Realism vs. Modernism

Realism and Modernism are both alike, yet also have many differences. Realism tried to be very realistic about what they were portraying. They wanted things to be seen they way that they were, and they did not try to make anything seem better or worse. Meanwhile, Modernism was often disillusioned, or showed signs of disillusionment. They enjoyed showing how people at the time had believed in so many different things like the government, society, and even their families, that all in the end betrayed them. They showed how there were many things that were happening at that time to cause them to second guess everything that they had believed in their entire lives. Realism, however, did nothing of the sort. They continued to discuss things realistically as they were, and did not try to put hidden meanings or motives behind it. Realism definitely worried more about what was happening here and now. They wanted to talk about what was going on in their lives at that very moment, and they were not really worried about their past or about their future. Modernism was much the same way, because they were more worried about what was happening to them right at that second. Sometimes they may look to the future and try to make some plans, but for the most part they were not really worried about it. They worked very hard to make do with what they had at the present, so they did not necessarily try to think about what they would have to come up with to survive the next few weeks or even days. Modernism involved things that happened at that time, such as the Great Depression, World War I, and the rations that many of them relied on for food daily. Realism was concerned about being in the moment, but they were not worried about it, because they had nothing huge to worry about. They may have had day-to-day worries, but it is a lot less likely that they had huge things to think about like the Modernists did. Realism also had many different aspects that can change the way that we think of it. We can think of it as Regionalism, which is a ton different than normal versions of Realism. Regionalism is nothing like Modernism. Regionalism is all about certain regions of the United States. Regionalism was more boasting about what a certain part of the United States had to offer than it was about different problems that Americans were facing at the moment. Regionalism and Modernism really are not alike at all, and that is just one more way that Realism and Modernism are so different. While both can have many advantages and disadvantages, they are both enjoyed by most people that read them. It is hard to compare the two because they can be so alike, but at the same time, it is possible to tell the difference, because they involve different topics that are both necessary. Realism and Modernism can be alike in many ways, but they also have vast differences that allow us to make them different things.