Modernist
/ˈmɑːdərnɪst/noun
A person who supports or follows modern ways or ideas, especially in art, literature or architecture.
The artists who formed the modernist movement sought to reject the traditional forms of art.
Often appears as...
- modernist artist
- modernist movement
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Relating to the style or direction of modernist art, literature or architecture.
Many critics didn't appreciate the stark, plain beauty of the modernist buildings.
Often appears as...
- modernist design
- modernist period
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A person who supports or follows modern ways or ideas, especially in art, literature or architecture.
The artists who formed the modernist movement sought to reject the traditional forms of art.
Often appears as...
- modernist artist
- modernist movement
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Relating to the style or direction of modernist art, literature or architecture.
Many critics didn't appreciate the stark, plain beauty of the modernist buildings.
Often appears as...
- modernist design
- modernist period
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Movements
Modernist refers to specific historical art movements, not just contemporary works.
He studies European modernist literature from the early 20th century.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Contemporary
Modernist is often confused with 'modern'; it refers to early 20th century styles, not current trends.
The museum's modernist collection includes works from 1920s surrealism.
Pro Tip 3/3Rejection of Old
Modernists aimed to break away from classical and traditional forms.
The modernist poets broke free from the constraints of rhyme and meter.
Compare with
contemporaryconventionalexperimentalfuturisticinnovativeprogressiveradicalisation
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Video examples
Bjarke Ingels: 3...
and improvisation. Sort of through the turmoil and the opportunities and the incidents of the real world. We call this comic book "Yes is More," which is obviously a sort of evolution of the ideas of some of our heroes. In this case it's Mies van der Rohe's Less is More. He triggered the modernist revolution.
Video examples
An eco-modernist...
other environmental philanthropists scholars and scientists in co-authoring an eco modernist manifesto it lays out a new vision of how to protect the environment while ensuring people across the planet can live fulfilling lives
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
Islamic thinkers and statesmen and theologians but there is a very curious pattern in the rest of the 20th century because we see a sharp decline in this Islamic modernist line and in place of that what happens
Video examples
Onward: Searching for...
structure of the ecosystem is different from anything else that's modernist so it's a unique thing and something worthy of studying further
Video examples
Bjarke Ingels: 3...
and improvisation. Sort of through the turmoil and the opportunities and the incidents of the real world. We call this comic book "Yes is More," which is obviously a sort of evolution of the ideas of some of our heroes. In this case it's Mies van der Rohe's Less is More. He triggered the modernist revolution.
Video examples
An eco-modernist...
other environmental philanthropists scholars and scientists in co-authoring an eco modernist manifesto it lays out a new vision of how to protect the environment while ensuring people across the planet can live fulfilling lives
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
Islamic thinkers and statesmen and theologians but there is a very curious pattern in the rest of the 20th century because we see a sharp decline in this Islamic modernist line and in place of that what happens
Video examples
Onward: Searching for...
structure of the ecosystem is different from anything else that's modernist so it's a unique thing and something worthy of studying further
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
Phillip E. Johnson
American Educator
If modernist naturalism were true, there would be no objective truth outside of science. In that case right and wrong would be a matter of cultural preference, or political power, and the power already available to modernists ideologies would be overwhelming.
Quote examples
Roisin Murphy
Irish Musician
On 'Overpowered,' there was a nostalgia for disco and early house music. But I'm a modernist and futurist as well. I do believe - and this is going to sound really pretentious, I know - that humanity will figure it out, so I'm optimistic about the future.
Quote examples
Neri Oxman
American Architect
I grew up in a modernist house, in a modernist culture. There was a love for modernism everywhere - the furniture, the books, the food, even the cutlery. So I learned very early to appreciate the value of design and the value of architecture.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
I want an ending that's satisfying. I'm more of a classical writer than a modernist one in that I want the ending to be coherent and feel like an ending. I don't like when it just seems to putter out. I mean, life is chaotic enough.
Quote examples
Thom Mayne
American Architect
I'm often called an old-fashioned modernist. But the modernists had the absurd idea that architecture could heal the world. That's impossible. And today nobody expects architects to have these grand visions any more.
Quote examples
Nathan Myhrvold
American Businessman
Cooking is an art, but all art requires knowing something about the techniques and materials. Using modernist techniques, you get more control, and that allows you to be more artistic, not less!
Quote examples
Frank Gehry
American Architect
Most of our cities built since the war are bland. They're modernist, they're cold, and now architects want to go back to that.
Quote examples
Kathy Acker
American Activist
I question: do we really understand the differences between modernist and postmodernist?
Quote examples
Will Self
English Author
Who'd want to be a modernist writer in the English-speaking world?
Quote examples
Baz Luhrmann
Australian Director
Fitzgerald was a modernist.
Quote examples
Phillip E. Johnson
American Educator
If modernist naturalism were true, there would be no objective truth outside of science. In that case right and wrong would be a matter of cultural preference, or political power, and the power already available to modernists ideologies would be overwhelming.
Quote examples
Roisin Murphy
Irish Musician
On 'Overpowered,' there was a nostalgia for disco and early house music. But I'm a modernist and futurist as well. I do believe - and this is going to sound really pretentious, I know - that humanity will figure it out, so I'm optimistic about the future.
Quote examples
Neri Oxman
American Architect
I grew up in a modernist house, in a modernist culture. There was a love for modernism everywhere - the furniture, the books, the food, even the cutlery. So I learned very early to appreciate the value of design and the value of architecture.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Eugenides
American Novelist
I want an ending that's satisfying. I'm more of a classical writer than a modernist one in that I want the ending to be coherent and feel like an ending. I don't like when it just seems to putter out. I mean, life is chaotic enough.
Quote examples
Thom Mayne
American Architect
I'm often called an old-fashioned modernist. But the modernists had the absurd idea that architecture could heal the world. That's impossible. And today nobody expects architects to have these grand visions any more.
Quote examples
Nathan Myhrvold
American Businessman
Cooking is an art, but all art requires knowing something about the techniques and materials. Using modernist techniques, you get more control, and that allows you to be more artistic, not less!
Quote examples
Frank Gehry
American Architect
Most of our cities built since the war are bland. They're modernist, they're cold, and now architects want to go back to that.
Quote examples
Kathy Acker
American Activist
I question: do we really understand the differences between modernist and postmodernist?
Quote examples
Will Self
English Author
Who'd want to be a modernist writer in the English-speaking world?
Quote examples
Baz Luhrmann
Australian Director
Fitzgerald was a modernist.
Example 1 of 10
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