Eli’s Mind

(1) Modernism emerged as a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting a departure from the values of neoclassicism and the Enlightenment. In various fields such as literature, art, and architecture, Modernism embraced innovation, experimentation, and a rejection of traditional forms. This departure from neoclassicism and the Enlightenment is evident in Modernist works’ emphasis on subjectivity, fragmentation, and the exploration of the subconscious mind. Unlike the rationalism and orderliness of neoclassical and Enlightenment thought, Modernism embraced ambiguity, complexity, and the rejection of conventional norms. Artists and thinkers sought to challenge established conventions and explore new ways of representing reality, reflecting the changing social, political, and technological landscape of the modern world.

(2) The coming of World War I was influenced by a complex interplay of political, economic, social, and military factors. Key among these were militarism, nationalism, imperialism, and the system of alliances that characterized Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The arms race between major powers, fueled by a desire for military supremacy, created a tense atmosphere of competition and suspicion. Nationalist fervor and imperial ambitions led to territorial disputes and heightened tensions between rival powers. Additionally, the complex system of alliances, such as the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance, created a delicate balance of power that ultimately collapsed when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914 triggered a chain reaction of declarations of war. Economic rivalries and competition for colonial territories further exacerbated tensions, culminating in the outbreak of World War I in 1914.