modernism

/'mɔdə:nizm/
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modernism

A sleek glass skyscraper stands as a symbol of modernism in the city center.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A movement in the arts and literature: A style or movement in art, architecture, literature, etc., that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a deliberate departure from tradition and the use of innovative forms of expression.
    • Modern thought, character, or practice: The quality or state of being modern; sympathy with or conformity to modern ideas, styles, or practices.
    • A theological movement: Specifically in Roman Catholic thought in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an effort to interpret traditional beliefs according to contemporary philosophical and scientific thought.
Usage
  • In art and culture: "Modernism" is used to describe the broad cultural movement that sought to align artistic and literary forms with the radical changes in Western society at the turn of the 20th century.
  • As a quality: It can refer to the adoption of contemporary ideas or styles.
  • In religious context: It refers to a specific historical movement within Christianity.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The poetry of T.S. Eliot is a landmark of literary modernism.
    • The building's design reflects a clear break from tradition, embracing modernism in its use of glass and steel.
    • His thinking was influenced by theological modernism.
Advanced Usage
  • "High modernism": Refers to the period of the most radical and definitive modernist works, often in the early 20th century.

    • The novels of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf are considered pinnacles of high modernism.
  • "Late modernism": Describes the continuation or evolution of modernist tendencies after World War II.

    • The composer's later works are often categorized as late modernism.
Variants and Related Words
  • Modernist (noun/adjective): A person who follows or supports modern ideas, styles, or methods in art, literature, or religion; relating to modernism.
    • He was a leading modernist architect.
  • Modernity (noun): The quality or condition of being modern; the modern era.
    • The novel explores the experience of modernity in the city.
  • Modernize (verb): To adapt something to modern needs or habits.
    • The company plans to modernize its factories.
Synonyms
  • Innovation: The introduction of new ideas or methods.
  • Avant-garde: New and experimental ideas, especially in the arts.
  • Contemporary style: The style of the present time.
Antonyms
  • Traditionalism: Adherence to tradition, especially in cultural or religious practice.
  • Conservatism: Commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change.
  • Classicism: The following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • "Make it new": A phrase associated with the modernist poet Ezra Pound, encapsulating the modernist desire to break with the past.
  • Stream of consciousness: A narrative mode associated with modernist literature that depicts the multitudinous thoughts and feelings passing through the mind.
  • Form follows function: A principle associated with modernist architecture and design.
modernism

A sleek glass skyscraper stands as a symbol of modernism in the city center.

Noun
  1. practices typical of contemporary life or thought
  2. the quality of being current or of the present
    • a shopping mall would instill a spirit of modernity into this village
  3. genre of art and literature that makes a self-conscious break with previous genres