Harrison, G and Wood, P(1997) 'Art in Theory: 1900-1990', Oxford, Blackwell p125-9

In early twentieth century a new art was resolved that concentrated on expression but could also relate to more established existing art.  A natural relation lay with this new art and with avant-garde artists of the time, so too, internationalising themselves over Europe.  Cubism, Expressionism and Futurism had marked a different angle of avant-garde against the existing artistic tradition.  It was felt that this new art, modern art, was not a stage, it would be a natural ongoing movement.  In itself, modern brings such overlapping dynamics of modernisation, modernity and modernism.  Modernisation, a technical aspect of modern concerning development of industrialisation and scientific complex changes.  Modernity, almost a cultural change involving lifestyle and personal adaption to change.  Modernism shows a heavily overlapping content of experience and reflection.

Pessimism from the now more powerful humans and their machines formed at the different aspirations, lack of freedom and population in compact cities.  On the other hand 'hysterical exhilaration' took place alongside it.  As a result, adjacent to the effects of modernisation, recording of consciousness to the significance of change occurred and to seek the cause.  That is to say an introduction of the social side of modernisation or capitalism.  Ideologies of an equally shared society involving race and culture came about but under a "feared and needed" working class background, otherwise known as socialism. In relation to Karl Marx the time was now about using the intellectual understanding of society and changing it to practicality.  But here now lay "the seeds of a century-long conflict"

It now mattered less what the subject of art was, it was about the method of delivery which related to the people who grasped modernity.  It was now a conflicting environment where one side there was art to participate in changing the modern world and art which believes it will transform itself through response.  This hostility of self determined art to continue social change continues in current day industry.