Art Theory

Modernism: WTF? An introduction to Modernism in art and literature



Tom Nicholas

Modernism; it can be confusing. So, in today’s What The Theory? I wanted to provide something of a modernism crash course. We’ll be looking at many different forms of modernist art as well as a tiny bit of modernist architecture and modernist literature.

I’ve always struggled to find modernism explained simply and it can be a rather complex theory to get your head around. So, through looking at modernist art techniques, I provide an introduction to modernism as well as beginning to discuss modernism vs postmodernism (although, more of that in the next video!).

Hopefully, this will be helpful to those of you looking to gain a better understanding of modernism and the many different modernist art movements!

Further Reading

Introducing Modernism: A Graphic Guide by Chris Rodrigues & Chris Garratt
US: https://amzn.to/2SACmJJ
UK: https://amzn.to/2VsmWsQ

Modernism: A Very Short introduction by Christopher Butler
US: https://amzn.to/2UgtJWn
UK: https://amzn.to/2NAUnqw

[The above are affiliate links. I receive a small kickback from anything you buy which, in turn, helps to support the channel.]

If you’ve enjoyed this video then please do check out the rest of my channel where I put out a whole range of videos discussing theatre and playwriting from the perspective of an aspirant and (some might say) emerging playwright and theatre maker as well as reflecting on my experience as a PhD Student.

Twitter: @Tom_Nicholas
Website: www.tomnicholas.com

Thanks for watching!

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43 thoughts on “Modernism: WTF? An introduction to Modernism in art and literature
  1. Hi all! Thanks for watching, I hope you found the useful enlightening in some small way! If you'd like me to make more videos like this, and to influence which topics I cover next, then I've just launched a Patreon. I'd love it if you'd pop over and check it out and, if you're able, to consider supporting my channel. Thanks! Tom. https://www.patreon.com/tomnicholas

  2. It's so interesting to me that all of these different people in different cultural spheres all thought there could be objectively correct answers to anything, when I, someone growing up as a teenager now, believe the opposite. I think the natural successor to a generation so certain about objective truth is a generation who questions the very existence of, and the possibility that there could be an objective truth. Great video

  3. Thanks for this video. Certainly harder to see the commonality between the spectrum of art that is under the umbrella of modernism. I think the way of thinking is key here; however the styles very, the intent of questioning what came before, the influence of the world wars and a depression all have a part in that. I've heard that the questioning, the tearing down of what came before, stems from a sense of questioning the inner self, the uncertainty that resulted from multiple upheavals. It looks inward at the emotions, the underlying aspect rather than the act of representation. I used to wonder why the modernist era threw away craft and skill and thought some of them were simply too lazy or were compensating for poor skills, but no, they were trying to convey in their art things that were deeper, and more abstract, and find new ways of seeing. So many ways they did that.

  4. Thanks a lot for the video, i really liked it. I have a question and i hope you are going to answer me. How can we associate the telephone to modernism? It is the theme of my presentation.

  5. Tom, you’re my new hero; I just aced my oral exam on architectural theory and I’m pretty sure your videos on WTF played a big part in that. So THANK YOU! If you’re wondering what I’m gonna do with all my free time from now on: binging your politix series…

  6. Warning: The following content is horribly generalizing:

    US guy asking for subscribers: Hit that like button high-pitched Hank Moody voice motherfu**eeeeeeer!
    UK guy asking for subscribers: If you think this thing might be vaguely useful then do consider lending me one of your subscribes.

    I shallteth lend thee one of mineth.

  7. Good effort. But your grasp of the actual art history is not entirely accurate. You got the attention on form and the idea of progression. "Objectively better" is a very crude description of the driving idea of art behind modernism at large. No art historian I know (and I've been one for thirty years now in several research universities) would recognize this notion. There are a few areas of a crude summary including your description of what idea of art preceded it.

  8. I've always thought of Impressionism as a transitionary movement between Romanticism and Modernism. Granted, I'm more familiar with art movements in music rather than painting. Also, most artists stopped making art for God way before the advent of Modernism.

  9. wow, a genuinely enjoyable human being who's educated on my academic topics and good at/kind with educating others! 
    I wish I went to college with more people like you. seems like no one (that I end up conversing with in my classes) wants to absorb knowledge anymore, and anyone who gets as passionate as you is too quiet for me to know of them lmao so thank you

  10. Greetings from the other side of the earth, I just love your talk very much! Amazing points!
    I have questions for you, please take a look at the video of the link, the video is about Chinese characters, please don't think of they relate to a certain language first, just simly tell me your gutt feelings or opinions about the symbols and the images from that short video, do the symbols look like modern art, or surrealist style, or any other kind of art style that relates to the congitive thinking of modern people? Thanks, and look forward to your reply. Here is the link: hongzhao.org.

  11. Hello. I'm wanting to learn about art (in the broad form, i.e. literary, visual, musical, etc.) movements. I know there were different movements such as the Renaissance, modernism , post modernism, etc. that expressed themselves through different mediums.
    How can I learn about these movements, I'm not even sure what the name of the field would be, but I'm interested to know about art movements and how they expressed themselves through different mediums.
    Can someone tell me the name of the field I'm interested in? Or any particularly good resources on this subject?
    I'm a beginner to this sort of thing , so I apologize in advance if I'm painfully ignorant

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