Modernity and Modernism

When you mention those words you instantly think of 'new' right?
But there is more to these words than just that. 

Modernity began around 1750 and lasted roughly till the 1970's but these dates are fixed in fact you could argue that it is still very much going on in some areas today. Though Charles Jencks believed that Modernism died exactly at 3:32 pm 15th July 1972, with the demolition of Pruitt-Igoe a development in St Louis, USA. Though this housing was simple a modernist answer to more living space, it was designed to be cheap and fit its requirements, which it did. In that way it could be seen as a success, but they failed to take into account the kind of areas that these cheap crammed flats would create. They became run down with poverty, as a result they became highly concentrated with violence and crime, they had effectively created their own slums. There was no alternative, they had to flatten the building to make way for more desirable structures.


(The Pruitt-Igoe housing project : Image source)

In the 19th century the term ''modern'' meant contemporary, it was the best of the present, and if you believe that modernism is still around today you may still think the same of it.
Modernism brought about many changes with it, it became a period of industrialisation, urbanisation, changes to social environment and a shift of technological advancements.

One of the most iconic examples of modernity is the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.

Image source

Image source

 There was a bit of competition between countries, to create the most modern capital and so the Eiffel Tower was erected to make a statement to the rest of the world that they were the most modern city, building a 320 metre high structure from steel clearly was the only way.


Image Source

 Though you could argue it is modernity at all because it has no real purpose than for France to make a point to the rest of the world and get one up them. But I think the Eiffel tower shows a historical high point in Parisian modernity and is evident that people embraced it.


Previously people had always accepted religion as their answer to all of life's "Hows?" and "Whys?" but in the late 18th century there was a period of enlightenment when scientific and philosophical thinking made extensive progress. With more industry forming due to such technological advancements urbanisation was inevitable  there was more business being made, people began to move out of the country and towards large towns and cities for better paid work, thus more housing was needed so buildings began to rise up to fit as many in once area. Of course this meant the social environment changed, people no longer knew their neighbours they became strangers to each other.
 The way of understanding the human mind developed, we began to understand more about the human mind and the way it works. Psychologists looked at how the development of the modern world affected people and their mind, almost as if they were concerned that progress like this would make you go crazy. Though we can look back in art and see how social behaviour did change during this period, or at least the way in which the artist them self thought which we can see by the difference in approaches, materials, the mood of the paintings... Are they accurately depicting what life was like at that time, or is it just the artists personal response to a life of modernity.

Artists were the first to document this modernity. Modernism emerges out of the subjective responses of an artist. 
Art development also with the development of photographic technology meant that artists couldn't compete or rather didn't want to, so composition in art started to vary more, as well  more abstract art was being created. 

Artists also documented the more noticeable increase in social differences, as seen in this painting by Caillebotte.

It shows us the upper class taking part in their favourite past time of flaunting their expensive clothing. But also take note of the surroundings in this picture, high rising buildings, a large cast iron bridge. this painting well documents modernity of that time.

Modernism in design is all about function, the aesthetics of it don't really matter so long as it serves it purpose, and is often the most simple of ideas, something that can be made quickly or mass produced. Modernist designers steer away from the decorative nature that you see in early designs and more often they not they don't hide their materials, because you know what its made from, so what's the point in making it look pretty right? so long as it achieves what its there to do.

Modernism in design typically follows these categories:

• Anti-historicism
• truth to materials
• Form follows function 
• Technology
• Internationalism

The idea of modernist design is that its timeless. The creation of something that works in a practical nature yet is simple so it won't date.

To summarise:

• The terms modern is not a neutral term- it suggests novelty and improvement
• "Modernity" (1750-1960) - social and cultural experience
• "Modernism" - the range of ideas and styles that sprang from modernity

References: modernity and Modernism: an introduction lecture- Miles, Richard.