The Decline of Modernism

This insightful work explores the evolution of art and society, revealing how avant-gardist movements shaped contemporary thought. The Decline of Modernism offers a compelling analysis.

In The Decline of Modernism, Peter Burger, a leading literary critic in Germany, explores the intricate relationship between art and society. He traces this connection from the rise of bourgeois culture in the eighteenth century to the decline of modernism in the twentieth century. Drawing from a diverse array of sociological and literary sources, including influential thinkers like Weber, Benjamin, Foucault, Diderot, and Sade, Burger offers a profound analysis that deepens the arguments from his earlier work, The Theory of the Avant-Garde.

Throughout the book, Burger examines how the avant-gardist movements of the early twentieth century challenged the established norms of art and life that had prevailed in the previous centuries. He posits that this questioning led to a crisis within postmodernism, highlighting the tensions between artistic expression and societal expectations. By doing so, Burger sheds light on the evolution of literary and artistic institutions since the Enlightenment, revealing their complex relationship with the political systems of their time.

Ultimately, The Decline of Modernism argues that the Enlightenment's promise of autonomy for art was undermined by the emergence of barbarism. This discovery illustrated the interdependence of art and society, paving the way for avant-gardist movements that protested against the formalism of aesthetics. Burger's insights contribute significantly to contemporary literary and aesthetic theory, making this book a vital read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of art in relation to social change.