European Social and Cultural European Social and Cultural TrendsTrends

Late 20Late 20thth Century Century

European European Population Population

TrendsTrends

European European birth rates birth rates are for the are for the most part most part droppingdropping

Europe has Europe has an aging an aging populationpopulation

Migration of 20th Century Migration of 20th Century PeoplePeople

Decolonization led people to leave colonies and Decolonization led people to leave colonies and return to their homeland (e.g. Great Britain received return to their homeland (e.g. Great Britain received thousands of immigrants from its former colonies in thousands of immigrants from its former colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Indiathe Caribbean, Africa, and India

Racial tensions arrive as many working class people Racial tensions arrive as many working class people resent the new immigrantsresent the new immigrants

Extreme right-wing group Extreme right-wing group National FrontNational Front in France in France runs runs Jean-Marie Le PenJean-Marie Le Pen in a losing election to in a losing election to Jacques ChiracJacques Chirac in 2002 in 2002

Similar racist movements arise in many other Similar racist movements arise in many other European countriesEuropean countries

The New Muslim PopulationThe New Muslim Population Immigration of Muslims into Immigration of Muslims into

Europe come from two chief Europe come from two chief sourcessources– European economic European economic

growth – labor shortages growth – labor shortages lead some European lead some European nations to invite “guest nations to invite “guest workers” to their countryworkers” to their country

– Decolonization – Decolonization – Muslims from India and Muslims from India and Africa come to Britain, Africa come to Britain, while Muslims from while Muslims from Algeria come to FranceAlgeria come to France

Salman Rushdie, Muslim Indian-British author of The Satanic

Verses

Muslim CultureMuslim Culture Muslim immigrants for the most Muslim immigrants for the most

part remain unassimilated and self-part remain unassimilated and self-contained, with the women contained, with the women remaining at homeremaining at home

European Muslims are not European Muslims are not homogeneous coming from homogeneous coming from different class countries, class different class countries, class backgrounds and different Islamic backgrounds and different Islamic traditionstraditions

The presence of foreign-born The presence of foreign-born Muslims whose labor is necessary Muslims whose labor is necessary for the prosperity of the European for the prosperity of the European economy is a major issue in economy is a major issue in contemporary Europe.contemporary Europe.

Many of these Muslims, such as Many of these Muslims, such as these women, live in self-contained these women, live in self-contained communities. communities.

Christians of the 20th Christians of the 20th Century and TodayCentury and Today

Neo-OrthodoxyNeo-Orthodoxy – presented by – presented by Karl BarthKarl Barth, it , it reemphasized the transcendence of God and reemphasized the transcendence of God and the dependence of humankind on the divinethe dependence of humankind on the divine

Liberal theology – Liberal theology – Paul Tillich, Rudolf Paul Tillich, Rudolf Bultmann, John RobinsonBultmann, John Robinson and and C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis all all regarded religion as a human phenomenon, regarded religion as a human phenomenon, where divinity is sought in human nature and where divinity is sought in human nature and cultureculture

Vatican IIVatican II A Roman Catholic reform movementA Roman Catholic reform movement More liberal ideas in recent times have included; Mass celebrated in the More liberal ideas in recent times have included; Mass celebrated in the

vernacular languages and freer relations with other Christian vernacular languages and freer relations with other Christian denominations and Judaism denominations and Judaism

Conservative ideas kept – celibacy of priests, prohibition on abortion and Conservative ideas kept – celibacy of priests, prohibition on abortion and birth control, and no women priestsbirth control, and no women priests

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II emphasized the traditionalist doctrine, firm stands emphasized the traditionalist doctrine, firm stands against communism and growth of the church in the non-Western world , against communism and growth of the church in the non-Western world , while emphasizing social justicewhile emphasizing social justice

•Throughout his pontificate John Paul II continued a close relationship with his native Poland to which he made several visits. •The earliest of these was important in demonstrating the authority of the church against Polish communist authorities. •Shown here in his Polish visit of June 1999, the pope would celebrate mass before several hundred thousand Poles after the collapse of communism which had occurred a decade earlier.

Western Culture: FeminismWestern Culture: Feminism

Simone de BeauvoirSimone de Beauvoir wrote wrote The Second The Second SexSex, exploring the differences being a , exploring the differences being a women made in her lifewomen made in her life

feminist journals published – starting in the feminist journals published – starting in the 1970’s1970’s

emphasis in movement in women controlling emphasis in movement in women controlling their own livestheir own lives

New Work PatternsNew Work Patterns

childcare demands decreased by compulsory childcare demands decreased by compulsory education and better health careeducation and better health care

some women financially felt they had to go to worksome women financially felt they had to go to work women go to work when their children are old women go to work when their children are old

enough to go to schoolenough to go to school women go back to work after their children have women go back to work after their children have

growngrown women have less children and have children later women have less children and have children later

in life so there is an increase in the work forcein life so there is an increase in the work force

Women in the New Eastern Women in the New Eastern EuropeEurope

many of the nations have shown little many of the nations have shown little concern for women’s issuesconcern for women’s issues

economic difficulties in the region limited the economic difficulties in the region limited the amount health and welfare programsamount health and welfare programs

Art Movements: ModernismArt Movements: Modernism

The term encompasses the activities and output of those who The term encompasses the activities and output of those who felt the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious felt the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated in the new economic, social and political conditions of an in the new economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world.emerging fully industrialized world.

Modernism rejected the lingering certainty of Enlightenment Modernism rejected the lingering certainty of Enlightenment thinking, and also that of the existence of a compassionate, all-thinking, and also that of the existence of a compassionate, all-powerful Creator.powerful Creator.

This is not to say that all modernists or modernist movements This is not to say that all modernists or modernist movements rejected either religion or all aspects of Enlightenment thought, rejected either religion or all aspects of Enlightenment thought, rather that modernism can be viewed as a questioning of the rather that modernism can be viewed as a questioning of the axiomsaxioms of the previous age. of the previous age.

The modernist artists we have already studied included the The modernist artists we have already studied included the works of post-impressionists, Dadaists, surrealists, etc.works of post-impressionists, Dadaists, surrealists, etc.

Modern ThoughtModern ThoughtFrom a literary perspective, the main characteristics of modernism include: From a literary perspective, the main characteristics of modernism include: 1. an emphasis on impressionism and subjectivity in writing (and in visual arts as 1. an emphasis on impressionism and subjectivity in writing (and in visual arts as

well); an emphasis on HOW seeing (or reading or perception itself) takes place, well); an emphasis on HOW seeing (or reading or perception itself) takes place, rather than on WHAT is perceived. An example of this would be stream-of-rather than on WHAT is perceived. An example of this would be stream-of-consciousness writing. consciousness writing.

2. a movement away from the apparent objectivity provided by omniscient third-2. a movement away from the apparent objectivity provided by omniscient third-person narrators, fixed narrative points of view, and clear-cut moral positions. person narrators, fixed narrative points of view, and clear-cut moral positions. Faulkner's multiply-narrated stories are an example of this aspect of modernism. Faulkner's multiply-narrated stories are an example of this aspect of modernism.

3. a blurring of distinctions between genres, so that poetry seems more documentary 3. a blurring of distinctions between genres, so that poetry seems more documentary (as in T.S. Eliot or ee cummings) and prose seems more poetic (as in Woolf or (as in T.S. Eliot or ee cummings) and prose seems more poetic (as in Woolf or Joyce). Joyce).

4. an emphasis on fragmented forms, discontinuous narratives, and random-seeming 4. an emphasis on fragmented forms, discontinuous narratives, and random-seeming collages of different materials. collages of different materials.

5. a tendency toward reflexivity, or self-consciousness, about the production of the 5. a tendency toward reflexivity, or self-consciousness, about the production of the work of art, so that each piece calls attention to its own status as a production, as work of art, so that each piece calls attention to its own status as a production, as something constructed and consumed in particular ways. something constructed and consumed in particular ways.

6. a rejection of elaborate formal aesthetics in favor of minimalist designs (as in the 6. a rejection of elaborate formal aesthetics in favor of minimalist designs (as in the poetry of William Carlos Williams) and a rejection, in large part, of formal aesthetic poetry of William Carlos Williams) and a rejection, in large part, of formal aesthetic theories, in favor of spontaneity and discovery in creation. theories, in favor of spontaneity and discovery in creation.

7. A rejection of the distinction between "high" and "low" or popular culture, both in 7. A rejection of the distinction between "high" and "low" or popular culture, both in choice of materials used to produce art and in methods of displaying, distributing, choice of materials used to produce art and in methods of displaying, distributing, and consuming art.and consuming art.

T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. T.S. Eliot “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”Alfred Prufrock”

Modernist PoetModernist Poet Lived in Europe in the Lived in Europe in the

early to mid 1900searly to mid 1900s http://www.bartleby.cohttp://www.bartleby.co

m/198/1.htmlm/198/1.html

E.E. Cummings “Snow”E.E. Cummings “Snow”SNOWSNOW

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ExistentialismExistentialism

belief that holds human beings totally belief that holds human beings totally responsible for their acts and that this responsible for their acts and that this responsibility causes dread and anguishresponsibility causes dread and anguish

Soren KierkegaardSoren Kierkegaard – Danish writer – Danish writer maintained Christianity could be grasped maintained Christianity could be grasped only by lives caught in extreme situations / only by lives caught in extreme situations / questioned whether human beings are in questioned whether human beings are in control of their own destinycontrol of their own destiny

Questioning of Rationalism by Questioning of Rationalism by ExistentialistsExistentialists famous writers; famous writers; Martin Martin

Heidegger, Karl Jaspers,Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Jean-Paul SartreJean-Paul Sartre, and , and Albert Albert CamusCamus all questioned the all questioned the primacy of reason and scientific primacy of reason and scientific understandingunderstanding

according to the existentialists, according to the existentialists, human beings are compelled to human beings are compelled to formulate their own ethical formulate their own ethical values and cannot depend on values and cannot depend on traditional religion, rational traditional religion, rational philosophy, intuition, or social philosophy, intuition, or social customs for ethical guidancecustoms for ethical guidance Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de

Beauvoir

Post-ModernismPost-Modernism

PostmodernismPostmodernism is a tendency in contemporary is a tendency in contemporary culture characterized by the rejection of objective culture characterized by the rejection of objective truth and global cultural narrative. truth and global cultural narrative.

It emphasizes the role of language, power It emphasizes the role of language, power relations, and motivationsrelations, and motivations– in particular it attacks the use of sharp classifications in particular it attacks the use of sharp classifications

such as male versus female, straight versus gay, white such as male versus female, straight versus gay, white versus black, and imperial versus colonial. versus black, and imperial versus colonial.

– Jaques Derrida and Michael Foucault are classic Jaques Derrida and Michael Foucault are classic examples of postmodern philosophersexamples of postmodern philosophers

Had its height in the 1960s-1990sHad its height in the 1960s-1990s

Art since World War IIArt since World War II

Cultural divisions and the Cold War Cultural divisions and the Cold War – Tatjiana YablonskayaTatjiana Yablonskaya –in –in BreadBread (1949), showed the (1949), showed the

realistic propaganda of the Stalinist regimerealistic propaganda of the Stalinist regime– Jackson PollackJackson Pollack – in – in OneOne(1950), he showed the (1950), he showed the

exuberance and freedom of abstract “drip” paintingexuberance and freedom of abstract “drip” painting

More Postmodern Art: Jackson More Postmodern Art: Jackson PollackPollack

During the late 1940s and During the late 1940s and early 1950s Pollock's radical early 1950s Pollock's radical approach to painting approach to painting revolutionized the potential revolutionized the potential for all Contemporary art that for all Contemporary art that followed him.followed him.

To some extent Pollock To some extent Pollock realized that the journey realized that the journey toward making a work of art toward making a work of art was as important as the work was as important as the work of art itself. of art itself.

Pollack’s work Pollack’s work No. 5No. 5

Pop ArtPop Art

The term "Pop Art" was used The term "Pop Art" was used to describe paintings that to describe paintings that celebrated consumerism of the celebrated consumerism of the post World War II era. post World War II era.

This movement rejected This movement rejected Abstract expressionism and its Abstract expressionism and its focus on the psychological focus on the psychological interior, in favor of art which interior, in favor of art which depicted, and often celebrated depicted, and often celebrated material consumer culture, material consumer culture, advertising, and iconography advertising, and iconography of the mass production age of the mass production age

One way that Pop art is One way that Pop art is postmodern is that it breaks postmodern is that it breaks down what Andreas Huyssen down what Andreas Huyssen calls the "Great Divide" calls the "Great Divide" between high art and popular between high art and popular cultureculture

Made famous by Andy Warhol Made famous by Andy Warhol and othersand others

MinimalismMinimalism

Rachel WhitereadRachel Whiteread used the art concept of used the art concept of minimalismminimalism (the (the movement in architecture to remove from an object as many movement in architecture to remove from an object as many features as possible while retaining the object’s form) in her features as possible while retaining the object’s form) in her Nameless LibraryNameless Library which commemorates the 65,000 Austrian which commemorates the 65,000 Austrian Jews killed by Nazi GermanyJews killed by Nazi Germany

Post-MinimalismPost-Minimalism

Performance art that changed with environmental Performance art that changed with environmental conditions.conditions.

Brought attention to environmental conditionsBrought attention to environmental conditions

AmericanizationAmericanization of Europe of Europe the spread of American influences the spread of American influences

in the economy, military, and in the economy, military, and culture to Europeculture to Europe

companies such as McDonald’s , companies such as McDonald’s , Apple. Starbucks, and the Gap Apple. Starbucks, and the Gap have outlets all over Europehave outlets all over Europe

music, movies and television music, movies and television shows from the U.S. have also shows from the U.S. have also come to Europecome to Europe

has been met by some resentment has been met by some resentment by people who do not want to lose by people who do not want to lose their European culturetheir European culture

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism

concerns about pollution concerns about pollution grows in the 1970’s and grows in the 1970’s and 1980’s 1980’s

Green PartyGreen Party – an influential – an influential political party that started in political party that started in Germany and were Germany and were concerned about global concerned about global warming and pollutionwarming and pollution

Green movementGreen movement is anti- is anti-capitalist and anti-nuclearcapitalist and anti-nuclear

Chernobyl nuclear disasterChernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia in 1986 raised in Russia in 1986 raised questions about nuclear questions about nuclear power that Europe could not power that Europe could not ignoreignore

In 1989, when a supertanker spilled 35,000 tons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, rescue workersstruggled to save the lives of seabirds and animals. Nevertheless, thousands died. Ron Levy/Liaison Agency, Inc.

The Computer AgeThe Computer Age

late nineteenth century – the invention of the calculator late nineteenth century – the invention of the calculator improves businesses and the cash register appears in the improves businesses and the cash register appears in the late 1920’slate 1920’s

first actual computer – first actual computer – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)Computer (ENIAC) – built for ballistics calculations for the – built for ballistics calculations for the U.S. army in 1946U.S. army in 1946

dates dates – 1960’s – invention of the bitmap to cover the screen, the mouse and 1960’s – invention of the bitmap to cover the screen, the mouse and

the microchipthe microchip– 1982 – IBM produces small personal computer1982 – IBM produces small personal computer– 1984 – Apple – produces the Macintosh – computer for a desktop at 1984 – Apple – produces the Macintosh – computer for a desktop at

home or office and set for commercial sales becomes availablehome or office and set for commercial sales becomes available– mid-1980’s – computer sales boommid-1980’s – computer sales boom– mid 1990’s - present – the internet boommid 1990’s - present – the internet boom

The earliest computers were very large. Here in a 1946 photograph J. Presper Eckert and J. W. Mauchly stand by the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) which was dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania Moore School of Electrical Engineering. CORBIS/Bettmann

““Modern” ArtModern” Art

Art in the current day tends to use common objects in Art in the current day tends to use common objects in new ways and to use computers to synthesize new new ways and to use computers to synthesize new ways of looking at thingsways of looking at things

More “Modern” ArtMore “Modern” Art

PhotorealismPhotorealism

Realism has made a resurgence as well with Realism has made a resurgence as well with PhotorealismPhotorealism

Yes, this is an oil painting not a photographYes, this is an oil painting not a photograph