laovienax
09-28-2005, 01:07 PM
i have a literature related question, would be great if someone could help me out:
I cannot help but be stunned by the material quasi-utopia that we inhabit in Western Europe/North America. I realize that even here there is still widespread poverty and income inequality. But for the large majority of the population, not only are the fundamentals (food, shelter, basic personal security) guaranteed, but standards are high. There is universal health-care (well perhaps not in the US, but in europe) and a plethora of technical devices and gadgets exist to ease life and to entertain. It surpasses anything past generations could even dream of, and technology is advancing fast. At times it seems almost surreal, especially when compared to the unspeakable poverty that still governs the lives of the majority of unfortunates born outside the wealthy fortresses.
I would very much like to find out how this material quasi-utopia, which suddenly emerged in the last 60 years after the convulsions of the industrial revolution, depression and total war, was/is perceived in the literatures of Germany, Britain and/or America (or possibly France).
In terms of the period I am most interested in... There is of course the enormous break with the past in the two decades after the Stunde Null of 1945. But I don’t necessarily want to focus on the 1950s and 1960s. After all, even though the speed of economic growth has never again been so rapid in the West, the absolute level of wealth today is much higher than even 30 years ago (and the collective memory of widespread poverty and war is fading fast, as even grandparents who have experienced it are dying now).
So.... does anyone know about authors/books of the last 50 years that have written on/about the enormous material wealth that has transformed our societies (directly or indirectly)?
i really don't know where to start looking, at the same time i feel, that such a momentous economic development/success must have resonated very strongly through the arts/literature!? any tips would be appreciated
thanks,
laovienax
ps: someone has suggested to me to have a look at immigrant literature, as immigrants from the third world are often most acutely aware of the enormous economic gaps (indeed, in many cases that is the motivation for them to leave their family and home behind); does anyone have any tips for me in this field perhaps?
I cannot help but be stunned by the material quasi-utopia that we inhabit in Western Europe/North America. I realize that even here there is still widespread poverty and income inequality. But for the large majority of the population, not only are the fundamentals (food, shelter, basic personal security) guaranteed, but standards are high. There is universal health-care (well perhaps not in the US, but in europe) and a plethora of technical devices and gadgets exist to ease life and to entertain. It surpasses anything past generations could even dream of, and technology is advancing fast. At times it seems almost surreal, especially when compared to the unspeakable poverty that still governs the lives of the majority of unfortunates born outside the wealthy fortresses.
I would very much like to find out how this material quasi-utopia, which suddenly emerged in the last 60 years after the convulsions of the industrial revolution, depression and total war, was/is perceived in the literatures of Germany, Britain and/or America (or possibly France).
In terms of the period I am most interested in... There is of course the enormous break with the past in the two decades after the Stunde Null of 1945. But I don’t necessarily want to focus on the 1950s and 1960s. After all, even though the speed of economic growth has never again been so rapid in the West, the absolute level of wealth today is much higher than even 30 years ago (and the collective memory of widespread poverty and war is fading fast, as even grandparents who have experienced it are dying now).
So.... does anyone know about authors/books of the last 50 years that have written on/about the enormous material wealth that has transformed our societies (directly or indirectly)?
i really don't know where to start looking, at the same time i feel, that such a momentous economic development/success must have resonated very strongly through the arts/literature!? any tips would be appreciated
thanks,
laovienax
ps: someone has suggested to me to have a look at immigrant literature, as immigrants from the third world are often most acutely aware of the enormous economic gaps (indeed, in many cases that is the motivation for them to leave their family and home behind); does anyone have any tips for me in this field perhaps?