Can you explain modernism to me, in plain English?

Modernism is the series of reforming cultural movements in art and architecture, music, literature and the applied arts.

(1884-1914)

"It is a trend of thought that affirms the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology and practical experimentation. Modernism encouraged the re-examination of every aspect of existence, from commerce to philosophy, with the goal of finding that which was 'holding back' progress, and replacing it with new, progressive and therefore better, ways of reaching the same end. In essence, the modernist movement argued that the new realities of the industrial and mechanized age were permanent and imminent, and that people should adapt their world view to accept that the new equaled the good, the true and the beautiful" - Wikipedia.

Basically, it was a series of events that changed the way people saw things, acted upon things, etc. based on technology, scientific advancements and practical experimentation.

This was said to be for the better. There are few writers that did not follow that trend.

Modernism describes a series of reforming cultural movements in art and architecture, music, literature and the applied arts which emerged roughly in the period of 1884-1914.

Here are sites about modernism

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/roots.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism

Here are a few modernists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_modernist_poe...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_modernist_com...

you can search more in the internet, there are tons of sites about modernism