definitions July08

art deco
describes stylistic changes that occurred to nearly every visual medium in the interwar years (1910-1939) and for a number of years before and after
it covers "modern" approaches to architecture, fashion, art, graphics and film
the new aesthetics were also found in industrial design, furniture, transport, communications, and in household items
the style, which was universal, represents a move away from traditional values and was characterised by clean, geometric and elegant lines that replaced the excessive decoration of previous styles
it drew its inspiration from many cultures but is generally regarded as having its origins in pre-WWI Europe
its introduction occurred concurrently with massive changes in technology that saw the introduction of new materials and manufacturing techniques that allowed goods and items to become available to the masses
- www.artdeco.org.au

art nouveau
French for 'new art'
an international movement and style of art, architecture and applied art, especially the decorative arts, that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890–1905)
a reaction to academic art of the 19th century, it is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly-stylized, flowing curvilinear forms
Art Nouveau is an approach to design according to which artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life

modernism
An array of cultural movements rooted in the changes in Western society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The term covers a series of reforming movements in art, architecture, music, literature and the applied arts which emerged during this period.
It is a trend of thought that affirms the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology or practical experimentation. Modernism encouraged the re-examination of every aspect of existence, from commerce to philosophy, with the goal of finding that which was 'holding back' progress, and replacing it with new, progressive and therefore better, ways of reaching the same end.
Embracing change and the present, modernism encompasses the works of thinkers who rebelled against nineteenth century academic and historicist traditions, believing the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated; they directly confronted the new economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world.
from Wikipedia

surrealism
a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or nonrational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc
from Wikipedia