Final answer:
Modernism is a philosophical and cultural movement that arose in response to significant societal changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasizing progress and individualism. It proposed that the individual could conquer societal issues, focusing on the value of the individual and the idea of redefining traditional values and societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Modernism
Modernism is a cultural and philosophical movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction to the enormous transformations occurring in Western society.
This movement encompasses a range of creative and intellectual disciplines, promoting an idea of progress and innovation with a strong emphasis on the individual. An important theme of modernism is the belief in the individual's ability to overcome societal issues, reflecting an era marked by rapid industrialization, the growth of cities, and the trauma of World War I.
Individualism, as a critical aspect of Modernism, underscores the importance of personal initiative and the value of the individual over collective norms. This is evident in various spheres, including art, literature, and social organization, where modernist ideals sought to break away from tradition.
The focus on individualism gave rise to a sense of alienation, as individuals felt disconnected from a society they believed they could not control, an idea echoic of Karl Marx's concept of false consciousness and alienation in capitalist societies.
Figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. encapsulated the modernist ethos by suggesting that true living begins when one transcends personal concerns and embraces the concerns of humanity at large. It is this aspiration to reconceptualize human experience and redefine society's values that epitomizes Modernism's utopian vision.