The distinction of modern and postmodern artists sometimes seems to be a bit challenging, do to a lack of chronological boundaries, between modernism and postmodernism which are, additionally, extremely blurred. To determine artists by the dates of their works is not necessarily possible, since the epoch of postmodern art did not entered every country at the same time. Although Charles Jencks sets the ‘death’ of architectural modernism on July 15th, 1972 at 3:32pm, modernism in general is said to end with World War II. In North America, however, it rather ends with the Great Depression. Thus, the broad agreement on the period of Modernism is from 1885-1935. Modernists continued writing even after 1945 but did not earn much attention any longer. The period of postmodernism must have begun some when between then and 1960. Obviously, the passage of modernism and postmodernism is fluent. Postmodernism is said to be nostalgia and retrospective. Collages and imitation are regarded as being postmodern, as well as any rejection of modernism. Modernism in contrast would display the avant-garde forms of expression and the ‘shock of the new’. But those definitions are general and just give a hint to what could be the distinction of modernism and postmodernism. Because of this, in the present essay I will elaborate and compare the ways that 'postmodernist' might be distinguished from 'modernist' and solve the question of the differences between these epochs. To do so, I will focus on terms of literature, visual arts, and architecture, which are regarded as being characteristically for modernism or postmodernism.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Distinction of Modern and Postmodern Artists
- Modernism
- Modernity vs. Modernism
- Characteristics of Modernist Art
- Modernist Literature
- Postmodernism
- Characteristics of Postmodernist Art
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to differentiate between modernism and postmodernism, exploring the complexities of their overlapping periods and examining how they manifest in literature, visual arts, and architecture. The analysis avoids strict chronological definitions, acknowledging the fluidity of the transition.
- The blurred chronological boundaries between modernism and postmodernism.
- The contrasting approaches to tradition and popular culture in modernist and postmodernist art.
- The role of intertextuality and the use of language in both movements.
- The impact of societal changes and historical events (e.g., World War I) on artistic expression.
- The different ways in which modernists and postmodernists represent the "shock of the new" and societal chaos.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Distinction of Modern and Postmodern Artists: This introductory section establishes the essay's central question: how to distinguish modernism from postmodernism. It acknowledges the challenges posed by the blurred chronological boundaries between the two movements and the lack of universal agreement on their temporal limits. The author highlights the difficulty of assigning artists to either category based solely on dates and stresses that the transition between modernism and postmodernism was gradual and fluid. The introduction also previews the essay’s methodology, focusing on literature, visual arts, and architecture as key areas of comparison.
Modernism: This section delves into the definition of modernism, differentiating it from modernity as a historical period. The author clarifies that modernism is an aesthetic response to the modernization of the 20th century, characterized by a critical engagement with the collapse of traditional social structures and the impact of events such as World War I. The discussion emphasizes the diversity within modernism, highlighting the existence of various sub-movements (futurists, expressionists, etc.) and individual styles. Examples of modernist art, such as Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," are analyzed to illustrate key characteristics, including the rejection of traditional representation and the exploration of psychological complexities.
Postmodernism: This section contrasts postmodernism with modernism, emphasizing its embrace of popular culture and rejection of modernist elitism. Andy Warhol's Marilyn prints serve as a prime example of postmodern art, demonstrating the appropriation of pre-existing images and the use of mass-production techniques. The discussion highlights the postmodernist interest in the "unpresentable" and the way in which mechanical reproduction of art changes the audience's interaction with it. The section contrasts the modernist emphasis on high art and the autonomous artwork with the postmodern engagement with mass culture and its inherent contradictions.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Modernism, Postmodernism, Modernity, Art, Literature, Visual Arts, Architecture, Picasso, Warhol, Intertextuality, Tradition, Popular Culture, Avant-Garde, Mass Production, Eliot, The Waste Land, Objective Correlative.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparison of Modernism and Postmodernism
What is the purpose of this essay?
This essay aims to differentiate between modernism and postmodernism, exploring the complexities of their overlapping periods and examining how they manifest in literature, visual arts, and architecture. It avoids strict chronological definitions, acknowledging the fluidity of the transition between the two movements.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the blurred chronological boundaries between modernism and postmodernism; contrasting approaches to tradition and popular culture; the role of intertextuality and language; the impact of societal changes and historical events (like World War I) on artistic expression; and the different ways modernists and postmodernists represent the "shock of the new" and societal chaos.
What topics are covered in the essay's chapters?
The essay begins by establishing the difficulty of distinguishing modernism from postmodernism due to their overlapping periods and the lack of universal agreement on temporal limits. It then delves into the definition of modernism, differentiating it from modernity, and explores its characteristics through examples like Picasso's work. The essay further contrasts postmodernism with modernism, highlighting its embrace of popular culture and use of mass-production techniques exemplified by Andy Warhol's art. The chapter summaries emphasize the gradual and fluid transition between the two movements.
What are some key examples of modernist and postmodernist art discussed?
Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" is analyzed as an example of modernist art, illustrating the rejection of traditional representation and exploration of psychological complexities. Andy Warhol's Marilyn prints serve as a prime example of postmodern art, demonstrating the appropriation of pre-existing images and the use of mass-production techniques.
What is the methodology used in the essay?
The essay uses a comparative approach, focusing on literature, visual arts, and architecture as key areas for comparing and contrasting modernism and postmodernism. It acknowledges the challenges of strict categorization and emphasizes the fluidity of the transition between the two movements.
What are some key keywords associated with the essay?
Key words include: Modernism, Postmodernism, Modernity, Art, Literature, Visual Arts, Architecture, Picasso, Warhol, Intertextuality, Tradition, Popular Culture, Avant-Garde, Mass Production, Eliot, The Waste Land, Objective Correlative.
What is the difference between Modernity and Modernism?
The essay clarifies that Modernity refers to a historical period, while Modernism is an aesthetic response to the modernization of the 20th century. Modernism is characterized by a critical engagement with the collapse of traditional social structures and the impact of events such as World War I.
How does the essay address the chronological overlap between modernism and postmodernism?
The essay explicitly acknowledges the blurred chronological boundaries between modernism and postmodernism, highlighting the challenges in assigning artists to either category based solely on dates. It emphasizes the gradual and fluid nature of the transition between the two movements.
- Quote paper
- Melissa Grönebaum (Author), 2013, Distinction of ‘postmodernist’ from ‘modernist’, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/268382
