Final answer:
Modernism is best characterized by its selective incorporation of tradition, utilizing traditional techniques within new innovative forms. It does not entail a complete rejection of tradition or an exclusive focus on parody; rather, it critically engages and redefines traditional aesthetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship of Modernism to tradition is best characterized as c. Selective incorporation of tradition. Modernism, which emerged around 1900, was intrinsically skeptical and often critical of established norms from previous eras. It indeed sought to "make it new," but this did not lead to a complete rejection of tradition. Instead, it involved reworking and adapting traditional techniques into new, innovative forms. The movement’s stance towards the past can be seen as critical but also as a conscious engagement with tradition, often leading to revision, parody, and recapitulation in an effort to examine and redefine past narratives and aesthetics.
Modernism explored the contradictions of the modern era and was both a product and critic of its time. This is evident in drama, such as the works of Eugene O'Neill, and in poetry, where the range from high to low Modernism demonstrates different degrees of formality and experimentation with literary tradition. Lastly, while there were certainly aspects of Modernism that pushed for originality and authenticity in art, the underlying engagement with tradition through selective incorporation is profound, as it provided a direct dialogue with the past, creating an intricate relationship that both preserves and simultaneously reinvents traditional artistic expressions.