Definition for Minimalism
From Biology Forums Dictionary
Minimalism in painting and sculpture (1950s and 1960s) sought to reduce the complexity of both design and content as far as possible. Minimalist artists concentrated on nonsensual, impersonal, geometric shapes and forms. No communication was to pass between artist and respondent, no message was to be conveyed. Rather, the minimalists wanted to present neutral objects free of their own interpretations and leave response and “meaning” entirely up to the viewer. Minimalism in music (1960s) was a reaction against the complexity of serialism and the randomness of aleatory music. Minimalist music has a steady pulse, clear tonality, and persistent repetition of short melodic patterns. It also employs a static quality in dynamics, texture, and harmony, the effect of which tends to be trance-like and hypnotic.