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The Great Gatsby Modernism Essay

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Modernism is a very broad term that is often misconstrued. “Modern” art is used to describe art that has been created recently. The word people mean to use is “contemporary”. Modern art is a tough adjective to define. Modern art has many definitions including 1920s through 1940s, Dadaist, and streaming consciousness. However, conspicuous consumption is the term that should always be thought of when someone mentions modernism and that art associated with it. Modernism can be defined using Thorstein Veblen’s conspicuous consumption.
To understand conspicuous consumption, we first must know a little about Thorstein Veblen, the man who came up with the perspective. Thorstein Veblen was an economist and sociologist popular for Conspicuous Consumption and his book “The Theory of the Leisure Class”. He was born in July of 1857 and died at the age of 72 in August of 1929. He got a degree from Johns Hopkins and Yale in philosophy, getting his doctorate degree in philosophy at Yale. Thorstein remained unemployed after he got out of school and ended up enrolling at Cornell in 1891 as a graduate student. He impressed one …show more content…

Readers attempt to find a deeper meaning to Fitzgerald’s seemingly simple text without success. However, these people lack the required perspective to do so. Once you understand the economic context of the novel, you can unlock its hidden beauty. Thorstein Veblen provides us with the perspective and economic context needed in order to see through Fitzgerald’s deceivingly simple text and into “the belly of the beast” where his mockery and shaming of the upper class takes place. Through “The Great Gatsby” without the required perspective readers are led to believe that the upper class is an invigorating and joyful leisurely life. Well, they are half right. “The Great Gatsby” shows the wealth obtained through “leisure, not idle, work” and why this is neither invigorating or

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