What is aesthetic modernism?

Aesthetic modernism is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th century and early 20th century, primarily in Europe and North America. It is characterized by a rejection of traditional forms and conventions, and a pursuit of innovation and experimentation.

The movement encompassed a wide range of artistic practices, including literature, visual art, music, architecture, and design. Key figures of the movement include writers such as James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Virginia Woolf; visual artists like Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp; and architects like Le Corbusier.

One of the main features of modernist aesthetics was a fascination with new forms and technologies, such as the skyscraper, the automobile, and the cinema. The movement was also marked by a rejection of realism, and an embrace of other modes of representation, such as expressionism and surrealism.

Modernist literature often used techniques such as stream of consciousness narration, fragmentation, and ambiguity, as well as experimental forms such as the prose poem and the collage. Modernist art often emphasized abstraction, symbolism, and formal experimentation over traditional representation.

The movement was influenced by a number of cultural, social, and historical factors, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization, the trauma of World War I, and the growing interest in psychoanalysis and other forms of psychological inquiry.

Although modernism fell out of favor in the mid-20th century, its influence can still be seen in contemporary art and culture.