Free Essay About Modernism As An Art Movement; Analysis Of Burj-Al-Arab

[Student]
[Professor]
Modernism is a philosophical movement that started from late nineteenth century and continued till the end of the twentieth century that occurred due to cultural and socio-economic shift in western societies as a result of Industrialization from eighteenth to nineteenth century (Weir, 1995). The art, music, architecture, and culture in modern era are based on the changed social values, ideas, and beliefs. Modernism serves as the mirror of the twentieth century that reflects the revolutionary changes that took place in this era. I chose to analyze art work from modernism as it depicts the paradigm shift in culture and art in modern era.
Retrieved from: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/dubai/burj-al-arab
Burj-al-Arab of Dubai, which is world’s only 7-star hotel to date, is one of the most intriguing buildings constructed in the modern era (Welch, Lomholt, Welch & Welch, 2014). Built and opened in 1999, Burj-al-Arab is known for its unique architectural structure with 321 meters of height. It was built to stand as a landmark for Dubai just as Eiffel Tower stands for Paris. Tom Wright designed it to look like a ‘dhow’ of a sailing boat (mostly found in Arabic culture and literature) (Wells, 2005). The building stands on an artificially constructed island, which in itself is an artistic and architectural revolution, as it was not envisioned in Enlightenment period. Burj-al-Arab stands as the reflection of social, technical, and cultural changes that happened in the twentieth century. It best depicts the technological advances being used in modern era for art and architecture. In a nutshell, Burj-al-Arab is the best example of socio-economic revolution in the modern era.

REFERENCES

Wells, M. (2005). Skyscrapers. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press.
Weir, D. (1995). Decadence and the making of modernism. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.
Welch, A., Lomholt, I., Welch, A., & Welch, A. (2014). Burj al Arab: Luxury Hotel in Dubai, UAE - e-architect. e-architect. Retrieved 12 July 2015, from http://www.e-architect.co.uk/dubai/burj-al-arab