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Glite Dictionary
⏳ Opposition to progress 🖼️ Against modern styles
antimodernism

antimodernism

8.9
Being against modernist styles in art, literature and architecture and preferring older styles
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈmɒdərnɪzəm/
  • Literature
: antimodernismo
  • Many artists today embrace antimodernism by rejecting contemporary trends in favor of classical techniques.

Examples

  • Critics of the exhibition argued that its antimodernism underestimated the value of progressive artistic movements.

  • Manent's penetrating analysis allows us to see how both radical modernism and vituperative antimodernism can equally give rise to inhuman totalitarianism.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The writer's antimodernism is evident in his choice to ignore digital media and focus on traditional print.

Synonyms

postmodernism
vsantimodernism
3 8.6

A way of making art and buildings that mixes styles and uses irony

opposes those principles broadly without forming a distinct new artistic movement

Antonyms

avant-garde
23 8.2

Being new and unusual in art, fashion, or music

modernist
15 5.5

Relating to new art or design that breaks old styles

How Opposed

reactionary
28 8.4
antimodernism
  • Literature
8.9
criticism
  • Literature
24 3.7
modernism
  • Literature
10 7.4

Surface Forms

antimodernism singular
antimodernisms plural

Morphology

antimodernism = modernism (transparent) = anti + modern + ism

The form is straightforwardly built from anti- plus modernism, even though the sense is specialized to modernist styles and principles.

Etymology

Antimodernism breaks into anti- 'against', modern 'of today', and -ism 'a belief or movement'. In art, literature, and architecture it means a movement that goes against modern styles and prefers older techniques or forms.