ARTS112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Tracey Emin, Electric Light, Bourgeoisie
Katherine Paterson
ARTS112 Arts & Design History & Theory
Week 1 - Wednesday 2nd March
Modernism and Modernity
-Appeared late 19th early 20th Centuries (1850-1960)
-Modernity - rise of factories, technological improvement and rapid change
-Modernism - response to modernity, feelings (rejection or celebration) about the
changes
-Characterised by: rejection of naturalism and its traditional techniques and "moral"
truths in traditional art; innovation and experimentation of new mediums and
techniques
-Techniques of: vibrant colours, expressive, geometric, abstract
-Influenced by: political, social, economic, philosophical aspects of changing society
-Ideas/subject matter: either celebrated or concerned about urban life, technology,
progress, abstract, war, anxiety, machinery, religion
-Link to capitalism
-Industrial Revolution 18th to the 19th century, led to movement from agrarian
society to industrial society. Thousands flocked to the city for money. Emerged out
of discovering the ability to harness he energy from fossil fuels such as coal to
power steam trains and liners as well as create electricity for street lights.
-Corruption and greed began to be associated with those who lived in the city -
immorality and concept of god being dead.
-Karl Marx developed ideas on socialism and theorised that capitalism will destroy
humanity
-Pre-modern traditional art/"naturalistic"
-Technique of using perspective to create 3D planes on 2D
-Patrons, aristocracy and church were the powers controlling subject matter in
commissions - art only in 5 categories: landscape, portraiture, history/philosophy,
religious/mythical and still life
-Importance placed on iconography - images of significance already known to a
culture e.g. Madonna and Child by Giotto; by Leonardo Da Vinci
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Document Summary
Appeared late 19th early 20th centuries (1850-1960) Modernity - rise of factories, technological improvement and rapid change. Modernism - response to modernity, feelings (rejection or celebration) about the changes. Characterised by: rejection of naturalism and its traditional techniques and moral truths in traditional art; innovation and experimentation of new mediums and techniques. Techniques of: vibrant colours, expressive, geometric, abstract. In uenced by: political, social, economic, philosophical aspects of changing society. Ideas/subject matter: either celebrated or concerned about urban life, technology, progress, abstract, war, anxiety, machinery, religion. Industrial revolution 18th to the 19th century, led to movement from agrarian society to industrial society. Emerged out of discovering the ability to harness he energy from fossil fuels such as coal to power steam trains and liners as well as create electricity for street lights. Corruption and greed began to be associated with those who lived in the city - immorality and concept of god being dead.
