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Plural
modernisms
1
a style or movement in art, literature, and architecture developed in the beginning of 20th century that greatly differs from ones that are traditional
Modernism was an artistic, literary, and cultural movement that started in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It aimed to move away from traditional forms and styles, trying new ideas and techniques to reflect the changes and challenges of modern life. Modernist artists and writers experimented with new approaches, often focusing on abstract or broken forms, and unusual methods to show modern experiences. This movement aimed to challenge traditional standards and explore new perspectives, often emphasizing originality, personal styles, and a shift from past styles. Modernism significantly influenced various fields, including art, literature, architecture, and design, forming how people understood and interacted with the modern world.
- Modernism emerged in the early 20th century as artists and writers sought to break away from traditional forms and experiment with new techniques and perspectives.
- The sleek, geometric lines of the building are characteristic of architectural modernism, emphasizing function and simplicity.
- Her novel, influenced by modernism, explores stream-of-consciousness narrative and fragmented structure to depict the inner thoughts of its characters.
- The art exhibit showcased key works of modernism, highlighting the radical approaches to form and color that defined the movement.
- Modernism in literature often challenges conventional storytelling, as seen in the experimental prose of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.
2
the quality or characteristic of being modern, marked by innovative thought, expression, or technique typical of contemporary life or thought
- The architect's design embodied modernism through its clean planes, open interiors, and integration of new materials.
- The novelist's use of stream-of-consciousness narration exemplified modernism in literature.
- The gallery's curated exhibition highlighted modernism in fashion with geometric cuts and unconventional fabrics.
- His lecture on modernism in music explored how composers embraced atonality and electronic instruments.
- The film's editing style—a rapid montage of urban scenes—reflected the director's modernism in cinema.
3
a movement in the Roman Catholic Church during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that sought to reinterpret traditional doctrine in light of contemporary philosophy, historical criticism, and calls for freedom of conscience
- Alfred Loisy's critical approach to the Gospels became a hallmark of Catholic modernism and led to his dismissal from the Institut Catholique.
- Although suppressed, elements of Catholic modernism resurfaced in later theological reforms during the Second Vatican Council.
- Supporters of modernism argued for teaching the historical-critical method in seminaries to deepen scriptural understanding.
- George Tyrrell's challenges to papal infallibility exemplified how modernism questioned centralized church authority.
- The modernism controversy prompted the introduction of the anti-modernist oath for all clergy in 1910.