Postmodernism & Postmodernity Lecture

Roughly 
Modernism was from 1860-1960
and Postmodernism from 1960's-today 

Modernism- follows function 
Postmodernism- there is no rules 

Modernism 
Simplified aesthetic 

Postmodernism 
Complexity and Chaos 
Questioning old limitations 
Women, sexual diversity and multicultural 

An example of postmodernism is An Oak Tree by Michael Craig Martin

'I considered that in An Oak Tree I had deconstructed the work of art in such a way as to reveal its single basic and essential element, belief that is the confident faith of the artist in his capacity to speak and the willing faith of the viewer in accepting what he has to say. In other words belief underlies our whole experience of art: it accounts for why some people are artists and others are not, why some people dismiss works of art others highly praise, and why something we know to be great does not always move us.'

Quote from Michael Craig Martin

This piece of art questions what art and objects are. Personally I don't like it, but it does bring a new perspective to art, and most importantly make the audience have an opinion and think. 

Another example of Postmodernism is Renzo piano and Richard Rogers- Pompidou centre

A building that was made with the escalator on the outside of the building, pushing the boundaries creating something different. 

Tracey Emin- My Bed 

Tracey Emin- everyone I have ever slept with 

Emin’s work has an immediacy and often sexually provocative attitude that firmly locates her oeuvre within the tradition of feminist discourse. By re-appropriating conventional handicraft techniques – or ‘women’s work’ – for radical intentions, Emin’s work resonates with the feminist tenets of the ‘personal as political’. In Everyone I’ve Ever Slept With, Emin used the process of appliqué to inscribe the names of lovers, friends and family within a small tent, into which the viewer had to crawl inside, becoming both voyeur and confidante.

Barbra Kruger 

Barbra Kruger shows postmodernism through her graphic design, making bold statements with red background the use of black and white type and black and white images. They are very high impact and Selfridges used them in there stores for a period of time.