TechnologyTremendous advances in sc

Technology

Tremendous advances in science and engineering and their application to industry have affected social, economic, and cultural history. Far—reach-ing developments have taken place in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and computer science. Technology has made astounding progress in the fields of information processing, communication, transportation, and medicine.
Some specific innovations are radio, television, atomic energy in military and industrial uses, transistors, the laser beam, jet propulsion, digital computers, antibiotics, photo duplication, exploration of outer space, exploration of suboceanic areas, and, especially relevant to music, high—fidelity sound transmission.
The arts
As in the past, the concerns of the epoque are reflected in the arts. General traits of the arts in the twentieth century are frequency and rapidity of change, experimentation with new forms and media and mixed media. In the visual arts a general trend away from representationalism and toward abstract and nonobjective-expression may be noted. A distinctly new visual media is the cinema. Art has taken so many new directions since 1900 that it is impossible to list them all here; some of the important trends and artists include expressionism (Kokoschka, Kandinsky, Klee), cubism (Picasso. Braque), surrealism (Dali, Chagall), dadaism (Duchamp), abstract expressionism (Pollock), geometric abstractionism (Stella), neoplasticism (Mondrian). Further developments are in mixed media, kinetic (moving) art, temporal (or momentary) art, pop art (commonplace realism), op art (optical illusion), minimal art, and conceptual art. Perhaps the most significant developments in architecture stem from the establishment of the Bauhaus.
Literature, poetry, theater, and cinema have kept apace with the fine arts. Social protest, existentialism, pessimism and despair, absurdity, intentional "shock value;" and ironic humor are some of the More pronounced traits.