THE EVOLUTION OF DISCONTENT: ANGRY YOUNG MEN LITERATURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Keywords:
Keywords Angry Young Men, literature, discontent, alienation, globalization, economic inequality, technology, masculinity, identityAbstract
Abstract The "Angry Young Men" literary movement emerged in mid-20th
century Britain, representing a generation's discontent with post-war socio-political
realities. This study investigates how the themes of alienation, rebellion, and frustration
have evolved in 21st-century literature. Focusing on contemporary authors such as
Mohsin Hamid, Aravind Adiga, Dave Eggers, and Ocean Vuong, the research
compares modern works with the classics of Osborne and Amis. The study reveals that
while the socio-political context has shifted, core themes of class conflict,
technological alienation, and identity struggles persist. Furthermore, modern literary
techniques, such as multivocal narratives and nonlinear storytelling, enhance the
relevance and inclusivity of the Angry Young Men tradition in a globalized, digital
world.
References
REFERENCES:
1. Amis, Kingsley. Lucky Jim. New York: Viking Press, 1954.
2. Adiga, Aravind. The White Tiger. New York: Free Press, 2008.
3. Eggers, Dave. The Circle. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
4. Hamid, Mohsin. Exit West. London: Hamish Hamilton, 2017.
5. Osborne, John. Look Back in Anger. London: Faber and Faber, 1956.
6. Beatty, Paul. The Sellout. London: Oneworld Publications, 2015.
7. Vuong, Ocean. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. New York: Penguin Press,
2019
8. Schweblin, Samanta. Fever Dream. London: Oneworld Publications, 2017.
9. Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste.
Harvard University Press, 1984.
10. Thompson, E. P. The Making of the English Working Class. New York: Vintage
Books, 1963.
11. Sedgwick, Eve Kosofsky. Epistemology of the Closet. Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1990.
12. Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality, Volume 1: An Introduction. New
York: Pantheon Books, 1978.
13. Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
