Postmodernism

Postmodernism & Appropriation
From - http://betheluphoto.blogspot.com/2011/11/for-amanda-m-anyone-else-who-is.html **First, a few terms to remember...** [] "In the field of art the broad movement in Western art, architecture and design which self-consciously rejected the past as a model for the art of the present. Hence the term modernist or modern art. Modernism gathered pace from about 1850. Modernism proposes new forms of art on the grounds that these are more appropriate to the present time. It is thus characterised by constant innovation. But modern art has often been driven too by various social and political agendas. These were often utopian, and modernism was in general associated with ideal visions of human life and society and a belief in progress. The terms modernism and modern art are generally used to describe the succession of art movements that critics and historians have identified since the __ [|Realism] __ of Courbet, culminating in __ [|abstract art] __ and its developments up to the 1960s. By that time modernism had become a dominant idea of art, and a particularly narrow theory of modernist __ [|painting] __ had been formulated by the highly influential American critic Clement Greenberg. A reaction then took place which was quickly identified as __ [|Postmodernism] __. " Georges Braque //Glass on a Table// 1909-10 || Jackson Pollock //Yellow Islands// 1952 ||  Kenneth Noland //Gift// 1961-2 ||   ||   || Sandro Chia //Water Bearer// 1981 ||  Cindy Sherman //Untitled #99// 1982 ||  George Grosz //Drawing for 'The Mirror of the Bourgeoisie'// circa 1925 || Christian Schad //Self-Portrait// 1927 ||  ||   ||  **//Pastiche//** - a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work or an artistic composition made up of selections from different works.
 * Modernism (from the Tate Museum Art Glossary)**
 * [[image:http://www.tate.org.uk/images/transparent.gif width="15" height="1"]] || [[image:http://www.tate.org.uk/collection/T/T05/T05028_8.jpg caption="Georges Braque, Glass on a Table, 1909-10" link="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=1450"]]
 * Postmodernism (Tate Museum Art Glossary)**
 * || [[image:http://www.tate.org.uk/collection/T/T03/T03469_8.jpg caption="Sandro Chia, Water Bearer, 1981" link="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=2197"]]
 * || [[image:http://www.tate.org.uk/collection/T/T03/T03469_8.jpg caption="Sandro Chia, Water Bearer, 1981" link="http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=2197"]]
 * //Pluralism//** - a postmodern movement in art that assumes the cultural context of art should be all-encompassing in its respect for the art of the world's wide variety of cultures and artistic styles, and that diverse cultural and stylistic influences can coexist in a work of art.
 * //Appropriation//** - an artistic concept in which an artist uses an image already in existence and places it in a new context in order to give it new meanings.

**What brought about the Postmodern movement?** *Modern Art was founded on “breaking the rules.” Eventually there were no more rules in art to break. *The postmodern philosophy of Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault who reject the concept of “binaries” or “either-or” classifications. *Artists felt that modernism had become purely “art about art”. It was too focused on itself, and had therefore become elitist. Postmodern artists wanted to explore personal expression, social causes, and rediscover their art historical legacy. *The art world was (and still is) flourishing. Art has become a valuable commodity. Some postmodern artists want to draw attention to this.

** Postmodern Art Genres **
 * What are some of the characteristics of Postmodern art? ** *//Appropriation//: the use of already existing imagery presented in new ways to give new meaning.   *//Skepticism and humor.//   *Postmodern artists identify themselves within an //art historical context//.   *A //blending of cultural influences.//   *//Pluralist ideology.//   *Much postmodern art seeks to //tear down the establishment of “white male” dominance// in Western art by focussing on //issues of race, feminism, and sexual orientation.//   *//Pop culture and “lowbrow” influences// are just as relevant to postmodernists as established “fine art” influences.   *The use of //text// as the central artistic element.*A //return to traditional themes and techniques// as a rejection of modernism.  Download this comparison chart. [|ModernismVSpostmodernism.pdf]
 * // Installation Art - Precursor is Land Art //
 * // Conceptual Art - Precursor is Dada movement in Europe //
 * // Performance Art - Precursor is 1950's Happenings in US and Japan's Gutai Group //
 * // Appropriation Art - Precursor is Pop Art //
 * // Lowbrow Art - Precursor is Pop Art and Arte Brute and Folk Art //
 * // Multi Media Art - New digital media creating new art forms //