Modernism

Modernism
“Embrace Modernity.”
Basic Information
Aliases	Modern Art
Alignments	Aesthetics Movement Era Art
Philosophical Influences
Influenced by	Enlightenment Philosophy Rationalism Liberalism Progressivism
Influenced	Aesthetics Aesthetics Second Half of the 19th c. Impressionism Neo-Impressionism Post-Impressionism Symbolism Les Nabis Pre-WW2 Art Nouveau Fauvism Expressionism Cubism Constructivism Suprematism Rayonism Dada Surrealism Neoplasticism Young Modernism Futurism After WW2 Abstract Expressionism Informalism Tachisme Hard-edge Painting Geometry of Fear Arte Povera Color Field Kinetic Art Minimalism Lyrical Abstraction Pop Art Conceptual Art Spatialism Serialism Sonorism Philosophy
Preceded	Pre-Modernism
Succeeded	Post-Modernism
Philosophical Information
Year	Late 19th and early 20th centuries
Region of origin	Western societies
Variations
Sub-Philosophies	Catholic Modernism
Regional Variants	Socmodernism Communism

Modernism is a cultural and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to the rapid social, political, and technological changes that were taking place in the world. It is characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of thinking, artistic styles, and social norms, and a focus on experimentation, individualism, and the exploration of new forms of expression.

History

Art

Early Modernist Art

Modernism can be traced back to the late 19th century in France, where artists such as Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh began to experiment with new approaches to art-making, such as the use of bold colors, flattened space, and expressive brushstrokes.

Avant-Garde Art

Early artists were later followed by a new generation of avant-garde artists who sought to break with the past and create a new art for the modern age. Among these were the Cubists, led by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who sought to fragment and reassemble forms in new and unconventional ways.

Futurist Art

Other modernist movements that emerged during this period include Futurism, which celebrated the speed and dynamism of modern life, and Expressionism, which sought to convey the inner emotional experiences of the individual.

Dada and Surrealist Art

In the years following World War I, modernism continued to evolve and expand, with new movements such as Dada and Surrealism emerging in response to the traumatic experiences of the war. These movements emphasized the irrational and the absurd, and sought to challenge traditional notions of art and society.

New Modernist Art

Throughout the 20th century, modernism continued to influence and shape the art world, with artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko pushing the boundaries of abstract expressionism, and others such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein exploring the intersections of art, popular culture, and mass media.

Literature

The roots of modernism in literature can be traced back to the works of writers such as Gustave Flaubert, Charles Baudelaire, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, who sought to explore the inner lives of their characters and capture the changing realities of modern life.

In the early 20th century, modernist writers such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and T.S. Eliot began to experiment with new forms of narrative and language, often using techniques such as stream of consciousness and fragmentation to convey the complexities of human experience. At the same time, other writers, such as Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett, explored themes of alienation and absurdity, creating works that challenged traditional notions of plot and character.

Music

The history of modernism in music can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when a group of composers began to experiment with new techniques and approaches to music-making. Composers, who included Claude Debussy, Arnold Schoenberg, and Igor Stravinsky, sought to break with the traditional tonal system that had dominated Western music for centuries and create a new, more expressive and innovative form of music.

Beliefs

Form follow function

One of the fundamental principle of modernist design is called "form follow function" that consisted in matching appearance and aesthetics to its functionality.

Rejection of Tradition

Modernism rejected traditional beliefs, styles, and techniques prevalent in the 19th century. It sought to break away from established norms and embrace new approaches to art, culture, and society.

Experimentation and Innovation

Modernist artists, writers, and thinkers valued experimentation and innovation. They explored new forms, techniques, and materials, pushing the boundaries of their respective fields.

Subjectivity and Individualism

Modernism emphasized individual experience and subjectivity. Artists and writers often turned inward, exploring personal perspectives, emotions, and existential themes.

Fragmentation and Discontinuity

Modernist works often featured fragmented structures, disjointed narratives, and discontinuous forms. This reflected a response to the rapidly changing and fragmented nature of modern life.

Relationships

Friends

• WIP

Frenemies

• Romanticism - I appreciate your contributions to the art world, but it's time to move on from the past and embrace a more progressive vision.
• Post-Modernism - A little ahead of me...
• Post-Postmodernism - Is that a bit too far?
• Post-Post-Postmodernism - You've come too far, too far...
• Metamodernism - How much more of development?

Enemies

• Traditionalist School - You're holding back progress and creativity with your outdated ideas. It's time to join the modern era.
• Pre-Modernism - It was necessary to take a step forward.

Further Information

Wikipedia

• Modernism
• Modern architecture
• Literary modernism
• Modernism in music