2. Modern Period Arts
Visual arts, drama, dance, and music were drastically
changed with in evolution of the 20th century. In this
modern period, artists spread the new values associated
with the changing culture all around the world.
Beginning in the 1850’s and through the 20th
century, we can see how realism styles affected each
variety of the arts. Through art, we see changes in
rhetoric such as nationalism, valued diversity, and a
changing family unit.
3. Dance
The modern period of dance began in the late 1800’s and ended
in the mid 20th century. After the early 1960’s, the next era
was known as Post Modern Dance. Modern dance had three
distinct periods known as Early Modern, Central Modern, and
Late Modern, which will be explained in more detail later in
the presentation.(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2012). It
evolved with experimenting with new ways to move the body,
including movement of the torso, which had not been done
before, older dance movements were more like the waltz and
had steps with more “stiff ” movements. Ballet was also more
about structured steps, unlike modern dance.
4. Characteristics of Modern Dance
❏ Common Themes: freeform movements and expressive emotions communicated through
movement.
❏ Ballroom: Partner dances for both entertainment and competition. Originally only for upper class-
however now a wide variety of people enjoy ballroom dancing.
❏ Charleston: Created in 1923 by song from James P. Johnson called “The Charleston”. First became
popular from the famous Broadway show “Runnin Wild”.
❏ Swing: Originated in the 1920’s through the 1940’s. Also referred to as the “jitterbug” as it was
usually performed to be accompanied with Jazz music.
❏ Foxtrot: A dance that is similar to a waltz. It has very flowing, smooth movements. Originated in 1914
from the famous action Harry Fox.
❏ Modern: Free style of dancing that began in the 20th century. It incorporates film, lighting and
speech into the choreography.
❏ Break Dancing: First created in the 1970’s and usually is set to song that have a wide variety of
tempo, and beat patterns.
5. Influencers of Modern Dance
Paul Taylor (1930-2018): Choreographer in American who led the “Paul Taylor Dance company in north
America.
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989): Founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. His words entertained
the audiences with spiritual and gospel influences.
Twyla Tharp: Best known for developing contemporary choreography that combined modern dance and
ballet. She opened her own dance company in 1966 in New York City.
Agnes de Mille (1905-1993): In 1973, she was inducted into the american Theater Hall of Fame. She also
won a Tony Award for best Choreography in 1947. Her influences can be seen in Broadway musicals today.
6. Evolution of Modern Dance.
Pioneers of Modern Dance Ted Shawn 1891-1972 ,Known as the “ Rebels” of dance
First Generation Martha Graham 1894-1991 ,This generation of dancers created Modern Dance as we know
it today
Second Generation Merce Cunningham 1919-2009,Focus on movement experimentation and improvisation.
Third Generation Douglas Dunn 1942-Present, Combines elements of humor, improvisation,and traditional
dance technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqHt2VeYJN4
7. Drama
History of Modern Drama
❏ 20th century
❏ Origin: Modernist Period (1845-1945) English Drama
❏ G. B. Shaw was a popular Irish playwright who
❏ depicted plays showing social drama.
❏ Dramas were used as a kind of propaganda for
promoting a pride of nationalism and national values.
❏ Used as a kind of expressionism to spread ideas
through a society.
8. Characteristics of Modern Drama
Symbolism: A implies a greater meaning than the literal translation. Symbolism can be expressed through
color, characters, props and character movements.
Expressionism: Includes settings, character traits, dialogue, style of acting, and actions.
Realism: Authentic character attributes, costumes and settings. Relatable to the everyday person.
Naturalism: Extreme sense of realism. Theatrical dialogue and performance styles and actions take place
over a single location.
Common Themes: Middle-class comedy, family unit, nationalism, social justice, social changes.
9. Influencers of Modern Drama
Significant Influences in Modern Drama include:
❏ G. B. Shaw: Pygmalion (1938,) Saint Joan 1928, Heartbreak House 1919
❏ George and Ira Gershwin: Lady Be Good (1924), Two Little Girls in Blue.
❏ Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953), All My Sons (1947)
❏ Stephen Sondheim: A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Merrily Roll Along
❏ Eugene O'Neill: Long Day’s Journey into Night (1941), Anna Christie (1920), Ah
Wilderness (1933).
❏ Tennessee Williams: Tin Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire, The
Rose Tattoo.
10. Evolution of Modern Drama
❏ Epic Theatre 1920’s
❏ Developed in Germany
❏ Illustrated event on reason rather than feelings.
❏ The New Wave of the 1950’s and 1960’s
❏ Illustrate “bitterness” of the hardships of everyday life.
❏ Attach establish thoughts and conventional social constructs.
❏ The Second Wave: 1960’s-1980’s
❏ Strong social and political views blatantly displayed in the plays.
❏ Spread new ideas of society and new values.
❏ Alternative Theatre
❏ Created in by university groups and amatures.
❏ Radical values and settings.
❏ New presentation styles and dialogue
11. Visual Arts
The time period is 1860-1970’s. Modern Art was different by the new types of art, the use of new materials,
expressive use of colour and new techniques. The most commonly cited as marking the birth of “modern
art” is 1863 the year that shocking irreverent painting Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe in the Salon des Refuses in
Paris.“ Modern Art it remains an elastic term which can accommodate a variety of meanings. Modern Art
began in the 19th century it was significant and rapidly increasing change. This was a result of Industrial
Revolution. The invention of the collapsible tin paint tube and the photoghy of these two things greatly
benefited a new style of painting known as “impressionism. Although in some ways the 19th century was
dominated by the new Impressionist style of painting, there were several pioneers strands of modern
art.Impressionism capturing sunlight, romanticism (mood), symbolism (enigmatic iconography) , lithographic
poster art (bold motifs and colours). Modern art was’t an exciting period .
13. Music
❏ Music Modern Period has evolved in many different ways.
The most common element among the various types of
Modern music is the element of experimentation.
❏ The Modern Era of music was created form the late Romantic
and Impressionist periods as a result of experimental efforts
of composers such as Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel, and
Claude Debussy. Even though some composers of the
Modern Era of music continually used traditional harmonies
that were developed during the Romantic Period, many
other Modern Era composers experimented with new,
unusual harmonies.
14. Characteristics and Significant Artist
● Sounds were more unconventional
● Percussion became more important because
unusual instruments like bicycle horns and
typewriters were used (Kamien, 2002).
● There was controversy with sounds that were
unfamiliar, disturbing, or fantasy-like
● Technology changes were included into music
● Significant Artists Music from the Modern
Period was inspired by the Big Band and
Rockabilly genre. Music trends introduced in
the Modern Period includes: Rhythm and Blues
, Funk , Jazz , Rap, Motown , Rock and Roll,
Country , Blues.
○ Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin,
The Beatles, Duke Ellington, Elvis Presley , The
Sugarhill Gang
15. Relevant Timeframe
1900 – Buddy Bolden invents jazz.
1902 – Claude Debussy introduces impressionism to
music.
1904 – The London Symphony Orchestra is established
1910 – Igor Stravinsky completes The Firebird for Sergei
Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Stravinsky will become one of
the greatest composers of the 20th century.
1933 – Laurens Hammond introduces his Hammond
organ.
1936 – Electric guitar debuts.
1956 – Elvis Presley emerges as one of the world’s first
rock stars.
1963 – A wave of Beatlemania (The Beatles) hits the
U.K. The Rolling Stones emerge as the anti-Beatles.
1964 – Bob Dylan becomes popular with his “Folk”
music.
1973 – Reggae music becomes popular
1977 – Saturday Night Fever sparks the disco inferno.
1978 – Sony introduces the Walkman, the first portable
stereo
2003 – Apple Computer introduces Apple iTunes Music
Store, which allows people to download songs for 99
cents each.
16. Where Movements
Originated
The Modern Era of music evolved from the late Romantic and
Impressionist periods as a result of the experimental efforts of such
composers as Claude Debussy, and Richard Strauss (Kamien, 2002).
17. Society
Involvement
Music has now become a big part of society, because of
radio broadcasts, recordings, and access to music that can be
played in homes. At the beginning of the Modern Period,
these new styles of music were not accepted by people, so
music was mostly performed by composers at concerts.
Women also became more active in music as virtuoso
soloists, and educators. While men were in wars, women
joined the orchestras as conductors and players. Today,
American universities and colleges are now expanding music
by educating students. In fact, these universities, colleges are
now what the nobility and churches were in the past.
18. References
Bedinghaus, T. (2019, May 24). The Most Famous Dance Choreographers of the Past and Present. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from
https://www.liveabout.com/dance-choreographers-biographies-1007078
History of Modern Drama. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://www.dramacraft.net/history-of-modern-drama.html
Kamien, R. (2002). Music: An appreciation. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Modern Art (c.1870-1970). (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/modern-
art.htm#maincharacteristic
Preece, W. E., & Collison, R. L. (2016, September 08). Encyclopaedia. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/encyclopaedia
The Drama Teacher. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://thedramateacher.com/
