Modernism vs Postmodernism
Modernism and Postmodernism are two distinct movements that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting changes in cultural and social behavior around the world. These movements were shaped by the thought patterns of people at the time, which in turn influenced various aspects of life.
What is Modernism?
Modernism encompasses a series of cultural movements that took place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including reforming movements in architecture, art, music, literature, and applied arts. Modernism thrived between the 1860s and 1940s, particularly until 1945 when World War II ended. During this period, great importance was given to literary works and original works, such as paintings, sculpture, architecture, and poetry. Modernism believed in learning from past experiences and was characterized by logical thinking. Thinkers and artists of the modernist period sought the abstract truth of life, searching for the real meaning of life.
What is Postmodernism?
Postmodernism refers to the cultural developments that emerged after modernism, generally considered to have begun after the 1960s, specifically in 1968. Modernism is believed to have paved the way for postmodernism, which is more complex to understand and appreciate. The period after World War II is typically seen as postmodernism-oriented, characterized by complex developments in economic, cultural, and social conditions globally. Thinking during the postmodern era was considered irrational and unscientific, with postmodernism not believing in any abstract truth about life. Furthermore, postmodernism did not firmly believe in benefiting from past experiences and questioned the authority of textual reading. Unlike modernism, postmodernism did not pay attention to original works, focusing more on the creation of applied art and interdisciplinary studies. Digital media were extensively used to copy the original works of the modernist period during the postmodernism period.
Key Takeaways
- Modernism flourished between the 1860s and 1940s, while postmodernism began after modernism, specifically after 1968.
- Modernism was characterized by logical thinking, learning from past experiences and a focus on original works, whereas postmodernism was characterized by irrational thinking, questioning the authority of textual reading, and not focusing on original works.
- Modernist artists sought the abstract truth of life, while postmodernist artists did not believe in any abstract truth about life and focused more on applied art and interdisciplinary studies.
