriates in Europe, particularly in Paris, where they could explore new artistic and intellectual ideas. The vibrant cultural scene in Paris, with its avant-garde movements, intellectual salons, and freedom from the constraints of their native society, provided the Lost Generation with the space to experiment with modernist forms of expression and to redefine their relationship to traditional values. This expatriate experience allowed them to gain a fresh perspective on their own culture and to develop a unique, cosmopolitan sensibility that would profoundly influence the course of American literature, art, and culture in the 20th century.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the Lost Generation's rejection of conventional society and embrace of modernist experimentation on the development of American culture.
  • The Lost Generation's rejection of traditional values and their embrace of modernist experimentation had a profound and lasting impact on the development of American culture. By breaking free from the constraints of the past and exploring new, experimental forms of expression, the writers, artists, and intellectuals of the Lost Generation helped to usher in a new era of cultural innovation and creativity. Their works, which often reflected a sense of alienation, cynicism, and a search for meaning in a world that seemed to have lost its way, challenged the status quo and paved the way for the emergence of new, avant-garde movements in literature, art, and beyond. The influence of the Lost Generation can be seen in the continued relevance and influence of modernist aesthetics and the enduring importance of the expatriate experience in shaping the American cultural landscape.

Related terms

Modernism:

An artistic and literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and a focus on experimentation, subjectivity, and the exploration of the human condition.

Expatriates: Individuals who have left their native country to live elsewhere, often in search of a different cultural or artistic environment.

Nihilism: A philosophical belief that rejects all traditional values and meaning, often leading to a sense of purposelessness and despair.