What is Contemporary Literature?

The word contemporary means living, belonging to or occurring in the present

Contemporary literature is defined as literature written after World War II through the
current day. While this is a vague definition, there is not a clear-cut explanation of this concept
-- only interpretation by scholars and academics. While there is some disagreement, most agree
that contemporary literature is writing completed after 1940.

Works of contemporary literature reflect a society's social and/or political viewpoints, shown
through realistic characters, connections to current events and socioeconomic messages. The
writers are looking for trends that illuminate societal strengths and weaknesses to remind
society of lessons they should learn and questions they should ask. Since society changes over
time, so do the content and messages of this writing.

The contemporary literature includes all the literary manifestations that have
taken place since postmodernity. It is defined by a period but also by its very
particular style. Most academics call contemporary literature all literary production
after the Second World War, in the 1940s.

This period extends to the present. It is characterized by fragmentation, unreliable

narrators, pastiche (imitation of styles and authors), changing narration, non-linear
presentation and play and uncertainty in language.

Origin
From 1940 to 1990
In the course of this half century, mankind witnessed numerous changes. The end
of World War II, the fall of communism in Europe and the end of the Cold War
marked the beginning of a new society.

In addition, technological innovations emerged, such as cell phones and the

Internet, color televisions and digital discs (DVD), among others. It was also the era
of new music, like hip hop, and the acceptance of new cultures.

Within this whole wave of changes, literature was enriched with new genres. Many
of these were a response to technological changes and the new social reality.
A feature of contemporary literature of this time was that many stories were based
on reality and had a credible plot. During the first two decades, contemporary
literature shared spaces with Modernism, retaining certain features such as, for
example, focusing on the characters rather than the plot.

In its later development until the 1990s, the contemporary changed to the
description of hard realities. Likewise, he focused his attention on the exposure of
psychological problems such as exclusion and loneliness.

From 1990 to the present

The period from the 1990s to the year 2000 was characterized by globalization,
growing concern about global warming and the war against Islamic terrorism.

In addition, it is a decade marked by wars, natural disasters and a growing

population. The biggest economic crisis also occurred since the Great Depression,
the 2008 recession, and many people lost their jobs.

Thus, contemporary literature received all these influences and was nourished by
all these new contexts. In response to the communicational needs of society, new
genres appeared.

Characteristics
Personal point of view
The works of contemporary literature reflect the social and political views of their
authors. These are shown through the characters, the connections with the events
and the socio-economic messages of their works.

Innovative narrative resources

There is a break with previous narrative techniques. Contemporary literature uses
avant-garde narrative resources, such as the modification of time and the
presentation of the inner world of the characters.
Magical realism
The development of magical realism as a narrative technique represents a
breakthrough in 20th century contemporary literature. This revolutionary
technique is marked by a deep social and political character.

The pressing issues

Most of the themes of contemporary literature are related to the overwhelming
problems of the world now, such as globalization, race and gender, inequality,
climate and environment, wars and terrorism.

Likewise, in this extensive list you can find other topics, such as politics and
economics, ethics and morals, mass culture and media, international crime and
others.

Influence of World War II

The works of contemporary literature tend to be influenced by the prosperous
lifestyle that followed World War II. This literary style has its roots in the devastation
that war brought to the world.

Fiction and non-fiction superimposed

In contemporary literature the distinction between fiction and nonfiction can be
blurred; This is known as crosses. Fiction writers base stories on real-life events and
may even include authentic material.

On the other hand, nonfiction writers make historical figures come alive by
incorporating dialogues and imaginary scenes.

Genders
Classic fiction genre
This genre is made up of stories, novels, plays, poems and films. Everything is
imaginary and invented, but it is presented as a mirror that reflects life and human
experience, in a concrete or abstract way.
Now, the first way to distinguish contemporary fiction is that it will have universal
truths and emotions that every human being can experience. In some way, it gives
expression to emotions.

Similarly, fiction in contemporary literature is realistic, which means that it has the
following characteristics:

- Contains characters that behave in the way that most readers would. The
characters must be credible.

- The story is set in the present.

- The environment is a real place, or at least it seems a real place.

- Events are events that could happen in real life.

- Dialogue is informal and conversational, and often includes regional dialects.

Literature of ghost writers

A surprising number of successful books are written by ghost writers. But there are
also ghost novels.

By definition, these authors have no names and only their peers and the publishers
who depend on them know them.

Graphic novels
The graphic novel is usually interpreted as a cartoon with a long narrative for a
mature audience, published in hardcover or rustic and sold in bookstores, with
serious literary themes and sophisticated works of art.

Literature for children

The last 20 years have seen a flowering of writing for children. Among the top
representatives of this literature are C. S. Lewis ( Chronicles of Narnia ) and J. K.
Rowling ( Harry Potter ).
Science fiction
Science fiction is a very popular branch in contemporary literature. This is
intertwined with the technological progress of the world.

However, literary works of science fiction do not necessarily imply a solid scientific
basis. A writer can create a science fiction literary work to express an alternative
point of view or concept.

Blog literature
Blogs (online magazine of individual or joint authorship) have become a new means
to create literary works. There are even cases in which these creations have
become books.

Popular literature, any written work that is read, or is intended to be read, by

a mass audience. In its broadest sense, popular literature may include best-
selling nonfiction books, widely circulated periodicals, and certain kinds of
digital texts. However, the term is typically used to refer to works of fiction
that are distinguished from what is often called high literature, artistic
literature, or simply literature. Since the late 20th century, works of popular
fiction have often been classified as genre fiction and their purported opposite
as literary fiction.

Characteristics
The categorical boundaries of popular literature are not strict, and the classification of
specific works may change over time. While books that sell in large quantities and
appear on bestseller lists are by definition popular, sales figures alone are
insufficient criteria for a work to be regarded as popular literature. Many works of
literary fiction have become bestsellers, just as many works of genre fiction have failed
to find an audience. In addition, literary distinction is often awarded to works that have
“stood the test of time,” by transcending the context of their initial reception, but such
an assessment cannot be made until long after the work’s publication. For
instance, William Shakespeare’s plays were considered popular literature in their day
but are now widely recognized as artistic works.

First, it is crafted primarily to entertain the reader, as entertainment is a quality that

attracts and appeals to a wide audience. To promote a pleasurable reading experience,
works of popular fiction are usually written in a simple and straightforward style. They
are largely plot-driven, rather than character-driven, and adhere to conventional
narrative structures. As such, they are intended less to provoke deep reflection
or aesthetic appreciation than to be read casually and quickly. Books that are successful
at this aim, especially through their employment of techniques that stimulate readers’
interest and compel them to continue reading, are praised as “page-turners.”

Another major characteristic of popular literature is that it is inexorably

connected to and shaped by commercial forces. A work cannot attract a large
readership unless it is materially accessible to readers; it must be both
prevalent and affordable. Works of popular literature are therefore reliant on
the processes of mass production, marketing, and distribution that take place
within publishing and related industries. As a consequence, authors are also
influenced by commercial considerations in the writing of such works, crafting
them not only to be abstractly appealing but also to satisfy current market
demands.

The 16 Most Popular Genres In Fiction

1. Romance. These stories are about a romantic relationship
between two people. They are characterised by sensual tension,
desire, and idealism. The author keeps the two apart for most of
the novel, but they do eventually end up together. There are many
sub-genres, including paranormal, historical, contemporary,
category, fantasy, and Gothic. There are also many tropes in the
genre: 101 Romance Tropes For Writers
2. Action-Adventure. Any story that puts the protagonist in physical
danger, characterised by thrilling near misses, and courageous
and daring feats, belongs to this genre. It is fast paced, the tension
mounting as the clock ticks. There is always a climax that
offers the reader some relief.
3. Science Fiction. This genre incorporates any story set in the
future, the past, or other dimensions. The story features scientific
ideas and advanced technological concepts. Writers must be
prepared to spend time building new worlds and using genre-
 specific words. The setting should define the plot. There are
many science fiction sub-genres. There are also many tropes in
the genre: 101 Sci-Fi Tropes For Writers
4. Fantasy. These stories deal with kingdoms as opposed to sci-fi,
which deals with universes. Writers must spend plenty of time on
world building. Myths, otherworldly magic-based concepts, and
ideas characterise these books. They frequently take cues from
historical settings like The Dark Ages. There are also plenty of sub-
genres here. There is also a specific terminology and many
tropes in the genre: 101 Fantasy Tropes For Writers
5. Speculative Fiction. These stories are created in worlds unlike
our real world in certain important ways. This genre usually
overlaps one or more of the following: science fiction, fantasy
fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian
and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and
alternate history.
6. Suspense/Thriller. A character in jeopardy dominates these
stories. This genre involves pursuit and escape. It is filled
with cliffhangers and there are one or more ‘dark’ characters that
the protagonist must escape from, fight against, or best in the
story. The threats to the protagonist can be physical or
psychological, or both. The setting is integral to the plot. This is
often described as a gripping read. A Techno Thriller is a sub-
genre.
7. Young Adult. Young Adult (YA) books are written, published, and
marketed to adolescents and young adults. The Young Adult Library
Services Association (YALSA) defines a young adult as someone
between the ages of 12 and 18, but adults also read these books.
These are generally coming-of-age stories, and often cross into the
fantasy and science fiction genres. YA novels feature diverse
protagonists facing changes and challenges. This genre has become
more popular with the success of novels like The Hunger Games, The
Fault in Our Stars, and Twilight.
8. New Adult. New Adult (NA) books feature college, rather than school-
aged, characters and plotlines. It is the next age-category up from YA. It
explores the challenges and uncertainties of leaving home and living
independently for the first time. Many NA books focus on sex, blurring
the boundary between romance and erotica.
9. Horror/Paranormal/Ghost. These are high-pitched scary
stories involving pursuit and escape. The protagonist must
overcome supernatural or demonic beings. Occult is a sub-genre that
 always uses satanic-type antagonists. There are also many tropes in
the genre: 101 Horror Tropes For Writers
10. Mystery/Crime. These are also known as ‘whodunits’. The
central issue is a question that must be answered, an identity revealed,
a crime solved. This novel is characterised by clues leading to rising
tension as the answer to the mystery is approached. There are
many sub-genres in this category.
11. Police Procedurals are mysteries that involve a police officer or
detective solving the crime. These fictional stories take place against
factual historical backdrops.Historical. These fictional stories take
place against factual historical backdrops. Important historical figures
are portrayed as fictional characters. Historical Romance is a sub-
genre that involves a conflicted love relationship in a factual historical
setting.
12. Westerns. These books are specifically set in the old American
West. Plotlines include survival, romance, and adventures with
characters of the time, for example, cowboys, frontiersmen, Indians,
mountain men, and miners.
13. Family Saga. This genre is about on-going stories of two or more
generations of a family. Plots revolve around things like businesses,
acquisition, properties, adventures, and family curses. By their nature,
these are primarily historical, often bringing the resolution in
contemporary settings. There is usually a timeline involved in these
books.
14. Women’s Fiction. These plot lines are characterised by female
characters who face challenges, difficulties, and crises that have a
direct relationship to gender. This is inclusive of woman’s conflict with
man, though not limited to that. It can include conflict with things such
as the economy, family, society, art, politics, and religion
15. Literary Fiction. This genre focuses on the human condition and
it is more concerned with the inner lives of characters and themes than
plot. Literary fiction is difficult to sell and continues to decline in
popularity.