Has Modernism Failed?
Q. Discuss Suzi Gabliks notion “Has Modernism failed?”
“Has Modernism failed?” by Suzi Gablik published in 1984 confronts the social situation of contemporary art. It explores the relevance of spiritual and moral values in a society orientated around (1) “manic production, maximum energy flow and a fixation with commodities”. It deals with the Bureaucratic powers of the art world and the results this has had on art and how this has forced artists to retract from society into (2) “individualism” and the effects that has had on modern art. Loss of tradition and values is a strong theme throughout and Gablik shows the drastic effects this has had on art.
(3) “Art began its relentless advance into traditionalesness every new style served as a new beginning, a new plunge ahead”
This is where the problem started artists began to lose touch with age old traditions and values which society needs to exsist. Instead Modernism focused on the self, on freedom and self sufficiency at the expense of tradition and values. This caused many different problems for the artists.(4) “ In its quest for autonomy and its belief that art cannot possibly thrive any longer constrained by moral or social demands, Modernism discouraged the individual from finding any good outside himself”. This way of thinking became embedded in artists whether it was the futurist worship of the modern or the Dadaist rejection of the modern corruption they had the same effect, over throw the past, reject traditions, keep questioning, always making something new, the new became the (5) “chief emblem of positive value”. The problem with art that abandons any governing tradition is it leaves itself open for manipulation by the forces of the market capitalism. Artists traded their autonomy for the money and security of (6) “ institutionalized individuality” 1. www.thamesandhudsan.com 2. www.rowan.edu/open/ 3. “Has Modernism Failed?” by Suzi Gabik published 1984 by Thames and Hudsan in USA
“Has Modernism failed?” by Suzi Gablik published in 1984 confronts the social situation of contemporary art. It explores the relevance of spiritual and moral values in a society orientated around (1) “manic production, maximum energy flow and a fixation with commodities”. It deals with the Bureaucratic powers of the art world and the results this has had on art and how this has forced artists to retract from society into (2) “individualism” and the effects that has had on modern art. Loss of tradition and values is a strong theme throughout and Gablik shows the drastic effects this has had on art.
(3) “Art began its relentless advance into traditionalesness every new style served as a new beginning, a new plunge ahead”
This is where the problem started artists began to lose touch with age old traditions and values which society needs to exsist. Instead Modernism focused on the self, on freedom and self sufficiency at the expense of tradition and values. This caused many different problems for the artists.(4) “ In its quest for autonomy and its belief that art cannot possibly thrive any longer constrained by moral or social demands, Modernism discouraged the individual from finding any good outside himself”. This way of thinking became embedded in artists whether it was the futurist worship of the modern or the Dadaist rejection of the modern corruption they had the same effect, over throw the past, reject traditions, keep questioning, always making something new, the new became the (5) “chief emblem of positive value”. The problem with art that abandons any governing tradition is it leaves itself open for manipulation by the forces of the market capitalism. Artists traded their autonomy for the money and security of (6) “ institutionalized individuality” 1. www.thamesandhudsan.com 2. www.rowan.edu/open/ 3. “Has Modernism Failed?” by Suzi Gabik published 1984 by Thames and Hudsan in USA