Critique of Mainstream Modernism in Larsen's Quicksand

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze how Nella Larsen's Quicksand goes beyond the discourse of mainstream modernism and the rationale behind doing it. She challenges the trend of mainstream modernism which exclusively glorifies the experiences of European white elite males' issues. Interestingly, the author incorporates the experience of formerly discarded groups such as women and African-American inside the discourse of modernism. Moreover, an effort is made to demonstrate how women and marginalized groups are represented in the text. For this purpose the researcher draws theoretical insights especially from Janet Wolff, Georg Simmel, and W. E. B. DuBois. Wolff's concept of flaneuse, Simmel's blasé attitude and DuBois' double-consciousness are applicable in this paper. These theoretical concepts help us to investigate the way Larsen challenges mainstream modernism. Larsen's celebration of gender and racial issues significantly take a departure from mainstream modernism. She goes beyond the trend of mainstream modernism in order to make it inclusive.

Key Words: Alternative modernism, Mainstream modernism, Modernity and the city, Flaneuse, Blasé attitude, Double-consciousness