Chapter 15

1. Sum up the reading in your own words in 1 paragraph.

Chapter 15 start us out with communism in Russia and explains to us the impact of the political climate Russia had created not just in Europe, but throughout the world. Communistic design was like a mixed experimentation of both shape and typography using notable features from both the futurism and cubism styes. The book goes on to tell us about Kasimir Malevich, creator of the style of painting known as suprematism. Suprematism is the use of basic shapes and bold primary colors to combine the art of geometric precision with creative abstraction. Another figure-head designer of the time was Kandinsky, a partner of Malevich's. Both men argued that art had to come back to being purely spiritual and aesthetic in practice. Malevich and Kandinsky led a revolt against the old art that grew out of the World Wars, art that was conservative and organized. The chapter then turns its attention to the creation of constructivism. Lissitzky was the designer of constructivism. He created a style of painting that set the cornerstone of the style. It utilized 3D illusions, exhibiting that painting and architecture were very much an intertwined practice in creative thought. Lissitzky called the style PROUNS. Meanwhile, the Netherlands started their own movement in 1917, an ill recieved abstract/geometric style by Theo Van Doesburg called "De Stijl".

2. Name the one thing (or person) you found most interesting from the reading.

I found it ineteresting that there's a pattern going on here. Throughout late 19th to early twentieth century times there's a struggle going on between simplification and ornamentation. There's an endless kind of tug-o-war going on for years between those that think art should move towards a simplification of shape and line and those that think art should always have a humanitarian side, that think ornamentation is a structure of beauty.

3. State at least one question you have after the reading.

Do you think that either side of the simplistic vs. ornate battle have won? Has the conflict been resolved? Is one more predominant than the other nowadays? Or will the struggle between them never end?