Final answer:
Modernism is a cultural and artistic movement that rejected traditional styles in favor of creating new forms and expressions that aligned with the changing industrial and social landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It embraced innovation across various domains, with a focus on making art relevant to contemporary life. Postmodernism later arose as a countermovement to Modernism, bringing back historic elements and ornamentation in a new context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that stylistic authenticity should be based on a general reform stems from the broader framework of Modernism, a movement that redefined the arts from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. Modernism was characterized by a deliberate shift away from the past, as seen in the works of John Ruskin and others, advocating for a return to past models. Moreover, Modernism embraced the complexities of a burgeoning metropolis and everyday life, reflecting the significant societal and industrial changes of the time.
Modernist ideals transformed various fields, including art, architecture, literature, and social organization, proposing radical changes to align with the changing world. The commitment to "Make it new!" prompted modern artists to rethink traditional art forms, leading to innovations such as stream-of-consciousness novels, atonal music, and abstract art. Noteworthy is the influence of movements like Constructivism and Suprematism, which redefined the concept of art, advocating its application to social purposes rather than just aesthetic enjoyment.
Responding to the cultural demands of the period, Modernist thinkers and artists continually adapted their styles, leveraging new technologies and methodologies that arose from industrial progress. Such changes embody the spirit of Modernism, which shaped the way cities and inhabitants were depicted by artists. Meanwhile, Postmodernism emerged as a reaction to Modernism, re-introducing ornamentation and historical styles into architectural designs, symbolizing a cultural shift and a search for new expressive forms in the later 20th century.