Modernism

NOTE: My notes on modernity, modernism, post-modernism, etc are
      on the pages:  -[Post-post-modernism]-  
                     -[Post-911 Era]-

See also:  [Feminism]
                  [Modernists]  [Post Modernism]
           [Post modernism]
           [Post-post modernism]
                  [Post-post-modernism]  
                    [Post-911 Era]
                  [Art Talk, by Cindy Nemser]

  google:  "Non-Conformist Modernism"
                  as well as Clarissa TerraNova 
                     
On this page:  {Modernism - an intro}
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               {Science} (and its impact on modernity)
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               {The Usual Suspects}




Modernism - an intro

One problem is when modernism began, and when we 
became post-modern. 

We take as read the ideas in "We have never been modern"
by Bruno Latour. That is (in brief) - we like to imagine
ourselves so much more civilised and advanced than 
previous generations. It surprises many that far
from the monster portrayed in the West, the empire
of Ghengis Kahn was one of the most open, advanced
and comfortable. He made no difference between race,
creed, or social station in terms of job appointments,
etc. Although (and rightly) so, he was suspect of
Chinese persons whose heritage had connections with
former dynasties.

Thus, except for unlimited rice pudding and indoor
plumbing, there is very little "modern" that is
in so much a way superior to the previous things;
HD-TV and on-the-spot news commentary not with-standing.



               

Science
(and its impact on modernity)

In this section:  {Stuff}
                  {Evolution}
                  {Relativity}
                  {Freud}
                  {Quantum Mechanics}
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Science, Moderninsm - Stuff

I will never forget a particular painting of 
Pissaro's that i came aross in a book, and
try as i might, i couldn't figure out one
of these dark storm-like clouds. Finally,
after a bit of reading, it turned out to
be the smoke-plume from a factory. I ended
up getting a copy of that painting and 
posted it across to the left of my desk.

Now, that's modernity.

The cartoonist Robert Crumb (best known for
"Keep on Trucking" and what became of it
when the IRS found out about it) painted 
a series of "cartoon scenes" of the old
road, and how it changed. This was also
reflected in one of his "Mr. Natural"
comics - the new intrudes relentlessly
on the here and now. THus, the present
is transformed into the past by the
very existencde of the idea of PROGRESS.

And no where is the idea of progress
more insistent than in the application
of science to industry.

We take as read the industrial revolution,
and the mixed blessings that it brought.
And that perhaps Marx missed the boat
as to what that revolution meant. As
long as there is the promise of progress,
the people will not revolt. But, stir
in an old-fashioned war, and just watch
the fire-works (and oddly enough fire-works
are yet another intrusion of science ;).

But, we move on (like some wildly out of 
control reductionist, de-constructionist locomotive!!!)


                  

Evolution


                  

Relativity


                  

Freud



                  

Quantum Mechanics





Quotes


               
  

The Usual Suspects

Paul Cezanne () ()
Sonia Delaunay () ()
Marcel Duchamp () ()
Eva Hesse () ()
Caimir Malevitch () ()
Charles Rennie Macintosh (architecture/design)
   (as well as "The Four" - the Macdonald Sisters and James Herbert McNair
Henri Matisse () ()
 () ()
Frank Lloyd Wright (architect)

Important works


Chronology