Comments on: Modernism X http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modernism-x/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Sat, 19 May 2012 08:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: john baker http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modernism-x/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 john baker Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:45:06 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=138#comment-1443 "Humans so want the world to make sense." Oh, yes, we've always been suckers for <em>meaning</em>. "Modernists thought that they were being innovative, but they were doing what outsiders have done for centuries." Although this is true, we shouldn't forget that many of the modernists were outsiders as well. And others, who weren't 'constitutionally' outsiders were forced to the fringes of society by the actions of people like Hitler and Stalin. Hitler declared, in 1937, that modernist art and artists were “insane and inane monstrosities.” Stalin vehemently opposed all abstraction in art and launched a terror against the Russian avant-garde in the 1930s. He alone was to be the artist of Russia. “Humans so want the world to make sense.”
Oh, yes, we’ve always been suckers for meaning.
“Modernists thought that they were being innovative, but they were doing what outsiders have done for centuries.”
Although this is true, we shouldn’t forget that many of the modernists were outsiders as well. And others, who weren’t ‘constitutionally’ outsiders were forced to the fringes of society by the actions of people like Hitler and Stalin.
Hitler declared, in 1937, that modernist art and artists were “insane and inane monstrosities.”
Stalin vehemently opposed all abstraction in art and launched a terror against the Russian avant-garde in the 1930s. He alone was to be the artist of Russia.

]]> By: Divine Calm http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modernism-x/comment-page-1/#comment-1440 Divine Calm Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:23:03 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=138#comment-1440 The post reminds me of the saying that brings me comfort during times of chaos: "the only thing constant in life is change." Humans so want the world to make sense. When idealism is shattered by the truth that life is chaotic and things don't always happen for a reason, then we turn to new systems of our own creation for comfort. Modernists thought that they were being innovative, but they were doing what outsiders have done for centuries. The post reminds me of the saying that brings me comfort during times of chaos: “the only thing constant in life is change.”

Humans so want the world to make sense. When idealism is shattered by the truth that life is chaotic and things don’t always happen for a reason, then we turn to new systems of our own creation for comfort.

Modernists thought that they were being innovative, but they were doing what outsiders have done for centuries.

]]> By: john baker http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modernism-x/comment-page-1/#comment-1406 john baker Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:49:58 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=138#comment-1406 Penny for them. Penny for them.

]]> By: Divine Calm http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/modernism-x/comment-page-1/#comment-1381 Divine Calm Fri, 09 Jun 2006 19:39:09 +0000 http://www.johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=138#comment-1381 You are so well read. Very thought-provoking post. You are so well read. Very thought-provoking post.

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