Modernity and Modernism - Essay Example

MODERNITY AND MODERNISM Please add the unit number and your number and as well as the word count. Content Introduction PAGE 2 Main Body PAGE 2 – 9 Conclusion PAGE 10 Bibliography PAGE 11 - 12 Introduction Modernism is an ongoing process (a philosophical movement resulting in cultural and social changes) particularly after the end of the World War II (in the western world). The coming of machines and mass production in which craft and skill were mainly used as a tool for satisfying different aspects of human lifestyle, has considerably influenced the modern lifestyle. Modernism became a vision for many practitioners wanting to introduce reforms in tastes and institutions particularly in the 19th century. However, the experience from two world wars enabled them to convert this practice into a model for social and cultural change in the western world. In the following parts of this paper, first history of modernism has been included in which a limited introduction of modernism from World War II and evolutionary changes in the architecture, craft, art and design have been provided. It is followed by the segment Le Corbusier’s monuments in Chandigarh (India) in which they have been analysed in the light of the relevant theories. Before the conclusion, the idealist modernism part has been provided. Main body Modernism is both evolutionary and revolutionary process. It does not remain the same but kept changing with the changes social, cultural, economic, personal, and other dimensions of today’s modern society. After the world war one, social, cultural and economic change was felt in which culture; art, design and architecture were mainly affected by the appetite for the change played the main role in this endeavour. However, it gained particular momentum particularly after the world war two in which more revolutionary thinking for economy; political activism mainly affected the modernism in which a substantial amount of societal and cultural change was experienced. Two world wars (World War I and World War II) severely affected the modernism and developments taking place in the field of art, design, architecture and craft. In the World War II, millions of people died in which people from involved states as a whole lost sight on the sustained growth and stability of economic and cultural factors. Moreover, the effect of this War was so devastating that all aspects of human activity did not experience a normal gradual growth in their trend but they faced stagnation at all levels. Most importantly, the economic growth, which is an indicator of economic prosperity of society, did not continue maintaining its trend but started to decline which further added to the stagnancy of stalemate in the architectural and craft development in the global society. However, despite the fact that the World War II devastated the global economy and architectural movement, technology continued to support its role and participation in the field of architecture. In this regard, Pynt and Higgs (2010) explain that during the period of 1939 to 1945, which was the period in which WWII took place, considerable advances in the field of technology mainly played its role in the furniture industry; for example, they quote that plywood and fibreglass were developed and used by Eames and Saarinen for the purpose of developing and making aesthetic architectural designs moulded for further concaving their shapes. During the gap period between both wars, considerable changes in the field of architecture took place in which ground work for the development of new world was envisioned and practiced as well. In 1931, Europe and America were still recovering economically, socially and politically from the impacts of the world war one, a colossal industrialization along with the potential impacts of the Great Depression and their combined effects were yet to be experienced in the Second World War (Huxley, 2009). In other words, the WWII and its effects did not discourage architects and others working in the industry from doing their routine activities in their respective fields. For example, immediately after Second World War, two skyscrapers were built in Milan and Dusseldorf (Whiffen and Koeper, 2001). In this regard, it is important to mention that different authors and critics have separate and individual opinions and observations about the evolution and changes in the architectural modernism. For example, Miller (1999) contends that the architectural modernism experienced its interaction with the socialist urbanism in the period of late 1930s and after the end of World War II, urban development was mainly supported by the architectural modernism. Based on this assessment, it can be established that the architectural modernism received opportunity to introduce its suitability in the urban development in which different and most up to date modern features of architecture, design and craft took place especially after the end of the World War II and the modern architecture, design and craft started to make substantial contributions in the urban architectural growth in cities like Saynatsalo Town Hall in Finland and the Prager Strasse in Dresden, Germany (Ching et al., 2011). In this regard, it is important to mention that the socialist urbanism is not only connected with the economic aspect but it has a historical, spatial and institutionalizing process as well; politically, the condition of holding private property and absence of class based society and more state intervention fundamentally made the socialist city (Grubbauer and Kusiak, 2012). In other words, socialist urbanism was considered to be a political idealism in which a particular political doctrine was imposed on others whereas the architectural modernism represented the capitalist state in which the quest for a new but different social order through the prism of a new art is clearly envisioned (Hvattum and Hermansen, 2001). Le Corbusier was a remarkable architect of modern vision in the field of urbanism and architecture (Bozdogan, 2001). Before the WWII, Corbusier was a revolutionary architect par excellence and his work in the field of architecture and its association with growing urbanism in many parts of world convinced him to provide compatible architecture structures and design serving both (architecture and urbanism) simultaneously (Bozdogan, 2001). Figure 1: CORBUSIER ARCHITECTURE 1 The city of Chandigarh (India) represents various sculptural elements designed by Le Corbusier. This picture (The Open Hand) is one of them, portraying the city’s ideology (UNESCO, 2014). And the following facts are taken from the UNESCO’s website, which is one of the authentic sources. This hand is 12.50m wide and 8.86m is made of iron sheets and has a metal structure holding it 27.80m higher the “Trench of Consideration” at its based. In addition, this symbolic design represents the spirit and pride of the city (UNESCO, 2014). In other words, it is also important to mention that this depiction has religious significance for the local community as their priests hold this symbol representing the justice and equality in their religious doctrine. It was this consideration that provided base to the design and subsequent development of this master piece monument in India. Decompartmentalisation reflects unity of purpose (Greenhalgh, 1990:8-14). In this regard, this monument represents the true depiction of decompartmentalisation concept of modernist in which they prefer to construct a design in which unity of purpose should be reflected. If this theory is applied to the figure one, it clearly represents the unity of purpose of all people living in Chandigarh through breaking down the barriers of class-based society, aesthetics and other economic and political issues. As a result, the benefit of this figure is that they have unity of purpose in which religious depiction is strongly and clearly visible. Moreover, the concept of social morality through design is also appropriately demonstrated by this monument as well as it joins together modern urban society particularly in the industrial age. Similarly, for modernists, functionalism is an important weapon and this is also relevant for the above monument. The main idea behind this design was mainly contributed by the social and cultural values prevailing in the Chandigarh in which majority believed and followed a particular religious ideology. Consequently, Le Corbusier received idea and design from the local religious practices. Figure 2: CORBUSIER ARCHITECTURE 2 This structure is composed of ramp and a combination of sculptures, which is a 5m martyr (a broken column) (UNESCO, 2014). This structure also represents the freedom struggle of India in which their leader Mahatma Mohan Das Gandhi led a peaceful struggle against the British occupation for an independent country. In this struggle, many Indians lost their lives and this sacrifice is known as struggle against illegal occupation. After the fall of the British Empire, the freedom movement paid off and this monument represents the fall of the British Empire and the emergence of India on the map of the world as an independent nation. In addition, this figure is also used to remember their contribution of those fighting against the British Empire and in order to keep this spirit alive, the installation of this monument plays a central role. Politics has become more important than ever before and the progress in this century has become more political. In this progress, even social, religious, cultural and other values and customs are used politically for obtaining and retaining political advantages. Within this context, the above monument also reflects the use of martyrdom, which is a non-political but religious depiction of certain acts, is mainly used as a unifying force for obtaining political objectives and motivational objectives. For example, this monument may inspire Indian army personnel to fight more vehemently because in the event of death, they will be honoured with titles, such as martyr and so on. Bauhaus mainly contributed to the historical evolution and development of art, architecture and graphic designs (Ryan and Conover, 2004). The Bauhaus school was mainly established to challenge the traditional hierarchies of the arts besides placing fine art, design and architecture on equal footing (Bergdoll and Dickerman, 2009). Subsequently, it prepared art aspirants for working in the manufacturing and design industries. And it was Bauhaus’ attempt and contribution that brought in the shape of use and flourish of graphics in the field of architecture and design and this emphasis was prime motivation in the Bauhaus Movement (Ryan and Conover, 2004). During the period of 1960s and 1970s, modernism saw emergence of idealist lifestyle. And this lifestyle provided additional choice for new lifestyle in which people shun their traditional way of thinking and living and they started to see things from the perspective of love and peace in which much attention was given to long hair and drugs as a way of new modern lifestyle suitable for new young generation. In this new lifestyle, more focus was given to personal social and psychological upbringing in which new methods and trends were observed which mainly focused for personal pleasure. In this regard, it has been said that modernism has become an authentic cultural voice of this century (Wilk, 2006). In other words, modernism has been accepted as a new way of life. Conclusion Modernism emerged with mass production and modern lifestyle. However, the use of decompartmentalization approach for obtaining a unity of purpose has been used in which the main theme can be obtained from the social and religious ideology and the design can also be obtained from it. And in modern urban society, such designs join together the entire society. Additionally, the functionalism is also important for modernists and its application is also made in the monuments crafted by Le Corbusier. Moreover, politics has become more relevant and visible than other social or economic factors. Martyrdom, which is a religious framework, is mainly used to gain numerous advantages including it could be used for motivating soldiers. Subsequently, idealist lifestyle has compelled people to shun their traditional way of thinking and lifestyle and start using the modern means and methods for improving their lifestyle and condition as well. Consequently, the mass production provided economic capacity to people buy things of their choice in which the selection of architecture, design, and art was mainly visible because furniture and other items were primarily reflecting the art, architecture, design and graphics as well. Based on the Wilk’s opinion on modernism, it can be highlighted that modernism has succeeded as a new way of life in which modern lifestyle is more preferred which is reflected as an idealist method of living. Bibliography Bozdogan, S (2001), Modernism and Nation Building: Turkish Architectural Culture in the Early Republic, Washington: University of Washington Press Bergdoll, B, Dickerman, L (2009), Bauhaus 1919-19133, United States: The Museum of Modern Art Ching, FDK, Jarzombek, M, & Prakash, V (2011), A Global History of Architecture, New Jersey: Wiley Greenhalgh, P, (1990), Modernism in Design, London: Reaktion Books Grubbauer, M, & Kusiak, J (eds.) (2012), Chasing Warsaw: Socio-Material Dynamaics of Urban Change Since 1990, Cologne: Campus Verlag GmbH Huxley, A (2004), Brave New World, Broomall: Chelsea House Hvattum, M, Hermansen, C (2004), Tracing Modernity: Manifestations of the Modern in Architecture and the City, New York: Routledge Miller, T (1999), Late Modernism: Politics, Fiction, and the Arts Between the World Wars, California: University of California Press Pynt, J, Higgs, J (2010), A History of Seating, 3000 BC to 2000 AD: Function Versus Aesthetics, New York: Cambria Press Wattass, R (213), Keeping the torch of heroism burning, The Tribune, Available: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130414/spectrum/main4.htm, accessed: 1 July, 2014 Ryan, WE, & Conover, T (2004), Graphic Communications Today, 4th edn, New York: Thomson UNESCO, (2014), Urban and Architectural work of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh, available: http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5082/ accessed: 1 July, 2014 Whiffen, M, Koeper, F (2001), American Architecture: (1860-1976), Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Wilk, C, (2006), Modernism: Designing a New World: 1914:1939, Florida: Victoria & Albert. Read More