My Modern Movement

The Modern Movement was a welcome corrective to the debased aesthetics of the commercial world, but Robert Best was troubled by its promoters' use of propaganda to brainwash the public into denying what it liked in favor of more cultivated but untested alternatives.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 04 November 2021
\n Publisher: EnvelopeBooks
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For those with refined tastes, the Modern Movement emerged as a much-needed antidote to the debased aesthetics prevalent in the commercial realm. The products of the light industry, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, remained largely uninformed by the idealist thinking that aimed to harness architecture and design toward social progress. Robert Best, a prominent industrialist in Britain during this era, shared the same goal of improving mass education but found himself troubled by the proponents of Modernism. Despite their knowledge and obligation to elevate the masses, whether they liked it or not, Best questioned the impact on democratic principles that liberal society held dear. He particularly expressed concerns about the propaganda-like nature of the campaign to popularize Functionalist design, which he believed ventured into politically charged territory.

In this extraordinary memoir, penned in the early 1950s but never previously published, Best delved into his deep-seated concerns about the sense of noblesse oblige that underpinned organizations such as the Council of Industrial Design, established in 1944 with the ostensible purpose of enhancing the saleability and quality of British manufacturing. However, in Best's view, there was an ulterior motive behind this initiative: to brainwash the public into rejecting what they enjoyed in favor of more cultivated but untested alternatives.

Through his candid and introspective writing, Best shed light on the societal pressures and expectations that shaped the design and manufacturing landscape of his time. He questioned the role of experts and intellectuals in shaping public taste and argued that the pursuit of functionalism had the potential to undermine the very essence of artistic expression. He also expressed his skepticism towards the notion that design could be solely driven by market considerations, advocating for a more balanced approach that considered both aesthetic and practical aspects.

Best's memoir offers a unique perspective on the Modern Movement and its impact on the world of design and architecture. It challenges the conventional wisdom of the time and raises important questions about the role of education, expertise, and democracy in shaping the built environment. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving artistic integrity and the value of diversity in design, even in the face of societal pressures and expectations.

In conclusion, for those with advanced tastes, the Modern Movement emerged as a welcome corrective to the debased aesthetics of the commercial world. It provided a fresh perspective on design and architecture, challenging the status quo. quo and advocating for a more balanced approach that considered both aesthetic and practical aspects. Robert Best's memoir, written in the early 1950s but never previously published, offers a valuable insight into the concerns and debates surrounding the Modern Movement and its impact on society. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving artistic integrity and the value of diversity in design, even in the face of societal pressures and expectations.

\n Weight: 294g\n
Dimension: 223 x 128 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781838172084\n \n