What the Hell Was Modernism?
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What the Hell Was Modernism?
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Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#2What a great read. I think that we see the same thing in poetry as well -- the inaccessible modernist expiriments with form, while interesting to insiders, is at its conclusion an esoteric pursuit.
I think that the turn back toward classical forms, towards a broader audience, and largely the turn inward (the self as the primary concern of the work, rather than it's form) really is a wonderful new wave across many genres, and makes for an wonderful time to be a consumer of art.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#3Almost all eras have extreme, overdone, or ridiculous works done in it. We tend to forget such over time and remember the good ones, or at least the most controversial or novel ones.
Some of the depictions of hell around the early renaissance can make one cringe just as much as some "modern" art. The flying wanker from the Roman Pompey ruins is also a hoot.
The lack of perspective in medieval art is still a curious puzzle, because the pre-Christian Romans had be using fairly decent forms of perspective. The knowledge existed. It's as if the early Christians intended the result to look abstract and symbolic to remove it from mortal-hood.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#4What a great read. I think that we see the same thing in poetry as well -- the inaccessible modernist expiriments with form, while interesting to insiders, is at its conclusion an esoteric pursuit. I think that the turn back toward classical forms, towards a broader audience, and largely the turn inward (the self as the primary concern of the work, rather than it's form) really is a wonderful new wave across many gen…
I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but I know with age and I hope "maturity" I appreciate many more forms of art. Things I didn't have the life experience or emotional depth to grasp when I was younger can deeply impact me now. An example would be Mark Rothko's paintings. I would have said "pfft anyone can do that...just some stripes or blocks" when I was a kid, and probably did, but have recently rediscovered his work and absolutely love it. Same with a lot of poetry as you mentioned. I really regret not having more openness and ability to grasp these things before. I really wish I had more health and life stability, and the resultant time and means to explore and experience creative things.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#5What a great read. I think that we see the same thing in poetry as well -- the inaccessible modernist expiriments with form, while interesting to insiders, is at its conclusion an esoteric pursuit. I think that the turn back toward classical forms, towards a broader audience, and largely the turn inward (the self as the primary concern of the work, rather than it's form) really is a wonderful new wave across many gen…
I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but I know with age and I hope "maturity" I appreciate many more forms of art. Things I didn't have the life experience or emotional depth to grasp when I was younger can deeply impact me now. An example would be Mark Rothko's paintings. I would have said "pfft anyone can do that...just some stripes or blocks" when I was a kid, and probably did, but have recently rediscover…
It certainly is not true of everybody that appreciation of modern art comes with age. I'd wager the majority of people, young or old, consider it inaccessible or worse.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#6I feel like one reason we’re “stuck with modernism” is that it’s an umbrella term that points to many distinct forms which are reacting against some tradition. In this sense, it’s a pretty useless term, as distinct periods will always be reacting against what has come before, otherwise we wouldn’t note them as such.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#7Almost all eras have extreme, overdone, or ridiculous works done in it. We tend to forget such over time and remember the good ones, or at least the most controversial or novel ones. Some of the depictions of hell around the early renaissance can make one cringe just as much as some "modern" art. The flying wanker from the Roman Pompey ruins is also a hoot. The lack of perspective in medieval art is still a curious p…
I'm pretty sure the lack of realism in medieval art has to do with the commandment against worshiping false idols.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#8What a great read. I think that we see the same thing in poetry as well -- the inaccessible modernist expiriments with form, while interesting to insiders, is at its conclusion an esoteric pursuit. I think that the turn back toward classical forms, towards a broader audience, and largely the turn inward (the self as the primary concern of the work, rather than it's form) really is a wonderful new wave across many gen…
I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but I know with age and I hope "maturity" I appreciate many more forms of art. Things I didn't have the life experience or emotional depth to grasp when I was younger can deeply impact me now. An example would be Mark Rothko's paintings. I would have said "pfft anyone can do that...just some stripes or blocks" when I was a kid, and probably did, but have recently rediscover…
It also helps to see some of these modern artworks in person. Rothkos are huge! And seeing the thickness of the paint on a Pollock really adds to it.
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#9What a great read. I think that we see the same thing in poetry as well -- the inaccessible modernist expiriments with form, while interesting to insiders, is at its conclusion an esoteric pursuit. I think that the turn back toward classical forms, towards a broader audience, and largely the turn inward (the self as the primary concern of the work, rather than it's form) really is a wonderful new wave across many gen…
I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but I know with age and I hope "maturity" I appreciate many more forms of art. Things I didn't have the life experience or emotional depth to grasp when I was younger can deeply impact me now. An example would be Mark Rothko's paintings. I would have said "pfft anyone can do that...just some stripes or blocks" when I was a kid, and probably did, but have recently rediscover…
> I really regret not having more openness and ability to grasp these things before.
Ironic - modern art has such a lack of this same openness, that the classic techniques it despises were nearly lost. It was not enough for modern art to be accepted - classical art had to be driven out from contemporary galleries:
The Slade school in London used to be world-famous for turning out fine British draftsmen. A distinguished British painter who taught at the Slade asked me, 'How did you learn how to do animation?' I answered that I was lucky enough to have done a lot of life drawing at art school, so without realizing it I got the feeling for weight which is so vital to animation.
Then I said, 'What am I telling you for? You're teaching at the Slade and it's famous for its life drawing and excellent draftsmen.'
'If the students want to do that,' he said, 'then they've got to club together and hire themselves a model and do it in their own home.' At first I thought he was joking - but no! Life drawing as a subject went out years ago. It wasn't even on the curriculum!
-- Animator's Survival Kit, page 32. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-OTUJDZcAzLcDhFbVN3TjdwUnc/...
Re: What the Hell Was Modernism?
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but I know with age and I hope "maturity" I appreciate many more forms of art. Things I didn't have the life experience or emotional depth to grasp when I was younger can deeply impact me now. An example would be Mark Rothko's paintings. I would have said "pfft anyone can do that...just some stripes or blocks" when I was a kid, and probably did, but have recently rediscover…
It also helps to see some of these modern artworks in person. Rothkos are huge! And seeing the thickness of the paint on a Pollock really adds to it.
I would love to see some of his stuff up close. I live in rural nowhere middle Murica so it's not accessible. I have heard it's pretty amazing to see how big they truly are. Nothing is as good as in person. I recall seeing the Mona Lisa in person later in life and being shocked at how small it was, and turning around and seeing how massive The Wedding Feast at Cana was. It completely...sorry for this...reframes your impression of things relative to books and photos. I envy people who live in places with so much culture accessible.