Modernism is described as a range of cultural movements in Western society that occurred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which includes art, architecture, music, literature and more. In its most basic definition, modernism is “experimentation and fragmentation of the human experience, characterized by deviations from the norms of society. [It began with the Impressionists in the 1860’s who rejected classical painting.]It is a trend of thought that affirms the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology or practical experimentation” (Wikipedia). Modernism embraced the present and change, it embodies the works of thinkers who rebelled against tradition, seeing it as outdated. Few people divide the twentieth century movements into modernism and post-modernism, but others see them as two aspects of the same movement, modernism.

Modernism encompasses movements including Cubism, Expressionism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Bauhaus, Social Realism and Op Art. It also includes new media that was developed during this time- Collage, Assemblage and Conceptual and Performance Art. As time went on, there was a significant rise in Non Representational/ Abstract art in sculpture and painting. Modernists had a self-belief that their art mattered, and had real value, unlike previous artists who had only assumed their art had value. This movement gradually faded during the late 1960’s with the influences of mass pop culture and the heightened interest in anti-authority.

            Modernism emerged into Post Modernism in the mid to late 1960’s. It is also known as Contemporary Art and is the movement that we are currently in. Artists during this time period were affected by international events such as the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. People became “progressively more disillusioned about the inherent meaning and value of life [and art]” as well as the fact that accepted wisdom of authority, expertise and knowledge became discredited (Visual Arts Cork). Schools encouraged new philosophies of art that was characterized by a greater focus on style and medium; style of emphasized over substance. There was also more importance on the relationship that the artist had with his or her audience. This was closely related the onset of technology that was image based- TV, video, computers, the Internet, and screen-printing. Artists responded creatively to these new technologies inducing a wave of film and photographic images of celebrities, events, and places. Instant gratification and consumerism has also had an impact on Post Modernism. Consumers are demanding art that is a novelty, as well as art that is entertaining and artists have responded to these demands by turning art into a product. Conceptualism has become a dominant force, stating that art is more a ‘concept’ rather than an actual object. Multiple movements have emerged during this time including Conceptualism, Performance, Installation, Video Art, Minimalism, Photo Realism, Graffiti and more.