What does minimalism really mean? | A-Z of ISMs Episode 13 - BBC Ideas
Summary
TLDRThe video script explores the multifaceted concept of minimalism, a lifestyle and philosophy that values simplicity and purity. Originating in the art world in 1965, it emphasizes the essence of objects and spaces, as illustrated by minimalist artists like Frank Stella and architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who championed 'less is more.' The script also touches on decluttering with Marie Kondo and the emotive power of minimalist music by composers like Philip Glass. Minimalism serves as a response to our complex world, offering clarity and beauty in its various forms, from art to architecture and music.
Takeaways
- 😌 Minimalism is a lifestyle choice for some, characterized by owning few possessions and living in largely empty spaces.
- 🎨 The term 'minimalism' was first used in 1965 by British philosopher Richard Wollheim to describe artists with minimal art content, which was later embraced positively by minimalist artists.
- 🖌 Minimalist art, as described by painter Frank Stella, is about art objects being themselves and not copying or depicting something else.
- 🏠 Minimalist architecture is a reaction against decoration and ornament, with architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Maya Lin creating simple, light-filled structures.
- 💡 Mies van der Rohe's famous statement 'Less is more' encapsulates the minimalist approach to design and architecture.
- 🧹 Minimalist gurus like Marie Kondo advocate for decluttering and focusing on what to keep rather than what to throw away.
- 🎶 Minimalist music, pioneered by composers like Philip Glass, features repetition, simple patterns, and phase shifting to create emotional and moving pieces.
- 🌐 Minimalism is a reaction to the busy and loud world, offering a counterpoint to the clutter and chaos of modern life.
- 🤔 Minimalism can sometimes appear harsh or inhuman, but it can also be beautiful, as seen in the field of minimalist music.
- 👀 Minimalism can be confusing, as in the case of Carl Andre's famous brick sculpture, or stark, like a Mies van der Rohe office block.
- 🔔 The script encourages viewers to subscribe and click the bell for notifications on new videos.
Q & A
What does minimalism as a lifestyle choice typically involve?
-Minimalism as a lifestyle choice typically involves owning few possessions, living in largely empty spaces, and even eating minimalist food. It emphasizes simplicity and reducing clutter in various aspects of life.
How is minimalism related to architecture?
-In architecture, minimalism is a reaction to decoration, ornamentation, and excess. Minimalist buildings are characterized by simplicity, light, and open space. Architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Maya Lin are known for creating structures that embody these principles.
Who is credited with first using the term 'minimalism' and in what context?
-The term 'minimalism' was first used by British philosopher Richard Wollheim in 1965. He used it in an article to describe artists with minimal art content, which was initially seen as a negative description but was later embraced by minimalist artists.
How did minimalist artists interpret the concept of minimalism?
-Minimalist artists saw minimalism as a form of pure art. They believed that a minimalist art object should be self-contained and not try to depict something real, like a person's face or an emotion. Frank Stella, a minimalist painter, emphasized that minimalist art is itself and nothing else.
What is the famous statement by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe that encapsulates the minimalist architectural philosophy?
-Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's famous statement that encapsulates the minimalist architectural philosophy is 'Less is more.'
What does Marie Kondo believe is essential in the minimalist approach to decluttering?
-Marie Kondo, a minimalist guru, believes that the essence of decluttering is not just about knowing what to throw out, but knowing what to keep.
How is minimalistic music described in the video script?
-Minimalistic music is described as featuring repetition, simple patterns, and phase shifting, where a repeating item is moved to create an arresting effect. Despite its often austere simplicity, minimalistic music can be profoundly moving and deeply emotional.
What is minimalism partly a reaction to, according to the video script?
-Minimalism is partly a reaction to the increasingly busy and loud world around us. Artists and consumers alike have reacted against the clutter and chaos of life and art by creating various forms of minimalism.
Can you give an example of a minimalist work that might seem confusing?
-An example of a minimalist work that might seem confusing is Carl Andre's famous brick sculpture, which challenges traditional perceptions of art.
How does the script describe the emotional impact of minimalistic music?
-The script describes minimalistic music as being deeply emotional and profoundly moving, often due to its austere simplicity and repetitive structures.
Outlines
🎨 Minimalism: A Multifaceted Philosophy
This paragraph introduces minimalism as a lifestyle and philosophical choice that extends beyond material possessions to encompass architecture, music, and art. It discusses the origins of the term in 1965 by British philosopher Richard Wollheim and its adoption by artists who saw it as pure art. Minimalist art, as exemplified by Frank Stella, is self-contained and not representative of anything else. The paragraph also touches on minimalist architecture, which is characterized by simplicity and the famous 'Less is more' mantra by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Marie Kondo's approach to decluttering is mentioned, emphasizing the importance of knowing what to keep. Minimalistic music, pioneered by composers like Philip Glass, is highlighted for its emotional depth despite its simplicity and repetition.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Minimalism
💡Lifestyle Choice
💡Minimalist Architecture
💡Minimalist Art
💡Richard Wollheim
💡Marie Kondo
💡Minimalist Music
💡Less is More
💡Repetition
💡Reaction to Clutter
Highlights
Minimalism is a lifestyle choice for some, involving owning few possessions and living with simplicity.
Minimalists prefer shiny white tablets, little grey stores, and minimalistic furniture like black plastic chairs.
Minimalism has roots in various fields including architecture and music.
The term 'minimalism' was first used by British philosopher Richard Wollheim in 1965 to describe artists with minimal art content.
Minimalist artists view their work as pure art, with the art object being itself and nothing else, as stated by Frank Stella.
Minimalist architecture is a reaction against decoration, ornament, and fuss, with buildings designed to be simple and full of light and space.
Famous minimalist architects include Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Maya Lin, who embody the 'Less is more' philosophy.
Minimalist gurus like Marie Kondo advocate for decluttering by focusing on what to keep rather than what to throw out.
Minimalistic music, pioneered by composers like Philip Glass, features repetition, simple patterns, and phase shifting for an emotional impact.
Despite its simplicity, minimalist music can be profoundly moving and deeply emotional.
Minimalism is a reaction to the busy and loud world, with artists and consumers creating various forms of minimalism as a response to clutter and chaos.
Minimalism can sometimes appear confusing, as exemplified by Carl Andre's famous brick sculpture.
Minimalist architecture can be stark, as seen in the office blocks designed by Mies van der Rohe.
In the field of music, minimalism can also be beautiful, offering an alternative to the complexity of modern life.
The video encourages viewers to subscribe and click the bell for notifications on new content.
Transcripts
The A to Z of Isms.
Minimalism.
For some people, minimalism just means not owning any stuff,
it's a lifestyle choice.
It means owning few possessions, living in largely empty space,
and even eating minimalist food.
No chips for the minimalists.
They own shiny white tablets, shop at little grey stores,
and don’t have enough black plastic chairs.
For some, it's to do with architecture,
and for others, it’s a musical movement.
In fact, minimalism is a philosophy
with roots and branches in many places.
The word minimalism first turns up in 1965,
in an article by British philosopher, Richard Wollheim,
who wrote about artists with minimal art content.
This negative description was turned into a positive
by minimalist artists.
They saw minimalism as a kind of pure art.
To quote the minimalist painter Frank Stella,
This isn't art that copies something real - a person's face, a nice horse,
or tries to depict a feeling.
A minimalist art object is itself, and nothing else.
All minimalism is, in part, a reaction.
In the case of minimalist architecture,
it’s a reaction to decoration, to ornament, and to fuss.
Minimalist buildings are simple,
and minimalist architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe,
and Maya Lin create structures full of light and space.
Their work can be summed up in Van der Rohe's famous statement that,
"Less is more."
Minimalist gurus, like Marie Kondo, believe in decluttering, but say,
"It's not about knowing what to throw out, it's knowing what to keep."
A lot of minimalism can appear harsh and inhuman,
the exception is minimalistic music.
Pioneered by composers like Philip Glass,
minimalist music features repetition, simple patterns, and phase shifting-
the movement of a repeating item to create an arresting effect.
Despite the often austere simplicity of the music, or because of it,
many minimalistic pieces of music are profoundly moving
and deeply emotional.
Minimalism is, in part,
a reaction to the increasingly busy and loud world around us.
Artists and consumers alike
have reacted against the clutter and chaos of life and art,
and created many disparate forms of minimalism.
Sometimes minimalism can seem confusing,
as in Carl Andre's famous brick sculpture.
Sometimes it can be stark, like a Mise van der Rohe office block.
But sometimes, as in the field of minimalist music,
minimalism can be beautiful.
Thanks for watching! :)
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