Bright New World

Workman, Laura (2001) Bright New World. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

After World War II, a distinctive new look emerged, known as 'Contemporary'. The 'Contemporary' style in Britain had its own very particular character. I will consider some of the factors that contributed to the establishment of the 'Contemporary' style in Britain : the influence of the fine arts, developments in American, Scandinavian and Italian design and the significance of the 'Festival of Britain' exhibition. I will look at the impact of war on domestic interior design and lifestyle and shall consider the growing importance of science and technology, as well as the role played by the growth of consumerism in an increasingly affluent society. The catalogue is based on the reconstruction of a British 'Contemporary' interior, c. 1957, and will feature furnishings typical of a fashionable room of this era. Despite some resistance from the British public and a tendency to cling to old familiar styles of interior, 1 will establish that 'Contemporary' style represented a new way of life and that, after World War II, there was no returning to the ideas and tastes of a pre-war world. Modern life was here to stay.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: Deborah Lambert
• Keywords: Art history, Design
• Date of Award: 2001
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2001-76273
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 16:12
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 16:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/76273