Can war be good for renaissance thinkers?

Introduction

Many notable artists helped define the 20th century. After World War I and World War II, there was a period of uncertainty in the world. The development of new techniques and new modes of expression influenced all the arts. Most of the artists that defined the 20th century were revolutionist and free thinkers for their times. Most forms of art were a reaction against something or a celebration of postwar activities. Artist such as architect Frank Lloyd Wright, composer Igor Stravinsky, poet Langston Hughes, artist Pablo Picasso and dancer Isadora Duncan were very important in changing the way people thought art should be.

Analysis

Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the American architects who help define the 20th century. His legacy is an architectural style that departed from European influences to create an American form. Wright advocated organic architecture which promoted harmony between human habitation and surrounding nature. Wright believed in creating a complete environment, he carried his designs throughout the interior of the homes he designed, which included stained glass, fabrics, furniture, carpets and accessories. Wright was most famous for his prairie style houses that were characterized by low, horizontal lines that were meant to blend in with the landscape around them. Not only was he an architect, he was also an educator and interior designer. Wright was called America's most creative and innovative architect (1998). Wright's career spanned 70 years.

The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky launched the beginning of modern music (Niccolo Machiavelli, pp 45-372). Igor Stravinsky was born in 1882 in Oranienbaum, Russia. Over the years, Stravinsky experimented with every technique of 20th century music, his greatest stylistic development was due to 12-tone serialism which he studied and developed. He was considered a musical revolutionary. The Rite of Spring caused a riot in the theater when it was performed in 1913.He reinvented and personalized each form of music and adapted his personal style. Stravinsky's worked encompassed many styles and spanned many genres. He incorporated multiple cultures, languages and literatures in his music; because of this his influence on music is considerable (McGreal, pp 34-373).

Isadora Duncan is considered the mother of modern dance. Duncan created a primitive style of improvisational dance to counter the rigid styles of the time. She was a revolutionist, defender of the poetic spirit and an adventurer (Benvenuto Cellini, pp 34-276). Duncan restored dance to a high place among the arts, she traced the art of dance back to its roots. With modern dance, Isadora Duncan created a culture that changed the character of traditional ballet and focused attention on political and social statements. She insisted that the role of the arts be a reflection of the times. Duncan founded schools of dance in Germany, France and America. She successfully obtained her dream to teach children who would in turn teach others.

Pablo Picasso influenced and dominated the art of the twentieth century like no other modern artist (Niccolo Machiavelli,, pp 34-71). Picasso's art spanned 75 years. During this ...