An interesting conclusion about postmodernism in Art and Design. It again points towards this cycle of modernism to postmodernism and then a recycle of the modernism again. 

The end statement is something i agree with and ultimately postmodernism is something that will never go away, its just the way the world is.

This is a good article I found on the internet explaining how some people that postmodernism is dead and there is a new movement coming.

the full article is here:

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2011/07/postmodernism-is-dead-va-exhibition-age-of-authenticism/

For/Against

Chart showing the ideas of some postmodern theorists.

Origionality

These pages raise good questions about mass production, and explains how the modern is always post - something, I find this interesting as post-modernism rejects modernism yet eventually they become absorbed into the same cycle.

The Pope of Pop Art - or Postmodernism

Andy Warhol the master of mass production.

personally I'm not a fan of his work and i feel it embodies everything postmodern, I can appreciate his contribution to art but i feel it has no originality and is void of personal, mostly based around iconic things which have made his work iconic

Junk Postmodernism

 

Pages from Postmodernism for Beginners 

The first page sums up how i feel towards alot of what is described as Postmoder art. Its driven by the modern culture and market that is all about consumption, you buy a piece for your wall, then throw it away when you decorate.

RadioHead

The band them selves can be classed as been quite postmodern but one of the main things they did was they released the album In Rainbows with no defined price they let the customer pay as much as they want. with them doing this they liturally stuck two fingers up at all main record labels.

I all so found a book explain the postmodern values of radiohead here:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-zAoXofitGIC&pg=PT66&lpg=PT66&dq=radiohead+postmodernism&source=bl&ots=C0jsBkqD-e&sig=4t5OMQtZ8E1QpLoyoA3YVOeLgwU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=P7GdT6LLO6ad0AXm_cmLDw&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Dude, Where's my decade?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/arts-and-culture/art/290951/dude-where-s-my-decade-60s-chic-lives-on-at-bangkok-hotels

A recent article posted about post modernism and architecture. Worth a read.

Do you think it's worth attempting to take our buildings back to their original authentic form or has post modernism ruined them?

An advert for a Jeff Koons exhibition from Graffik magazine. The exhibition was title "Hello Sailor" this was his first  at a major gallery in the UK.  Its described as " a multi-layered, multi-refrenced popeye series of paintings and sculptures." In my opinion the Work of Jeff Koons is based highly around pastich and bricolage and not parody.

A link to the Exhibition: http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2008/06/jeff_koons_popeye_series2_july.html

Charlie Brooker has it down to a T really

unfortunatly I can't embed the video so here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om17yHZrXtE

this also has relation to the link Charlie posted about the Kony 2012 campaign.

Black Mirror

Charlie Brooker made a fantastic 3 episode series called Black Mirror which looked at the dark side of the modern world and how how things like youtube, twitter, and mass media can be "destroying" the modern world.

 

 They are worth watching if you haven't seen them before unfortunatly they have been taken off 4OD.

The first Episode is called "The National Anthem" shows how websites like Youtube and twitter can used as "free media" where anything can posted up there. without constraint.

 This is the trailer: 

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/black-mirror/video/series-1/episode-1/s1-ep1-there-is-no-playbook

The second episode is called "15 Million Credits" shows how Reality Television and advertising is getting out of hand. 

This is the trailer: 

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/black-mirror/video/series-1/episode-2/s1-ep2-hot-shot 

The Third episode called "The Entire History Of You" shows how media and product integration, Things like Sky + may not be a good idea.

This is the trailer:

 http://www.channel4.com/programmes/black-mirror/video/series-1/episode-3/s1-ep3-appraisal

All these are a good example of postmodernism and applying them to modern day issues.

Scream.

a pastiche of over slasher movie cliche's all mixed together and played out across four movies. Okay there worth a watch.

Scary movie.

A simulacra pastiche of a pastiche, for me there's no creativity in these kind of film, . I find them really mindless, but I guess im just bieng misserable?

A nice little info graphic that explains Modernist and postmodernist values from the book Information is Beautiful by David McCandless

Urbanized

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jpN8kI0-pY



A trailer for Urbanized, doesn't give too much away in the trailer. But i'm trying to find a bigger clip from it.

Post Modernism in pictures.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/sep/04/postmodernism-in-pictures

Back to post modernism in architecture. Showing how to spot a 'post modernism building'.

No More Rules talks about close engagement with graphic design of the postmodern era that began in the early 1980s. It deals with recent events in design history, but it is not a history as such. It doesn't set out to argue that there shouldn't be any more rules in graphic design, only that during this period many designers, including some influential ones, have proceeded as though this were the case. Interesting book with lots of visual examples.

Postmodernism briefly explains the concept and ideas of postmodernism movement. Characterized variously as 'a crisis of cultural authority' and 'the shift from production to reproduction,' postmodernism seems to exist as a thing that can only be defined as the negation of something else. To a student of the subject, postmodernism may feel very much like Narcissus' reflection in the water, which disintegrates the moment one reaches out to grasp it.

The most postmodernist aspect of this book is its shameless self-plagiarism. The author has stolen most of the text from his own previous writings. However, it is a good read about different notions of a given subject, like histories, fallacies, subjects, contradictions, etc.

This book is a good guide to postmodernism, especially for those encountering theories of postmodernism for the first time: it places the subject in a wide context. Rather than give an account of the 'postmodern condition' from a single perspective, it offers an introduction to the most important theorists in a number of different disciplines, and links theoretical questions to an eclectic range of examples, from both 'high' and 'popular' culture.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism refers to a form of contemporary culture. It is a style of thought which is suspicious of classical notions of truth, reason, identity and objectivity. Postmodernism sees the world as ungrounded, diverse and unstable. It breeds a degree of skepticism about the objectivity of truth, history and norms. In Postmodernism everything is possible; everything counts as an art and every crazy thought can be justified simply because there is no one truth to measure the thought’s credibility against it. Postmodernism goes with the slogan “So bad it’s good.”

This is the opening clip for the film rubber.

 

 This is a good film that pokes fun at current day films. It is a good example of postmodernism because it portrays the audience in the film and there reactions to whats happening.

"people are just uptight 'cause the kids are having fun. And they didn't have the same freedom. Because they didn't take it. They just followed the lives laid down by their parents" - John Lennon

hipster

ARGH ITS SO TRUE, i cannot believe that people are genuinely like this. Lauren, this is people changing themselves to look 'cool'

Memes are really good examples of post modernism. They take even the most dire sections of news, and turn it into something funny. For example the Kony 2012 hype.



what do you think, memes good or are they nonsense?

yes

Consumer Culture.

http://www.uk.sagepub.com/upm-data/17148_00_Featherstone(2e)_Prelims.pdf


The above PDF takes a very indepth look at post-modernism and the consumer culture. Looking into consumption not being regarded as being merely hedonistic, expressive and impulsive but more of a necessity. Stating that the consumer culture needs knowledge of the industry. Of how to get the most cost effective purchase.

Do you agree that today we have 'consumer knowledge' or we are just drawn in by the advertisements and brightly colour signs placed by the products on the shelf? I think that people are drawn in by this and people very rarely check that an 'offer' is really worth while. This is all effected by the post modernism movement.

Jameson, Fredric Postmodernism and consumer society

http://smile.solent.ac.uk/digidocs/live/Hines/Jameson.pdf


Pretty decent journal.

I small extract. The use of 'so-called' just sums up peoples approach and knowledge of post modernism.

Nice book.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8FbP4nbM0qgC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=post+modernism&ots=1JAS7igfAU&sig=nzxB3kEOBY8-Y9omIxZT_6eRdW8#v=onepage&q=post%20modernism&f=false

A nice book investigating post modernism. The preface gives the impression that the author is just as confused as us as to what post modernism actually is.

Helvetica

http://youtu.be/zAgT2dNkRFw

A short clip of massimo vignelli talking about 'the disease of postmodernism'


Pretty much slating the fact that people didn't create 'postmodernism' pieces because they were passionate about it. It was because they just wanted to rebel and be 'out there'. That brings it back to thinking is it just a fashion statement? Are people just creating work that is different and out there so they can make themselves look cool?

what have i learnt so far?

So far since delving into the world of post modernism, i have learnt that practically everything is post modern! I have mostly learnt a lot about architecture in post modernism, about how the old buildings now have these post modern advertisements slapped across their faces. Me and Lauren were discussing how because of these excessive advertisements and colourful, bright and kind of hideous screens have become a tourist attraction for all the wrong reasons. Do all these tourists even know what the original buildings were for? For example Leicester Square was once a home for Frederick, Prince of Wales, then it became popular for entertainment such as museums and natural curiosities. Now it has huge screens, cinemas, bars, clubs etc etc.

I've also started to understand the difference between pastiche and homage. It's still hard though as there is a veeerry fine line between the two!

Postmodernism/ Feminism

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gilliamgibbs/writings/pmf.html

The link above it to a piece about the effect postmodernism has had on feminism. I started looking into what effect postmodernism had on the acceptance of women in the industry, after i'd noticed that a lot more women appeared in the lime light after the 70's. Influential women involved in postmodernism are; Tracey Emin, Paula Scher, Gillian Wearing and Rachel Whiteread.

Do you think that during the 'postmodernism' period it has become easier for women to make a name for themselves? Has it become easier for women to express themselves?

This looks at the effect on society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTSKU0FgZts&feature=related

McFancy

V&A Exhibition

A very very short introduction to post modernism by the V&A. Humorous though as many of the artists featured in the video have no idea what post modernism is - oh how post modern in itself.

"Post modernism, yes i still really don't understand what post modernism is. I've been told many times, and it's been explained to me many times. And i still am bewildered, but prehaps that is part of the movement...Bewilderment" - Andrew Logan



Pay attention to the lyrics, it's quiet fitting.

breaking the silence

Architecture, one of the most interesting things to discuss about post modernism. It has only just recently become clear to me that architecture is a very key and important role to post modernism. Think about this, when you visit london, and you walk along westminster and embankment, what do you see? You see various old and ornate buildings which are beautifully made lets not forget, horrible concrete architecture from the 1990s and these very modern buildings the gerkin for example. It just occured to me that its horrendously post modern to have all of those types of buildings in a city full of rich history.

Also, take a look at these pictures; one of Times Square in New York and one of Leicester Square





Is it not strange to see these beautiful old buildings that have such care and thought into how they are built, they are built for purpose and to last, now they have these horrible brightly coloured advertisements slapped across their face hiding the beauty of detail. What were incredibly important and established buildings are now the foundations for advertisement, mass production and consumerism. I'm not sure about the rest of you but this really bums me out.

Have you ever walked through a town and noticed how everything eye height is regurgitated crap and everything above is beautiful, ornate architecture?

Thats post modernism for you.

I have uploaded this sound clip for the film Fight Club because I think it gives a view of Postmodernism and how it rejects Groups and the culture of modern society and instead focuses on the individual.

Here are my three Key texts / Books

Insight into the Style and Subversion exhibition that was in the V&A

http://gu.com/p/3247b <watch this first.

Charles Jencks said that when Postmodernism became so well established in the 80's it became corporate and just as bad as modernism. Do you agree that it kind of becomes a fashion rather than someones passion?

Also Claire McNicoll was saying that when she originally made the bowl piece that was shown a lot of people called it a decorative piece rather than art and this seemed to offend her. Is it is thin line between art and a piece of decor or does it all fall under the same title? Can all decor be classed as decor and vice versa?

Homage, Bricolage and Pastiche.

Postmodernism is a very broad subject and so many different topics fall under the title. In looking at it in terms of Graphic design the best direction to go in is by looking at homage, bricolage and pastiche. Homage being paying respects to someone else’s work. Bricolage is a combination of materials that are at the hand of the designer; they are all put together in any way possible. And pastiche is pieces of different peoples work and brought together into a new piece. Those three topics play a major part in postmodernism within Graphic Design as well as areas such as music and literature. By focusing in on them it will generate a better understanding and show how they have all influenced design.

In terms of pastiche should the designer that brings pieces of other peoples work together and calls it their own be credited? Would it be classed as homage? In terms of them showing that they like their work enough to re-use it?

This is a nice a artical on postmodernism I found in the Information Graphics book called Information is Beautiful written by David McCandless

posted by Oliver Malone

Pastiche

http://fashion-trends.knoji.com/postmodern-parody-and-pastiche/

This has a good look at how postmodernism has affected all different creative areas.

Post - Modern Pastiche

The Prank of Postmodernism

Has postmodernist design eaten itself - Guardian Article

The rest of the article is here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/sep/12/postmodernist-design-v-and-a-retrospective

It's a decent look at more recent postmodernism.

SIMPSON DID IT

Yet again another discussion of whether this is a homage or a pastiche! Now, hopefully you have all seen The Shining, incase you haven't here is the actual clip the simpsons are homaging/pastiching ;


with bonus subtitles!

The Politics of Post modernism

One of my texts for this project.

Lauren Griffin - My 3 Books/Texts

The Disciples

Desmond Morris wrote the forward for this book, he makes a good point, in that throughout the whole of human history we have had tribes, and each tribe has always been re replaced by a new tribe. From african tribes to now 'music tribes', every human wants to feel part of a 'tribe' whether it be the collection of contacts in your address book or a football team you follow.

But are these certain tribes of people considered a homage to their favourite band, or a pastiche of their favourite band? Personally i struggle to choose whether it is a pastiche or homage, i'm sort of swaying towards it being a homage as each individual are obviously proud of who they are homaging.

The layout of the book though strikes me as it's taking the piss out of each of these tribes, i think it's the identity parade-esq style of the photographs.

What do you think; Homage? Pastiche? Ironic? Taking the piss?

Found this in my notebook for design in context lectures

Discuss

What time is it?

Here is a prime example of post modernity, there are 3 elements to this picture. One is that it's Adventure Time a cartoon about a young boy and his dog, two that it is deadmau5 a Dj and three that it's cosplay. It is a bricolage of Adventure Time and Deadmau5 but told through a completely post modern activity which is cosplaying. Begs the question whether this is a homage or a pastiche? One one hand it is a homage as they are publicly displaying their respect and honor, whereas on the other hand they are quiet clearly imitating both deadmau5 helmet and Adventure times costumes. Personally i think it's bloody ridiculous, Adventure time and Deadmau5 have absolutely nothing in common, but in saying that it makes it perfectly post modern.

It's so sick it's funny

Well, what is post modernism? I think Linda Hutcheon summed it up very well; "It is rather like saying something whilst at the same time putting inverted commas around what is being said" it has manifested itself in many creative fields from architecture to videos.

From what i understand, post modernism constantly challenges the previously dominant modernist. It can be seen as a reaction to modernists, modernism was focused on identity, unity and authority, where as post modernism focuses on difference and skepticism. It's bloomin' hard to try and define post modernism, you could say that to simply "sum up post modernism" it is what came after modernism.

Postmodernsim

The term modernism originally meant that designers and artists where going were nobody had gone before. It meant that they were creating a new style that would potentially shock the consumers. The term ‘postmodernism’ was first mentioned in the 1870’s by John Chapman, as he was trying to move on from French Impressionism. It eventually became well known in the 1900’s, when found/ trash art became well known. From then on things started to change and ‘pop art’ became a new craze in the 1950’s. Anything that went against or changed the trends of modernism is classed as post-modernism, and also falls under ‘Avant-garde’.

Design In Context

A blog documenting our groups research project for Postmodernism.