Before Călinescu, the term "modernity" was often used interchangeably to describe both the progressive march of history and the aesthetic movements that defined the era. Călinescu argues that these are in fact opposing forces.

Matei Călinescu’s Cinci fețe ale modernității Five Faces of Modernity

When searching for , users often encounter fragmented or chapter-specific files. In many academic repositories, the "14" likely refers to:

The third face is "Decadence." Călinescu explores how this term morphed from a moral judgment into an aesthetic badge of honor. Decadence in art is the refusal of the "natural" in favor of the artificial. It is a fascination with decline, with the "autumn" of civilizations. Călinescu links this to a rejection of linear time; the decadent artist prefers a stagnant, heavy time, rich with ornamentation and decay. This is crucial for understanding the transition from 19th-century Romanticism to the darker edges of Modernism.

Perhaps the most explosive of the five faces, the Avant-Garde represents the radicalization of modernism. If modernism suggests a break, the Avant-Garde demands a demolition. Călinescu details how the military metaphor of the "advance guard" was co-opted by artists like the Futurists, Dadaists, and Surrealists. In the context of the keyword , this section is often cited for its analysis of how the Avant-Garde sought to erase the distinction between art and life, ultimately leading to its own institutionalization.

Călinescu begins by tracing the etymology of the word "modern." He argues that "Modernism" is the first face—a conscious break with tradition. However, he notes a paradox: Modernism is obsessed with the past even as it tries to destroy it. It is an attitude of "the despair of being late," a constant anxiety that one has missed the moment of origin. This face establishes the core tension of the modern artist: the need to be absolutely new in a world that is constantly aging.

If you are looking for a digital version of this text, it is available for viewing or downloading on several academic and archival platforms: Internet Archive

Matei Calinescu Cinci Fete Modernitatii rezumat , Five Faces of Modernity Romanian PDF , Cinci fete ale modernitatii capitolul 14 , Matei Calinescu opera literara , Teoria modernismului si kitsch-ului.