Thursday, March 11, 2010

Toward the Modern Era: history, background, and philosophy

What do you think of when you hear the word 'modern'? In relation to humanities, I think of a time that is growing increasingly chaotic in it's representation of art, music, literature, and philosophy.  There are many reasons for this entropy, but I think the main reason is the growing sepration from God that humanity is choosing to experience.  Here is what Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra:

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

In conclusion, this is a time when the world grew increasingly violent, increasly pessimistic, and increasinly dinstant from God.

2 comments:

  1. It seems like a lot of people in my art history classes do not like "modern art" becasue some of it doesn't look like it took much effort. I would have to disagree. What defines good art? I feel that if the artist has a reason for creating something, that is what makes it art, not some critic.

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  2. Nietzsche was such a crazy man. And a superman, now that I think about it...

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