Modernism Novel

So we have just begun a new book to kind of rewind history to take a look at the movement pre-post-modernism--ie., modernism. On page 42 there was a great summation of the whole section. "It proclaimed itself, it exuded a confidence in its newness and radicality" And on page 43 "the figures (of modernism) are not allegorical or symbolic--their meaning must be read off the canvas, the surface of the picture". Modernism is in my opinion an attempt to redefine art as something new and original.

Also, there was talk of modernity versus modernism/modernists, which was really interesting. Modernity being referred to something as more industrial, rather than artistic.

But, it also mentioned something we discussed in class: the notion that something considered modern at its original emergence becomes an 'established tradition' (47). Something boring, old, and has-been material. Dry and boring, like what the majority of adolescents dread to read in a English fine literature course, or what they hate to have to interpret in an Art 101 course.