In a paragraph, explain how the writing associated with the Lost Generation reflected the new emphasis on consumerism in American culture. Provide examples of Lost Generation authors and literary works.
The writing associated with the Lost Generation reflected the new emphasis on consumerism in American culture by portraying the disillusionment and emptiness experienced by the characters. This group of authors, who came of age during World War I, were marked by their alienation and dissatisfaction with the materialistic values of American society. They rejected the traditional pursuit of wealth and instead focused on personal fulfillment and self-discovery. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," the characters are obsessed with wealth and the pursuit of the American Dream, yet their lives are ultimately empty and unsatisfying. Another example is Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," where the characters engage in a hedonistic lifestyle filled with alcohol and parties, but are left feeling lost and unfulfilled. These works highlight the negative consequences of the consumerist culture and serve as a critique of the materialistic values that dominated American society during the early 20th century.
