Lecture Notes... Modernity and Modernism: An Introduction

Until 18th Century modern art was seen as inferior version of classical art.


Modern means new, improved. The modern woman is now equal to man.
1900 Paris was seen as the most modern city- had rail, transport and electricity.
The railway- an important part of modernism, linking countries together.

With modernism came urbanisation, more people lived in one area. 


People turned to science and psychology instead of just religion in modern era.


Before modernism- No sense of world time. Modernity made time regulated and standardised.


The city- symbol of modernity.
Eiffel tower- modern structure.


Shifts in art as artists react and respond to modernity.
Clothes are used to show wealth and status.
Modernity speeds up our lives but also makes people more distracted.
Rich and poor are forced to share the same space- makes people distant but more competitive.


City space is dehumanised.


Anti modernists thought this was a bad way to live.


Classical art vs new art. Photography makes painting less relevant- photographs capture all.


Skyscrapers are built- empowering to man, giving a new view of the world from above, before only God could see.


Modern designs should work with modern world- only looking forwards to create new styles.
Form follows function.
Old architecture focuses on artists expression- modern should show no attempt to decorate or disguise- aesthetics are less important.


All modernist designs should be understood by anyone, speaking a common language- designs attempt to define a modern way of living.
Some believed that decoration was a sign of backwardness, a retarded development.


Bauhaus- influential art school.
Main place of modern design. 
Made of big windows (rooms had plenty of light, function) and concrete, a new material.
A new font was designed (futura).
Shit down by Nazis as they thought it was too progressive.


Modern design should be available to all- mass produced. Products should be made quickly, easily and cheaply.
Some were made to cheaply, causing buildings having to be rebuilt.


The idea of modernity was to develop the world to bring a better future.


Modern art shouldn't discriminate.


London Underground map- copied by almost every city in the world- modern way of communicating- neutral language.


Sans serif font- direct result of modernity.