Modernism and Postmodernism - 20th & 21st Century Visual and Material Essay

Modernism and Postmodernism - 20th & 21st Century Visual and Material Culture - Essay Example Modernism and Postmodernism - 20th & 21st Century Visual and Material Culture Although commonly called a movement, modernism is more of an international body of literature that is characterized by a self- consciousness about modernity and radical formal experiments. Marx Weber and Engel believe that the romantic critique on capitalism lacked meaning (Whitworth, 39). The two saw the cosmopolitan and universalism of the capital as a means by which all forms of particularism can be destroyed. This opens the possibility of a universal human community founded not on superstition but reason or rationalism. Weller (12) explains that the uplifting and positive worldview that is fostered through the concept of modernism has become oppressive and corrupt to the desolation of intellectuals and artists. According to him, it is surprising that modernism has been largely used by the western world to impose and promote their values against others through an imperial colonial system and globalization. Also, the imposing process has taken the shape of loans (Ukla, 31). The conditions are placed or attached on loans granted by the international Monetary Fund only help to assist the processes of these nations oppression to poor countries or the peripheries. Moreover, the World Bank introduces policies only beneficial to the core countries at the expense of the peripheral ones.