The Beginning of a New Era - The World of Literature and the Arts in Ferment

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• Introduction
  • Beginnings
  • The Long Reign of the Union nationale
  • Henceforth
  • A Precursor of the Quiet Revolution
• Education
  • Brother Anonymous
  • The Creation of the Ministry of Education
  • The Parent Report
  • CEGEPs and the Université du Québec
  • Greater Access of Women to Education
• The New Role of the State
  • The Advent of the Welfare State
  • Election of the First Woman to the Legislative Assembly
  • The Tiger Team
  • Return to Power of the Union nationale
  • A Real Civil Service
• Reclaiming the Economy
  • The Nationalization of Electricity
  • The Société générale de financement
  • The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and the Régie des rentes
• The Affirmation of Quebec
  • The Sovereignty Movement
  • Vive le Quebec libre
  • Relations between Quebec and Ottawa
  • The Délégation générale du Québec in Paris
  • The Front de Liberation du Quebec
  • Bill 63
• Culture
  • The L'Osstidcho
  • Les belles-soeurs (The Sisters-in-law)
  • Humour
  • The Era of Chansonniers
  • Filmmaking in Quebec
  • Literature in Quebec
• Social Realities
  • The Formation of Leftist Movements
  • The Decline of Religion
  • Expo 67
  • Demanding Unionism
• Women's Revolution
  • The Advent of the Pill
  • The Feminist Affirmation
  • The Femmes d'aujourd'hui Show
  • Women Storm the Labour Market
  • The Bird Commission
• Epilogue

Home > Events > Culture > The World of Literature and the Arts in Ferment

Paul Chamberland, figurehead of poetry in Quebec during the 1960s. He was one of the founders of the magazine Parti pris (1963)

André Major, Gérald Godin, Claude Jasmin, Jacques Renaud, Laurent Girouard and Paul Chamberland, among the group of writers of Parti pris. Photo taken outdoors during a fine winter day. Note the horse to the left of Mr. Major

Gérald Godin, poet and novelist, one of the founders of the magazine, Parti pris. He was editor of the publishing company of the same name from 1969 to 1974. The photo features Godinat his desk, typing

The World of Literature and the Arts in Ferment

" [All] these changes or the will to change did not originate from a spontaneous generation. Everything was in preparation and it is interesting to note that the artists, irrespective of their discipline, were ideally positioned in relation to the events, anticipating, provoking and even bearing witness to the great reforms that heralded Quebec's entrance into modernity" (translation).

Lorraine Pintal, « De l'autre côté de la cuisine, le Québec s'ouvre sur le monde », in Y. Bélanger, R. Comeau and C. Métivier (dir.), La Révolution tranquille 40 ans plus tard : un bilan, Montréal, VLB éditeur, 2000, p. 259.

Artists Transform Quebec

Jacques Parizeau, former Premier of Quebec, declared: "The Quiet Revolution was the work of four ministers, twenty or so civil servants, some twenty chansonniers artists and some poets" (translation). This statement highlighted the lead role played by artists in the great shake-up of the Quiet Revolution. Indeed, had not some of them paved the way by publishing the Refus global in 1948, a pamphlet demanding that Quebec society rid itself of the blanket of lead that had covered it for too long?

The Arts as a Means of Affirmation

The world of arts, in its broadest sense, was in ferment during the 1960s to 1970s. Some 400 collections of poetry were published during the decade. Raoul Duguay stated that, from "poetic," the poetry became "rebellious" (translation). The number of novels published more than doubled, compared to the previous decade. Several, like the psychological novel, were written in a new genre. The family, a cardinal value of Quebec society was critically trivialized in stories. Likewise, the visual arts were exploring new frontiers.

The Emancipation of Women through the Arts

Finally, and without precedent, women were participating actively in the renewal and effervescence of the arts. Through novels, poetry and painting, they took the floor and were emancipated. They seized as theirs the words "equality or independence" pronounced by Premier Daniel Johnson during his crusade for the greater autonomy of Quebec, giving them a totally different meaning.

Related events

• The Sovereignty Movement
• The Feminist Affirmation

Related events

• Epilogue

Related characters

• Marie-Claire Blais and Marcelle Ferron

Related years

• Before 1959