| Some Notes on Modernity, Referring Particularly to the Germanophone World |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|11:34 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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I haven't posted here and I don't think anyone's posted here in a long time. But I finally have something to say.
I got back from watching Bluebeard's Castle and Erwartung at the Seattle Opera,, by Bartok and Schoenberg, respectively. Both productions were carried out using basically the same set, which included a golden frame inside of which the majority of the action is featured.
This gold frame is important because it is stylistically linked to the early modernist period, or more precisely, the fin de siecle period. The use of gold was, I think, influenced by Ancient Greek styles. Particularly by the discoveries of Heinrich Schliemann, the man who in the 1870's was thought to have discovered the historical Troy (although in the process he may have either willfully or unwittingly destroyed much of the ancient city). In any case, the finds of the these and other excavations revealed artifacts such as "Agamemnon's Mask," the crude polygonal make of which along with other finds influenced contemporary artists.
This is important is because although Modernity and "Modern" art such as Bartok and Schoenberg's Operas are thought of as unique and without precedent, most Modernist works of art (be it literature, music, painting and so forth,) draw on thematic traditions from the past, although Modernity often succeeded in severing the direct link.
Klimt and Joyce sought to find art via Ancient Greece. Wagner sought to place opera in Pagan Germany. Even J.R.R. Tolkien clearly sought to reclaim components of mythical Britain as an act of mental hygiene against World War I. The motives were diverse and not always honorable by today's standards, but they did link with the past, however briefly (the past however, being something of an invention in its own right.)
These days we often bemoan the lack of originality in art. One could easily say that 100 years ago it was the same problem. But no one batted an eyelash at someone's reinterpretation of Don Juan; it was tradition yes, but the reinterpretation was key to its originality. Today Americans at least are divorced from the tradition. Instead of Achilles, Gawain and Faust we have James Bond, Darth Vader and Homer Simpson. Don't get me wrong, those are good too, but they only exist in a self-contained universe. I've been thinking about these thing even before tonight and I think I've misunderstood Modernism. I think I better understand what T.S. Eliot was talking about in Tradition and the Individual Talent.
(X posted to my LJ) |
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| Favorite Novels of the 20th Century |
[Nov. 10th, 2007|03:22 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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the fact that I think Ellison would be a good middle name if I ever have a son has me thinking about his best work, Invisible Man, which I think is the best novel of the 20th Century, or at least best American novel.
I'd like to know: what's do you think is the best novel of the Twentieth Century. if you must, break this down into subcategories, such as American, French, etc. |
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| similar to Picasso, Mirò, Kandinsky |
[Apr. 28th, 2006|02:52 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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I'm trying to find artists working in similar styles or influenced by the same art movement.
-What is the style of Picasso's "The Three Musicians"? Is it called "synthetic cubism"? A lot of them use oil paint but I think they are also doing paper cut-outs. My teacher says it is only influenced by cubism, but is not cubist.
-And how about Joan Mirò? I did some reading and it looks like his is a form of surrealism, maybe called abstract surrealism. (Click here for image example. The one my attention is drawn to is at the top, which is titled "Summer.")
-Kandinsky also seems similar to Mirò: (Click here for image examples: 1 , 2). I also really like his woodcuts (almost all of them)!
I like all of these works because of the bright colours and decorative shapes. I like especially the works which have figures in them (like "The Three Musicians") but are sort of made in odd shapes. It would be great if someone can answer my questions or recommend similar artists or tell me what the influences are for this kind of art (ie. if it was inspired by African tribal art, machine technology, ziggurats, etc. like in Art Deco). |
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| Interests List |
[Apr. 16th, 2006|09:47 pm]
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If there are any suggestions anyone would like to make concerning the Interests list for this group, feel free to make a comment on this post. |
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| Ein Zug! |
[Apr. 2nd, 2006|11:21 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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While at work today I saw a cool advertisement in the 31 March Seattle P-I:
( Ein ZugCollapse )
I had to turn up the saturation on the picture to make it look something like how I saw it (at least on my computer) since newsprint appearently doesn't scan well. |
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| missing modernism |
[Mar. 30th, 2006|09:16 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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What do you miss most about modernism? For me, it’s Art Deco. Modernist art and literature are still with us, but Art Deco architecture (especially here in Sydney) has to a large extent physically disappeared. We still have lots of modernist buildings in the International Style, but very few real Art Deco buildings. And I do love the handful that are left. |
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| random quote on modernism, sort of |
[Mar. 30th, 2006|06:00 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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According to an academic called Brian McHale, “Science fiction...is to postmodernism what detective fiction was to modernism.” |
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| who killed modernism? |
[Mar. 30th, 2006|05:57 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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No posts for four months! That’s disappointing.
OK, so is modernism dead? Has post-modernism killed it? If modernism survives, where does it survive? In what fields? |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 19th, 2005|10:46 pm]
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hey, i'm new to this community.
i was wondering if anyone has seen or heard of the new exhibit at MOCA called "Ecstacy" in California? It looks really amazing and innovating. |
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| The Kröller-Müller Museum |
[Oct. 1st, 2005|02:28 pm]
The Empire of Ice-Cream
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Located in the Netherlands, the Kröller-Müller Museum features an impressive collection of art from the 19th and 20th centuries including works by Van Gogh, Henry van der Velde, Picasso, Modrian, Rodin and more.
Surprisingly, a more through explanation can be found in the recent tours or parts of the collection through the USA, for example, a description of its tour at the Seattle Art Museum in the summer of 2004. |
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