Final answer:
Modernism is distinguished by its rejection of conventional norms and traditional morality, focusing on innovation and freedom of expression in both art and social attitudes. The correct option is B. A rejection of conventions
Step-by-step explanation:
Focus of Modernism
One of the key focuses of modernism is B. A rejection of conventions. Modernism in the arts emerged around the 1900s with momentum gaining in the 1920s. It carried an attitude of skepticism towards established authority, norms, and traditional societal structures.
Modernist thinkers and artists challenged the existing narratives of morality and tradition, often critiquing the constraints they believed these constructs imposed on society and individual expression.
They emphasized the need to move past the old, rigid frameworks of thought and morality that had characterized the Victorian era, advocating instead for a more free, exploratory, and innovative approach to art, culture, and thinking.
Socially, modernism was characterized by a disdain for complacency and a willingness to confront and question societal norms. Traditional morality was often seen as a facade over a system with deeper, more complex, often darker underpinnings.
This movement was not just in opposition to established authority but also encouraged individual introspection and the exploration of the psyche, which contrasted sharply with the Victorian promotion of moral clarity and order. The correct option is B. A rejection of conventions