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Can non-western cultures be considered a part of the modernism movement?

Lucius Fiorentino

Yes, non-western cultures can and should be considered a part of the modernism movement. The modernism movement is a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century and characterized by a break with tradition, a focus on individualism, and a strong sense of experimentation and innovation. While the movement initially originated in Europe and North America, it soon spread worldwide, and its influence could be felt throughout the global cultural landscape.

One of the key features of modernism is its rejection of the past and its embrace of new and progressive ideas. This rejection of the past, however, does not mean a complete break with tradition. Instead, many modernist artists and thinkers sought to incorporate elements of non-Western cultures into their work, recognizing their value and importance in shaping the direction of modernism.

One example of this is the influence of Japanese art on the work of many modernist painters, including the French artist Henri Matisse. Matisse was deeply fascinated by Japanese art and incorporated its aesthetics into his own work, using bright colors, flattened forms, and bold lines that were reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints. Similarly, the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky was also heavily influenced by non-Western art, especially the art of India and the Islamic world, which he saw as being more spiritual and intuitive than the rationalist approach of Western art.

But it's not just in the visual arts where non-western cultures played a role in the development of modernism. In literature, the work of African-American writers such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, as well as the Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore, challenged traditional notions of what literature could look like and what subjects it could tackle. The modernist approach to literature was more experimental and less constrained by traditional forms and genres than earlier literary movements, and non-Western writers made important contributions to this development.

Moreover, it's important to remember that the modernism movement emerged during a period of great upheaval in the world, marked by war, social change, and the rise of new technologies. In this context, artists and thinkers from all over the world were grappling with the same issues and exploring similar questions about the role of tradition, the nature of individualism, and the possibilities of innovation. As a result, the modernism movement was truly global and inclusive, incorporating artists and thinkers from a wide range of cultures and perspectives.

In conclusion, non-western cultures can and should be considered an integral part of the modernism movement. From the visual arts to literature, from Europe to Africa and Asia, modernist artists and thinkers drew inspiration from a wide range of cultures and traditions, challenging traditional notions of what art and literature could be and pushing the boundaries of experimentation and innovation. It's this global, inclusive perspective that makes modernism such an important and enduring cultural movement, one that continues to shape the way we think about the world today.