- Complex phenomenon - Grenz. S
- The quest to move beyond Modernism - Grenz. S
- Associated with relativism. The idea that "anything goes." - Saugstad, A.
- Society is fragmented and there is "no grand narrative." - Saugstad, A.
- "The period in which we now live." Composed by the two words ‘post’ and ‘modern’. ‘Post’ is Latin for ‘after’, and ‘modernism’ refers to the modern period. - Saugstad, A.
- The idea of social constructivism. "The idea that there is no objective knowledge or absolute representation of reality." - Saugstad, A.
- Linguistic idealism "Reality does not determine language, language determines reality." - Cupitt, D.
- Involves the rejection of the modern mind-set, but launched under the conditions of modernity. - Grenz. S
"The post–modern artist is ‘reflexive’ in that he or she is self–aware and consciously involved in a process of thinking about his or her cultural self in history, in de-masking his or her own pretensions, and promoting processes of self–consciousness." - Witcombe, C (2000)
Summarize Post-Modernity.
Post-modernity is widely considered a rival to the ever manipulative ideologies of modernism. Where modernism relies on a sense of faith for its themes of social and cultural unity, postmodernism ideas are driven by disunity and social and cultural pluralism. As well as that, modernism also focuses more on meaning and the signified, postmodernism pays more attention to a play with surfaces without concern for depth. Modernity ideas also support a dichotomy of high and low culture, however post-modernity's hybrid cultural forms cancel high and low categories. Within post-modernity ideologies, art is respected more by its process and production as opposed to modernism's respect for the unique object and finished work. It is also believed that modernism supported a seriousness of intention and purpose where postmodernism challenged any official seriousness and rather subverts any sense of earnestness.
What features of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo' (1994) are Post-Modern.
Contemporary Chinese artist, architect and political activist Ai Weiwei is openly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights and this is evident in his works. According to Ambrozy (2011) Weiwei is opposed to being labelled as a dissident.
"Weiwei’s experimental conceptualism was precipitated by the infectious creative atmosphere of Beijing’s East Village, which begat some of his most iconic images: the Coca-Cola urn." (Ambrozy, L. 2011)
I believe Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo' has features of postmodern themes because it challenges the grand narratives within the communist built structure of China's society. I would imagine that the inclusion of the Coca-Cola logo on the historical Chinese urn would have mostly been considered offensive in Chinese society as it almost implies the idea of a foreign invasion. Coca-Cola is a widely recognised American brand, and its presence somewhat corrupts the cultural and historic nature of the urn.
"Weiwei’s experimental conceptualism was precipitated by the infectious creative atmosphere of Beijing’s East Village, which begat some of his most iconic images: the Coca-Cola urn." (Ambrozy, L. 2011)
I believe Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo' has features of postmodern themes because it challenges the grand narratives within the communist built structure of China's society. I would imagine that the inclusion of the Coca-Cola logo on the historical Chinese urn would have mostly been considered offensive in Chinese society as it almost implies the idea of a foreign invasion. Coca-Cola is a widely recognised American brand, and its presence somewhat corrupts the cultural and historic nature of the urn.
How can British artist Banksy's street art be defined as Post-Modern?
"We can’t do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves." (Banksy, 2007)
"When you go to an art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires." (Banksy, 2007)
"We don’t need any more heroes; we just need someone to take out the recycling." (Banksy, 2007)
"I am unable to comment on who may or may not be Banksy, but anyone described as being 'good at drawing' doesn't sound like Banksy to me." (www.banksy.co.uk)
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Naked Man image by Banksy, on the wall of a sexual health clinic in Park Street, Bristol. |
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| Work on building in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, August 2008 |
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| Banksy's stencil on the waterline of The Thekla, an entertainment boat in central Bristol. |
I believe we can define Banksy's street art as Post-modern because a majority of his works encourage the audience to pay just as much attention to their appearance than they do to their purpose. He achieves this by creating his works in locations that in a sense blend or interact with the environment they have been placed in. Although his work locations come across rather intentional, I feel Banksy challenges any official seriousness his works may have by sometimes incorporating irony or just generally playing with his location. Further evidence we should regard Banksy's work as post-modern is because of his approach to the process of the works, as he states "efficiency is the key" when explaining his technique which shows he cites art more as a process and production as opposed to modernity ideologies that focus on art as a finished work.
- Ambrozy, L. (2011) Ai Weiwei's Blog: Writings, Interviews, and Digital Rants. Massachusetts, US: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
- Witcombe, C (2000) Modernism & Postmodernism. Retrieved from http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/modpostmod.html
- Grenz, S. (1996) A Primer on Postmodernism. Michigan, US: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
- Saugstad, A. (2001) Postmodernism: What is it, and What is Wrong With It? Retrieved from http://goinside.com/01/1/postmod.html
- Banksy (2007) Wall and Piece. UK: Random House.
- www.banksy.co.uk
- www.designiskinky.com
I like the bullet-points you have used to describe post-modernism. I find them all to be quite thought provoking and different points from the ones I had researched and put in to my blog. Particularly how Grenz had called it an 'complex phenomenon' which I also in some ways disagree with, because as art moves and grows it will always be becoming something new and something that it has not before, so art was always going to be something we could call 'post-modernism'
ReplyDeleteI like the way you answer the last question that you use the cote about what Banksy said about himself. I agree with your defination about why coule we say that Banksy's works are post-modern. Also, I think his works have some "points" that easy to see as Post-Modern. Such as, he mixed the high and low culture, used differnet drawing skills, and also some of his works I think it's irony. That's the reason I think the works from Banksy are Post-Modern.
ReplyDeleteI think your analysis of Banksy’s work is very true; how “it encourage the audience to pay just as much attention to their appearance than they do to their purpose” as well as challenging “any official seriousness.” I think in general, society tends to take things too seriously, they don’t see the irony and the funny side in artists’ works such as the government’s willingness to view any graffiti as vandalism.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you are thinking when you wrote about the Coca-Cola urn. I felt weird when I saw the modern commercial logo on an ancient treasure. It is two opposite elements put together. Also, it is two different cultures like you wrote. The ancient urn being from China and Coca-Cola being from America. Like many products that were introduced into China many years ago, they have spread like an invasion, taking over everything from the people to the ancient treasures. So, yes I agree with you that it does corrupt the culture as well as the people and their prized possessions.
ReplyDeleteHey Ed, I see you understand well about postmodernism and your explanation is easy to understand the how artist’s art-work are relate to postmodernism. I agree you said “the inclusion of the Coca-Cola logo on the historical Chinese urn would have mostly been considered offensive in Chinese society as it almost implies the idea of a foreign invasion.” Its makes sense of this art work.
ReplyDeleteYou explain the Banksy’s art work, I agree your opinion, he is post-modern artist. And he is star! Also his illegal street art are “challenging to official seriousness”, that’s mean he is postmodern artist.
I like your analyse on Ai Wiewei work ‘Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo’, you said that it have been considered offensive in Chinese society because of the idea of a foreign invasion,But I do agreed that it might insulte chineses because of the story of the urn.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement He achieves this by creating his works in locations that in a sense blend or interact with the environment they have been placed in. I love how Bansky incorporates the location with his work. The space becomes the work. The way he even uses imperfections on a wall for part of his work is clever. Banksy uses current affairs and controversial issues, for his works and alters them to cause the audience to step back and think about the world and what is happening in these situations. This shows Banskys post-modern approach and how effective it can be.
ReplyDeleteThe way you described banksy being a post-modern artist i thought was very thorough. Your explanation and examples of how banksy uses his location as part of the work and more then the canvas defined the essence of a post-modern artist.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you highlighted 'efficiency is the key'. This is a challenge I didn't consider banksy having to deal with.