Final answer:
MOMA's exhibitions in the 1930s promoted features of International Modernism such as the universal machine aesthetic, functionality, and geometric forms, but did not promote ample decoration and use of ornament, which contradicted the modernist principles of simplicity and utility.
Step-by-step explanation:
In its exhibitions of International Modernism in art and design held in the 1930s, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) promoted a variety of features that characterized the era's aesthetic. MOMA did not promote ample decoration and use of ornament as reminders of craft and privilege. This aspect of design is counter to the principles of International Modernism, which largely focused on a universal machine aesthetic of geometry, utility, and the use of new materials. The International Style, a key element of this movement, underlined the geometry and elemental beauty of particular objects.
Historically, Modernism in art and architecture represented a departure from the ornamental excesses of the past, focusing on simplification and functionality. The movements like Precisionism and Streamline Moderne reflected this shift, as they celebrated industrial forms and utilized new materials. The minimalist approach was clear in the repetition of modular forms and rejection of ornamentation, aligning with the philosophy that "decoration is a crime."
This modernist aesthetic valued clear, straightforward design that could be mass-produced, emphasizing horizontal and vertical lines and the expressive potential of new materials like steel and plate glass. It marked a reaction against both the lavish styles of previous eras and the melodramatic moral messaging in art, signaling a new representation of the modern industrial life.