Liz Goldner, Editor

POSTMODERNISM

Postmodernism and postmodern art - philosophical terms referring to art, literature, politics, social philosophy and other aspects of contemporary society - fascinate me. If these terms are new or incomprehensible (or even if you understand them), please keep reading.

While the words, postmodern and postmodernism, have been used in only the last 50 years or so, I believe that long before then, many creative people lived and worked according to their principles.

The American Heritage Dictionary says that postmodernism is, "Of or relating to art, architecture, or literature that reacts against earlier modernist principles, as by reintroducing traditional or classical elements of style or by carrying modernist styles or practices to extremes:"

BLURRED DEFINING LINE

As explained in my Definition page, "The defining line between painting and sculpture is blurred, technology has helped expand its tools and mediums, while the works explore conceptual, political and other cerebral ideas...Postmodern and contemporary artists often adopt, borrow, steal, recycle and/or sample from earlier modern and classical works. They combine or alter these images to create new, contemporary pieces. And many fill their works with a strong sense of self-awareness."

Postmodern artists work with and combine various artistic, scientific, technological, media and digital/Internet tools. Contemporary Art Dialogue’s home page explains, "We'll discuss how boundaries between painting and sculpture have become diffused, as artworks increasingly address conceptual, political and social issues."

That's why many of us are postmodernists, even though we might not realize it.

TWO HISTORICAL ARTISTS

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a writer, architect, painter, sculptor, botanist, engineer, mathematician, musician, city planner, set designer and philosopher. He experimented with the helicopter and the idea of flying. He also performed autopsies and studied optics from the scientific and artistic points of view.

Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) was a French artist and scientist known for the invention of the daguerreotype process of photography. He was also an architect, theater designer, panoramic painter and inventor of the Diorama.

TWO CONTEMPORARY POSTMODERNISTS

Steve Furman creator of the blog Expedient Means explains, "My serious interests in art, society, media and technology led me naturally to the web… I write observations about this rapid convergence and invite comments…this weblog…is a useful framework for explaining complex designs and interactions, as well as helping one understand human behavior."

Mark Chamberlain who lives in Laguna Beach doesn’t care about postmodernism, but is postmodernist in my opinion. He is an artist, photographic artist, curator, designer, builder, plumber, electrician, mechanical engineer, teacher, mentor, creator/director of large multi-media, multi-disciplinary events, and inventor of unusual devices.

MINNEAPOLIS POET

I recently read a fascinating article in The Examiner by Jim Benz, a poet from Minneapolis and assistant editor of Pralaton Literary Journal. Besides being a writer, he has an extensive background in menial labor, which has inspired him to finish a degree in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature.

He explains, "Ideally, postmodern art explores subjective, daily life by whatever criteria, material, or method the artist deems effective. Frequently, the material might not exist entirely within the art work itself, but instead be composed of the social forces from which the work takes its context, including the role of the viewer, the museum or gallery, the means of production, or the specific site of display."

Benz continues, "Briefly stated, a postmodern work of art can oftentimes confound a viewer who might have neither the education nor the inclination to contemplate the full impact of its conceptual (and sometimes political) composition."

ACCIDENTAL POSTMODERNIST

Steve Furman explains in his blog, "I have become a postmodernist without even knowing it… Postmodernists look at modernism and say, 'There is something missing. This could be done more effectively.' A postmodernist recycles, borrows, decompiles and rebuilds classic modern executions into a postmodern construct that can be more easily understood and consumed. We are obsessed with organizing knowledge and putting it to use in the most functional way possible. Postmodernists posit that knowledge should be used for doing, not just knowing.

"The birth of postmodernism loosely coincides with the rise of electronic technology and computers. Indeed, postmodernists create, arrange, distribute and store knowledge much differently than their modern counterparts. If it can be digitized, then it will survive. If it can’t, then it is at risk for being lost forever. There is also a desire to connect with people and make introductions that might lead to something good for all parties involved. It’s called Social Media for a reason."

BREAKING NEW GROUND

I spend hours each week reading about contemporary art (the style) and postmodernism (the philosophy explaining the style). I read about postmodern art breaking new ground while mirroring and organizing our confusing and ever evolving world. Looking at contemporary and postmodern art often requires viewers to see beyond the confines of their normal perspectives, to find new paradigms. But in doing so, you expand your understanding of the larger world.

Jim Benz adds in his Examiner piece, "Modernism celebrates the ability of the artist to create profound, timeless meanings via the art work. Postmodernism works with meanings which arise not only from the artist but also from the milieu of cultural influences embodied within the viewer, through whom meaning is in a continual process of re-creation."

Pablo Picasso (probably an early postmodernist) said, "What do you think an artist is? ...he is a political being, constantly aware of the heart breaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. Painting is not done to decorate apartments..."

This newsletter appear in a slightly different form on the Contemporary Art Dialogue website. If you would like to comment on this newsletter’s content, please go to Postmodernism and scroll down to where it says click here to add your own comments.

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