Modernism

http://www.sc.edu/

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter – to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…And one fine morning –

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

As I read and worked on the period that held the modernist movements, I was taken back to my first experience with the early part of this period. For me one of the most memorable literature pieces to arrive within modernism is The Great Gatsby. Though it may not fit the bill solely from a modernist view because of it's portrayal of realism on several layers, it is a promotion of the modern movement taking place during that time.

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The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and it saw a first publishing in 1925 in the United States. Fitzgerald, and American writer that had already reached success as an author, sought to capture the lifestyle of 1920's. A time when the World War one had just ended, alcohol was not legal, and achievement was emphasized in possessions like no other time. The era was redefining for modern woman hood, it held a sort of disconnect with the previously held conservative values, and achievement seemed limitless. The setting for The Great Gatsby 1922 New York, more specifically most of the book takes place in the luxurious setting of the Long Island Sound. The narrator Nick, is nearly an impartial witness, as he seems to hold no judgment, and a stronger than average moral compass for the era. Nick weeds us through the complexity of a struggling adolescent culture, overcome by its own progression.

Fitzgerald approaches all of these defining pieces of modernism and does a great job portraying them to the reader. I really get a great feel for the overwhelming pace of it all. The people seem frivolous and self indulged with little open value on things that been a staple in previous eras. With this we see gains in physical values but find an increasingly widening distance occurring at the emotional and spiritual level. Fitzgerald show us a world being consumed by the pace of technology and the relief from the end of a war. The great success achieved has us riding the euphoric feelings into complete detachment from ll that is real. Something that I think can be witnessed even today as we place less emphasis on spirituality and emotions, we find a culture attached to status by possession.

Jay Gatsby find himself a shining product of the modern movement. He managed to pursue progress and succeed, something that was allowed via empowerment. His desire to redeem his love was of course the underlying drive for success, though it is masked for part of the book. This is a fine example of the losses that occurred at the hands of limitless improvement. Love though the true drive, is not forthcoming because of the nature of the process. Gatsby strives for things, he throws lavish parties seeking approval, but beyond all of this he only wants the love he has lost, ironically a love that he obtained before his lavish monetary success.

http://iosifthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/money-over-love.jpg

I am not making an argument that The Great Gatsby is the most defining work of modernism, but it is one the most popular. Above all it did provide us with a look into a confused lifestyle that placed emphasis in atypical areas of life in comparison to history. It was a look into the destructive type of lifestyle that is often consequence of materialistic devotion, but also a look into the growing pains of an entire culture.

Belle Epoque

Durkheim

      During the Belle Epoque history saw significant advancements in both science and technology. The period saw improvement made on vehicles, the addition of the telephone for communication, all the way to the much needed advancements in biological science that led to a better understanding of germs and even the creation of a new scientific field. Many notable figures developed throughout the Belle Epoque, for myself one the most notable is Emile Durkheim. Emile Durkheim provided the ground and framework for many modern scientific and sociological processes. To highlight a few in this weeks post I will associate our modern approach to sociology, criminology, and labor views with the work of Emile Durkheim.

      In modern society we see sociology at work in every aspect of our lives. It is completely recognized in our societies, and is an undeniable force at the chisel of our being. So true in fact, sociology is taught at nearly all levels of education, and importantly at the college level. This though has not always been the case, as Emile Durkeim created the first European department of sociology at the University of Bordeaux in the year 1895. Durkheim created a format in which to create and sustain a flow of sociological ideology as well as the methodology through the ages. By establishing an official educational system for sociology he established it to the mainstream populous, thereby turning sociology loose to turn into it's modern form.

suicide

      Emile Durkheim made an astonishing effort at the explanation of Suicide through the sociological perspective. During his work on that study he utilized the quantitative data of suicide rates across varying cultures or communities. Durkheims use of these research methods lead the way for the current use quantitative methods for crime research. By following in the path of Durkheim's work on suicide, modern criminologists can form and organize data to project trends of occurrence. Using trending allows for crime prevention education for the population of target areas, as well as a more directed investigation effort on past crimes.

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     Possibly some of Emile Durkheim's most influential works were those that focused on labor. His dissertation titled The Division of Labor in Society  pushed throughout society to advance sociological theories. Durkheims description and theory of current events gave an outcome that he felt necessitated change for a smoother transition from primitive to modern. One of the major advocations of Durkheim  was the use of a mediator type group to allow for continuity and a sense of attachment between the  worker and the vast state above. This middle group would be considered our labor unions in the modern form. A tool that Durkheim envisioned as being instrumental towards the safety and well being of our working class, something that our labor unions have definitely helped provide for in our modern time.

      From the task of creating crime prevention models, to our modern view of the sociological impact on globalization, we can see influence from Emile Durkheim and others from the Belle Epoque. Though he may not be considered the establishment of the study of sociology, Durkheim was one of the main force behind it's propulsion into view and its delivery into our modern society.

Courtyard With Lunatics

http://artshall.com/picture.php?/58/categories

   Always having been intrigued by the Napoleonic wars and there infamous place in history, it was not surprising to me that I latched onto a piece of artwork that portrayed this very event. During our work for the Humanities class I discovered the work of Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes, more specifically the piece titled The Third Day of May. The complexity of the painting dissolved into so many aspects of human behavior and being, it pulled me and I developed an interest in Francisco Goya's other works. One painting of his in particular stayed with me. Francisco Goya's painting titled The Courtyard With Lunatics immediately captured me, I'm not sure why initially, but it seemed to be powerfully submissive, yet definitive all in the same work. Not unlike his other paintings the color are dark and real, an implicit definition of his time.

    The painting named The Courtyard With Lunatics by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes, was created in the years of 1793 – 1794 in Spain, during what is considered the enlightenment period. In this painting we are witness to two men, two men whom are naked and fighting in a barricaded courtyard. During their fight amongst each other they are being beaten by a warden. In the background we see a a person whom is presumably Francisco Goya himself, arms and hands up raised as to be seeking acknowledgment.

    To me this whole painting became an “ Ah—Ha!” moment. When I chose it for my research it was based on what I felt was a deep connection between artist and work. Goya's paintings are so personal and real that it only felt natural for me to choose one of his works. It was not until my research that it the true meaning of the work completely seated.

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/G/goya/goya_dr_arrieta.jpg.html

    After becoming deaf at the hands of illness Francisco Goya was able to create this piece. His work in The Courtyard With Lunatics is a depiction of the societal scenario occurring in society at the end of the Napoleonic wars. We see a struggle taking place in between two people while they are being punished or driven by whip yielding individual. In the background are several people at unrest, while in the foreground we see a couple that is in what seems to be ignorance of the ensuing scenario behind them. In the very back of the painting is a person with palms upraised in a disposition that seems to above the rest of the individuals in the painting. Surrounding the people is the corner of two dark, tall walls, with an almost overpowering light coming in above them. The representation of church and state during the period is seen between the two sparring men. While the common populous is portrayed in the couple at the front, almost uneducated, or maybe self removed from what is truly occurring. In the background is the business end of society. We see the money end of the community in unrest over the battle between the two powerful brutes. The person with palms upraised has left me not completely satisfied. I am not convince it is the artist himself in a self proclaimed sense of revelation. Maybe, but also I think it maybe simply an incarnation of the overwhelming burden of truth, present but not acknowledged.

     

    When I first look at this painting I witness the color and tone that I have been accustomed to in the artists other works. An overwhelming sense of rawness is present in this painting though. Goya has not only called upon the awakening of his peers, but he has labeled the burdens of society and the result of their game. He has shown the fault in every aspect of human society, only one individual has been placed above the others, and that is the incarnation of truth.

The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars

   Considering all of the enlightenment period, one event dominates in the influence it has had on modern society in the western world and beyond. Towards what is loosely considered the close of the enlightenment period the French Revolution occurred, and would spread it's results and influence throughout Europe. The French Revolution has had a wide array of effects on our modern world. From the most superficial things we take for granted, to modern government structure, and even the way we define and approach warfare. Understandably the French Revolution was not the only revolution to occur during this time. It actually would be the economic strain caused by the French participation in our own revolution that would help spur things along in France. The influential differences and the importance of the French revolution compared to our American Revolutionary War would be Frances geographic location and the ability for the wide reach of it's outcome.

     The wide reaching fingers of the French influence would be known soon after the Revolution. As France began into the Napoleonic Wars they would take their own culture with them, which can be seen today even at a basic level. The use of the metric system for measurement was used almost solely by the French, but during the geographically extensive wars the metric system would be found throughout Europe. All the way to our present time we find that every major country with the exception of the United States has adopted the metric system. The spread of cultural aspect is directly traced to Napoleonic Wars, which was of course a direct result of the French Revolution. The sheer geographical magnitude that influenced a system of measurement across the globe, would be of huge influence to modern society.

http://sklingam.wikispaces.com/file/view/06_french_revolution.jpg/

     The nature of the French Revolution brought about huge societal changes in the French approach to government, something I will talk about more in the next paragraph. This change in structure created what would be known as Napoleonic Wars, and completely changed the face of warfare forever. The format in which these campaigns were achieved would later be coined as total war. This type of warfare is approached and fought on all fronts with very little division between civilian and soldier involvement. This type of war would be very influential to the many wars to come in the western world. It's influence can be seen in both of the World Wars of the 1900's. As like during the call to the citizens of France during the revolution and Napoleonic Wars, public calling to all citizens would be made in order to assist the massive war efforts. Just as the French did during the revolution, women and the old would be an asset off of the front lines while nearly all able bodied men would be involved in the battle This type of warfare of course would only be successful at the hands nationalism.

     Some major changes occurred throughout the masses just prior to and during the French Revolution, that made possible for the aforementioned influences to have been present. Most notably a secular form of government emerged which is obviously a present dynamic across the modern western world. Another very important movement that occurred was the birth of nationalism, this attitude would infiltrate across Europe and throughout the modern world. Nationalism gave power and ownership of a country to the common citizens, military, and government alike. This created an enormous sense of pride and a very personal aspect to the happenings and activities of a country. This process and feeling can be seen at work every day in every corner of the world. As of very recently we can see the nationalism influence upon counties in the North African region. Egypt for example, has a citizenship that has great pride in their country, and they have used a nationalistic approach to mobilize and motivate. At every level of their society they fought for a common interest and nationalism kept them intact for a common goal.

http://victoriancircle.blogspot.com/2010/06/napoleon.html

     These examples are just a sliver of the examples of the far reaching effects the French Revolution has had on the modern world. It could be argued that the American Revolution laid the ground work for the influence, but it comes down simply to location and reach. The American Revolution may have been a minor catalyst, but the French Revolution brought amazing change to nearly an entire continent then beyond as the Napoleonic wars progressed. The French Revolution's reach was huge and it's influence even greater.

Galileo's Modern Society

 When looking toward the Baroque period in search of what has influenced modern society, nothing is more prominent to me than the works of Galileo Galilee. He arguably laid the foundation for nearly all aspects of modern technology. Technology that is attributed to the advancement, success, and destruction that is common place in current time. Galileo expanded on the work of Copernicus, as well as his own theory also paved the way for future allowance of discovery. Though it was beyond his life he opened the door to open discussion, by showing the faults of religious fears over science.

  Galileo provided evidence based support for the revamping of the earth centered universe theory. Prior to his improvement and use of the telescope for astrology, it was merely quiet speculation that we revolved around the sun. Utilizing the improved technology he was able to draw scientific, fact based conclusions to the theories provided by Copernicus. By establishing the theory that the the earth revolves around the sun as fact versus speculation, society was in for major changes. Modern man's ability to travel into space for scientific, and exploration purpose could be traced back to when Galileo put pen to paper behind his telescope. Modern society has achieved what seemed impossible to even a science accepting civilization. We have put men on the moon, our every day lives would slow to a halt if not for the convenience that orbiting satellites provide. Now we have expanded our reaches far beyond the moon to the planet Mars. None of these things would have been possible without the fore thinking and scientific movement of Galileo Galilee. The current understanding of the universe and our physical place in it has been instrumental in our technology advancement of the last one hundred years. It is undeniable to look at current society and not be overwhelmed by the impact of Galileo work as an astrologist.

  Galileo built the frame work for modern warfare through his works in physics. By challenging accepted theories in physics he established a refreshed and accurate description of what was happening rather than why. Even while utilizing the most crude of measuring devices he was able to create and recreate scientific, fact based results. Galileo's development of his physics theories allowed for a true understanding of objects in motion. This can be directly translated into the use of projectile weapons, both small and large scale. By understanding actual measurable results of an object placed into motion, we can accurately predict it's terminal point. This advancement can be correlated to the use of the strategic and pinpoint accurate use of modern missile weapons. Strangely enough, these weapons also rely heavily on the the use a satellite  guiding and operating system.

  The importance of technology advancement in relation to the works of Galileo can only be trumped by the social movement he created. His condemnation by the church for his support of Copernicus's theories, would pave the way for a scientific awakening in societies to come. His dedication to science and fact based conclusions has given us the scientific acceptance we see and utilize today. Our constant push for truth, example, and evidence are a result of the methods devised, and adhered to by Galileo. His work and ultimate condemnation also led to the modern balance of religion and science, though not always in agreement, science is not suppressed. A society of open thought, indisputable fact, and an explorative nature can all be attributed to Galileo Galilee.

Intro

Well here we go, another semester. My last semester at this level actually, so hopefully I can transmit a little of that excitement onto this blog over the coming months. The up front disclaimer (possibly downer) is that I am a face to face person so I will not be divulging much personal info on here. I know, I know, why am I in an online class then? Simply put, life happened, and continues with amazing tenacity. I promise I will do my best to keep it interesting without throwing myself to the vast sea of 1's and 0's. In closing I must reiterate how excited I am for this semester, I look forward to testing my juggling skills for another semester, and hope to come out better than before.I wish everyone the best!