Contemporary literature is a style of writing that began in the 1940s and includes poetry, prose, and nonfiction. It features realistic stories with well-developed characters and is not limited to Western authors. The genre includes a variety of writing forms and is characterized by a harsher reality influenced by the aftermath of World War II.
Contemporary literature is a large group of written works produced from a specific time in history up to the present age. This literary era defines a time period, but also describes a particular style and quality of writing. Some see this period as an extension of postmodern literature, but most refer to it as a literary era in its own right.
Most agree that the era of contemporary writing began in the 1940s. Some scholars argue that this period began at the end of World War II, which is where the matching of the era with postmodern literature comes into play. The postmodern era began after World War II, in the 1940s, and lasted until the 1960s. The contemporary period extends to the present day.
While there are some disagreements about when this literary period began, the greater dispute is what qualifies a written work as literature. The word refers to both poetry and prose, where prose includes works of fiction such as novels and short stories, essays, and dramatic works. This term also refers to the quality of writing. To be considered literature, a written work must meet the highest standards of writing and contain a particular beauty and style. Many works of literature become socially relevant and have the power to influence the public.
Much contemporary literature comes from Western authors; however, the term is not synonymous with English or American literature, and this literary period can apply to works written from anywhere in the world. Indeed, globalization has opened the door to include contemporary works written by many literary figures from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The genres included in this literary period span a variety of writing forms beyond novels and poetry. Flash fiction, short stories, slam poetry, plays, memoirs, and autobiographies can all be included in this category. Nonfiction is not usually classified as literature, but this era sometimes includes works of creative nonfiction, which tell a true story using literary techniques.
Typical features of the contemporary period include reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story. Settings usually stick to the current or modern era, so futuristic and science fiction novels are rarely included in this category. Well-defined, realistic, and highly developed characters are important in classifying a written work as contemporary, and most writing in this category features stories that are more character-driven than plot-driven.
Contemporary literature presents a somewhat modern narrative, but also contains a harsher reality. Contemporary written works tend to be influenced by the prosperous lifestyle that followed World War II, but this literary class is rooted in the devastation the war wrought upon the world. A new reality blossomed in the postwar mind, and it included a personal cynicism, disillusionment, and frustration that is common to this literary period.
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