ModernismModernism

Historical ContextHistorical Context

World War I – “The Great War” World War I – “The Great War” introduced technology of destructionintroduced technology of destructionCommunismCommunism

1.1. Stalin’s industrialization of the Soviet UnionStalin’s industrialization of the Soviet Union2.2. 20 million dead20 million dead3.3. Social realism in the artsSocial realism in the arts

Fascism – nationalism and racism: Fascism – nationalism and racism: Hitler’s institutionalization of genocide, Hitler’s institutionalization of genocide, radio and film used for propagandaradio and film used for propaganda

Mass Media in the U.S.Mass Media in the U.S.

Documentary arts:Documentary arts:

Commercial filmCommercial film

Radio programsRadio programs

PostersPosters

PhotographyPhotography

ScienceScience

Einstein’s Theory of RelativityEinstein’s Theory of Relativity

Quantum mechanicsQuantum mechanics

PicassoPicassoMastered traditional techniquesMastered traditional techniques

1.1. blue periodblue period2.2. rose periodrose period

Abandoned Renaissance tradition – new Abandoned Renaissance tradition – new rulesrulesDeveloped cubism with Georges Braque Developed cubism with Georges Braque – it was an attempt to shatter previous – it was an attempt to shatter previous ideas about formideas about formLes Demoiselles d’Avignon Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (fig. 21.3)(fig. 21.3)

Influences on PicassoInfluences on Picasso

Cézanne’s workCézanne’s work

African and Polynesian masksAfrican and Polynesian masks

Iberian sculptureIberian sculpture

CubismCubism

Revolutionary departure from representational Revolutionary departure from representational art. The area around painted objects became art. The area around painted objects became part of the abstract geometric forms.part of the abstract geometric forms.

Presented the object from many angles Presented the object from many angles simultaneouslysimultaneously

An attempt to present an object in a “perceptual” An attempt to present an object in a “perceptual” way – idea that as we look at something, we way – idea that as we look at something, we “see” one side, but “perceive” its other sides “see” one side, but “perceive” its other sides (and interiors) as well. (and interiors) as well.

Stages of CubismStages of Cubism

Analytical phase: browns and grays, Analytical phase: browns and grays, colors should not distract from lines and colors should not distract from lines and planesplanes

Synthetic phase: collageSynthetic phase: collage

AbstractionAbstraction

Pure line, shape and color – non-Pure line, shape and color – non-representational (no recognizable objects) representational (no recognizable objects)

Sculpture: Brancusi’s Sculpture: Brancusi’s Bird in Space Bird in Space (fig. (fig. 21.18)21.18)

Painting: Piet Mondrian’s Painting: Piet Mondrian’s Composition in Composition in Red, Yellow, and Blue Red, Yellow, and Blue (fig.21.17)(fig.21.17)

Anti-ArtAnti-Art

Dada: rejection of reason and order in artDada: rejection of reason and order in art

Marcel Duchamp’s “ready-mades:” Marcel Duchamp’s “ready-mades:” The The FountainFountain (fig.21.12) (fig.21.12)

Later influenced performance art, pop artLater influenced performance art, pop art

ExpressionismExpressionismGerman Expressionism: German Expressionism: Die Brücke (The Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)

Inspired by Fauves (Matisse)Inspired by Fauves (Matisse)

Color caused “vibrations in the soul (Kandinsky Color caused “vibrations in the soul (Kandinsky in in Concerning the Spiritual in ArtConcerning the Spiritual in Art).”).”

Emil Nolde’s Emil Nolde’s Dance Around the Golden Calf (fig. Dance Around the Golden Calf (fig. 21.18)21.18)

Wassily Kandinsky’s Wassily Kandinsky’s Improvisation No. 30 Improvisation No. 30 (Warlike Theme) (Warlike Theme) (fig. 21.19)(fig. 21.19)

FreudFreud

The Interpretation of Dreams The Interpretation of Dreams influenced influenced the humanities of the Twentieth Centurythe humanities of the Twentieth Century

Psychoanalysis: freeing unconscious Psychoanalysis: freeing unconscious desires repressed by parental and societal desires repressed by parental and societal taboostaboos

SurrealismSurrealismIdeas supported by a willful Ideas supported by a willful misinterpretation of Freudmisinterpretation of Freud

André Breton: automatismAndré Breton: automatism

Surrealist painters sought to release the Surrealist painters sought to release the images of the subconsciousimages of the subconscious

Joan Miró: Joan Miró: PaintingPainting (fig. 21.14) (fig. 21.14)

Salvador Dalí: TSalvador Dalí: The Persistence of Memory he Persistence of Memory (fig. 21.15)(fig. 21.15)

Modernism in LiteratureModernism in Literature

Poetry:Poetry:1.1. meter and rhyme discardedmeter and rhyme discarded2.2. complexity, historical allusionscomplexity, historical allusions3.3. poetry should reflect the difficulty of poetry should reflect the difficulty of

experienceexperience

Prose:Prose:1.1. stream of consciousness narrativestream of consciousness narrative2.2. conveyed characters inner selvesconveyed characters inner selves3.3. complexity, historical allusionscomplexity, historical allusions

Modernist LiteratureModernist LiteratureT.S. Eliot’s T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land: The Waste Land: new hero – ironic, new hero – ironic, frustrating, disappointing, self-doubting, anxiousfrustrating, disappointing, self-doubting, anxiousFranz Kafka’s Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis: The Metamorphosis: character character becomes a giant insectbecomes a giant insectVirginia Woolf’s Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway: Mrs. Dalloway: interior interior monologues occurring throughout a single daymonologues occurring throughout a single dayJames Joyce’s James Joyce’s Ulysses: Ulysses: aa single day in the life of single day in the life of Leopold Bloom Leopold Bloom Ernest Hemingway’sErnest Hemingway’s In Our Time: In Our Time: depicts the depicts the realities of war realities of war

Music/StravinskyMusic/StravinskyStravinsky’s music introduced multiple Stravinsky’s music introduced multiple meters, or polyrhythm, and multiple meters, or polyrhythm, and multiple simultaneous keys or polytonality, simultaneous keys or polytonality, disturbing dissonancedisturbing dissonance

Le Sacré du Printemps Le Sacré du Printemps shocked the shocked the music worldmusic world

1.1. Russian folk traditionRussian folk tradition

2.2. Diaghilev: artistic directorDiaghilev: artistic director

3.3. Nijinsky: dancer/choreographerNijinsky: dancer/choreographer

Music/SchoenbergMusic/SchoenbergRejected the classical tradition of Rejected the classical tradition of orchestral musicorchestral music

Atonal music: not composed in a key – Atonal music: not composed in a key – expressionisticexpressionistic

Twelve-tone method: not popular with Twelve-tone method: not popular with audiencesaudiences

Pierrot LunairePierrot Lunaire

Modernist ArchitectureModernist Architecture

Bauhaus School (German) – Walter Bauhaus School (German) – Walter Gropius: clean, functional designGropius: clean, functional design

Le Corbusier (French) functional glass and Le Corbusier (French) functional glass and metal designsmetal designs

Art deco: sleek, simple shapes with Art deco: sleek, simple shapes with decorative forms, like the “gargoyles” of decorative forms, like the “gargoyles” of the Chrysler Buildingthe Chrysler Building

American ArtistsAmerican Artists

Georgia O’Keeffe: Georgia O’Keeffe: Yellow CallaYellow Calla (fig. 21.25) (fig. 21.25)

Edward Hopper: Edward Hopper: Nighthawks Nighthawks (fig. 21.35)(fig. 21.35)

Dorothea Lange: Dorothea Lange: Migrant Mother; Nipomo, Migrant Mother; Nipomo, CaliforniaCalifornia (fig.21.30) (fig.21.30)

William Faulkner: William Faulkner: The Sound and the FuryThe Sound and the Fury

Flannery O’ConnorFlannery O’Connor

American DanceAmerican Dance

Modern Dance: freedom from classical Modern Dance: freedom from classical ballet – Isadora Duncanballet – Isadora Duncan

Modern Ballet: classical training/freer Modern Ballet: classical training/freer expression – George Ballanchine, Martha expression – George Ballanchine, Martha GrahamGraham

American MusicAmerican Music

Aaron Copland: Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring Appalachian Spring

Charles Ives: Charles Ives: 114 Songs114 Songs

George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and BessPorgy and Bess

American ArchitectureAmerican ArchitectureFrank Lloyd Wright – organic design that Frank Lloyd Wright – organic design that works with the environmentworks with the environment

Fallingwater (fig. 21.23)Fallingwater (fig. 21.23)

Furniture designed by Wright in his homesFurniture designed by Wright in his homes

Jazz!Jazz!

Improvised melodies, “swing” rhythmImprovised melodies, “swing” rhythm

African-American originsAfrican-American origins

George Gershwin’s George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody in BlueRhapsody in Blue

Large dance bandsLarge dance bands

Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie “Bird” Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis“Bird” Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis