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Essay / Difference between Modernism and Postmodernism
While modernism focused on changes and improvisation of different cultural and social aspects, postmodernism was more about celebrating or practicing the changes of the era of modernism. Postmodernism was clear, words meant what they are and had no hidden meaning that would be “meant”. “Let’s not pretend that art can give meaning. . . let's play with nonsense” (Klages). Glengarry Glen Rose is a postmodernist piece. Written in the post-war period, after the Great Depression, it shows how the quest for the American dream is still there but society is changing, more materialistic and less emotional. Mamet's play shows the dreams of the average American and shows how there is a huge difference between winners and losers. The play shows how the salesman with the most sales gets a Cadillac car while the second place winner gets a steak knife. It's as different as day and night. It's not just the winner who gets a Cadillac, the salesman with the fewest sales will be fired. This shows how different society has become. In this piece, salespeople are allowed to lie, bribe, cheat, steal just for a car, all of which earns them no sympathy from readers. This also shows that commercial gain by hook or crook is the seller's primary goal. In Act I of the play, in a Chinese restaurant, Levene bribes his manager for "twenty percent... and fifty dollars in advance" (Glengarry Glen Ross), Moss "talks" to Aaranow about stealing but he does not suggest it to him never openly. . This piece presents this need for money or in this case the Cadillac car takes up human values such as respect and self-awareness. Glengarry Glen Ross is an example of a post-modern play because it does not end with a definitive ending. It depicts an abstract truth. There is no deeper emotional connection between the characters or between the characters and the readers. At the end of the play, Roma says to Levene: "I swear...it's not a man's world...it's not a man's world.