Modernism
Until recently, the word "modern" used to refer generically to the contemporaneous; all art is modern at the time it is made. As an art historical term, "modern" refers to a period dating from roughly the 1860s through the 1970s and is used to describe the style and the ideology of art produced during that era. It is this more specific use of modern that is intended when people speak of modern art. The term "modernism" is also used to refer to the art of the modern period. More specifically, "modernism" can be thought of as referring to the philosophy of modern art. The roots of modernism lie much deeper in history than the middle of the 19th century. For historians (but not art historians) the modern period actually begins with the Renaissance. A discussion of modernism might easily begin in the Renaissance period when we first encounter secular humanism, the notion that man (not God) is the measure of all things, a worldly civic consciousness, and "utopian" visions of a more perfect society. It is in the ideals of the Enlightenment that the roots of Modernism, and the new role of art and the artist, are to be found. Simply put, the overarching goal of Modernism, of modern art, has been the creation of a better soc
After the Second World War, however, such optimism in the future was difficult to sustain. Through their art, in pictures that showed directly or indirectly the plight of the peasants, the exploitation of the poor, prostitution, and so on, the progessives repeatedly drew attention to the political and social ills of contemporary society, conditions they felt needed to be addressed and corrected. Progressive modernism is riddled with doubt about the continued viability of the notion of progress. Constructive postmodernism seeks to recover truths and values from various forms of premodern thought and practice. Fundamentally, the intention was to educate the public, to keep alive in the face of conservative forces the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and equality through which the world would be made a better place. Generally speaking, progressive modernism tended to concern itself with political and social issues, addressing aspects of contemporary society, especially in its poorer ranks, that an increasingly complacent middle class, once they had achieved a satisfactory level of comfort for themselves, preferred to ignore. In the period between World War One and World War Two, progressive modernism continued to pursue its goals, but now often in association with other forces. Soon it was claimed that art should be produced not for the public's sake, but for art's sake. If Modernism is at an end, we are now facing a new period. For some it means anti-modern; for others it means the revision of modernist premises. The Germans, after all, were a civilized people who had actively participated in the modernist enterprise from the beginning. Constructive postmodernism wants to replace modernism and modernity, which it sees as threatening the very survival of life on the planet. The Nazi holocaust reduced the modernist dream to ashes. The critical apparatus of control has broken down; traditional art theory and traditional art history have failed along with modernism. The term "postmodernism" is used in a confusing variety of ways.
Common topics in this essay:
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World War,
Cold War,
progressive modernism,
world war,
modern art,
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20th century,
half 20th century,
art historians,
roots modernism,
modern period,
perfect society,
art produced,
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Acceptance Essays
