American literary regionalism, often used interchangeably with the term "local color", is a style or genre of writing in the United States that gained popularity in the mid-to-late 19th century and early 20th century. In this style of writing, which includes both poetry and prose, the setting is particularly important and writers often emphasize specific features, such as dialect, customs, history and landscape, of a particular region, often one that is "rural and/or provincial". Regionalism is influenced by both 19th-century realism and Romanticism, adhering to a fidelity of description in the narrative but also infusing the tale with exotic or unfamiliar customs, objects, and people.
Characteristics
Any literary movement will have its diversity, but there are certain shared characteristics that help to define a literary movement. In the case of regionalism, these characteristics include the following: • A focus on the setting of the story, often to such a degree that it appears little else happens beyond description of the setting and people; • Characters that are somewhat stereotypical, offering a picture of (actual or perceived) common traits from that region; • A great deal of nostalgia and resistance to change; • Use of local dialect, especially in the dialogue; and • Thick description of people, places, and things that the author means to highlight. == Regionalist writers ==