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The Evolution of Modernity: From Optimism to Anarchy in Art and Thought

This exploration traces the concept of modernity from the late 1800s through World War II, highlighting pivotal shifts in mindset. Whitman's "Song of Myself" exemplifies the Romantic optimism of the era, celebrating individuality and connection. In stark contrast, Yeats’ "The Second Coming" reflects a disillusioned, chaotic world post-World War I. The Industrial Revolution and advances in science, such as Freud's theories and Einstein's relativity, challenge our understanding of self and reality. This period witnesses a profound transition in art, philosophy, and societal norms.

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The Evolution of Modernity: From Optimism to Anarchy in Art and Thought

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  1. Modernity

  2. The Term and Time frame • Modern or Modernity or Modernism used to refer to a particular time and attitude • Late 1800s to around WWII

  3. The Romantic Mindset—from Whitman’s Song of Myself (1855) I Celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belong to me, as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

  4. The Modern Mindset—from Yeats’ “Second Coming” (1920) Things fall apart, the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

  5. Technological developments that might be considered “Modern” • Industrial Revolution • Electricity • Transportation • Modern conveniences • Sense of PROGRESS

  6. What happened to change the optimism? Or, what kinds of changes led Yeats to sound so different from Whitman?

  7. World War I

  8. Effects of Industrial Revolutions

  9. Freud’s new understanding of the mind and unconscious • Challenge to the concept of our rational selves • Raises a question of how much “control” we have over ourselves

  10. Developments in Physics • Einstein’s Theory of Relativity • Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

  11. Modern Christianity • Nietzsche’s “Death of God” • Challenges from science • Fundamentalist response

  12. Developments in the arts Move from representational art a portion of Picasso’s Guernica

  13. Virginia Woolf: “On or about December, 1910, human character changed.”Key term: SolipsismEdvard Munch,The Scream

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