Wednesday 19 October 2011

Lecture Notes// Modernity and Modernism

Late 1800s Modernity Began.  Industrial Urbanisation has a massive effect on life.  Also brings loads of people to cities and life speeds up with invention of trains, telephones, cinema, music halls - new forms of distraction - vice.  Urbanisation brings new technology which has effect on relationships with boses, family, friends and also effects your sub-conscious.

There was a cultural race for supremity with the Great Exhibition in London, 1851 and the Paris Exposition in 1855.  The enlightenment project in the late 18th century saw scientific and philosophical thinking make leaps and bounds.
This had a massive effect on the Cities, they became the hub of social life, they became their own character, they became the sight for modern experience and this brings with it artists and writers.  For example the Eiffel tower being built with new materials, and it was kept true to it's materials which was something completely new.  The tower looks rises up and looks over the city of Paris.
Standardisation of World Time when the railways were built.  Fashion starts to become a key symbol, a way of expressing yourself.
Haussman was employed to knock down centre of Paris and create boulevards and Electric Street Lighting was put into place.
The city then becomes relevant/valid for artists to paint.  More focused on the city than the people. 
Invention of Photography challenges painting.  Painters needed to think of new things to do.  Photography and the new world gives you opportunity to look at the world in other views.  Likes birds eye view for example.


Modernist Design
  • Anti-historicism - Modern is Better
  • Truth to materials
  • Materials not disguised eg Eiffel Tower 
  • Form follows function
  • New technology used
  • Internationalism
New Technology
  • Concrete
  • Plastics
  • Reinforced Glass (Mass pro)
  • Steel
  • Aluminium 
  • Reinforced Resin with a steel core made stilettos possible
Modern...
  • Suggests novelty and improvement
  • Modernity 1750-1960 social and cultural experience
  • "Modernism" - The range of ideas and styles that sprang from modernity.

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