OUGD401 - Post Modernism Lecture

Post Modernism asks questions of modernisms robotic structured rules; it develops from the idea that modernism creates an un creative aesthetic. Modernism is almost the opposite of modernism. It drives art and culture backwards; it progresses backwards through all of the eras of design. The post modern condition allows multiple ideals to co exist at the same time instead of the modernist approach which expects all of the world to hold their new futuristic way.

The origins of Postmodernism stem from multiple statements in all forms of art exploring this ‘post’ modern idea. The idea started in the 1960s and reached its peak in around t he 1980s-1990s, today post modernism has slowly faded away from the start of the century. The modernist approach is often associated with capitalism and today we are describes as being in late modernism or late capitalism.

After the war, modernist developments started to appear which were large concrete housing blocks. This was a project which wanted to create a utopian civilization where everyone was equal. This can be seen in council blocks in cities all over the world, which have now become the slums of the under privileged and lower class. Charles Jencks described this as is the death of technological determinism which relies on technology and modernism to drive our civilization forward.

1960s

2000s

2010s

Park Hill Flats which were built in the 60s as a piece of modernist architecture which evolved into a slum with residents requesting to move out. Because of the importance of the architecture, the building was a listed building and could not be knocked down. Urban Splash were then hired to re invent the block.

AT & T Building Post Modern Is built with modernism in mind but however, the grid systems and diversity of the shape and style of the building give it a post modern aesthetic.

Some recent post modern buildings have merged different eras together and have created almost a remix of different styles. Places such as Las Vegas is defined as the Post Modern city, this merges styles spanning from thousands of years. It is allowed to flourish from chaos and build upon wild hybrid ideals.

Andy Warhol rejects the idea of whatever art is, he describes it as meaningless and strived to become an anti artist. His pop art approach was a beacon of what post modernism stems from. It laughs at the pretentiousness and seriousness of modernist painting. The Oxidation Painting is famous for pissing on the canvas literally taking the piss out of Jackson Pollock. Piero Manzoni did a similar piece called Artists Shit to mock the pretentiousness of art lovers which sold for tens of thousands of pounds.

OUGD401 - Lecture - Modernity & Modernism

Starting at the start of the century in 1900, the modern world starts to become established in an industrial urbanisation. Work shifts from land to the city and the factory, street lighting, the telephone and the cinema are invented. Important philosophical and scientific work was developed which influenced how people started to think about their own existence. Paris was at the height of this modernist movement with advancements of architecture and technology, in turn the Eiffel tower was built as a symbol to this modernist culture. Because of all these simultaneous changes, artists started to become interested in the events around them. They started to paint this modern environment instead of kings and queens. Fashion becomes very important as in this vast array of population, individuals become lost in the crowd and therefore want some acknowledgement from their peers. For the first time, common people start to dress like royalty to feel important when being enveloped in the city environment. This drives more interest towards artists which bring more new unusual artwork and techniques.

When photography gets invented in the early 19^th century, painting almost becomes redundant as the reality can be documented perfectly. This drives new strange depictions compositions and techniques in painting as these classical realistic techniques become irrelevant. Picasso starts to create surreal cubistic portraiture which develops into cubism. This movement drives throughout all forms of art, even poems and literature become expressive and enthusiastic towards the modern way of life.

Graphic design in the 1960’s become responsive to the modern world and become ordered and structured. The order and grid systems relate directly to the gridded architecture at the time. The design looks clean, minimal and composed which applies information and success over decoration. They remove excessive decoration to make the function of the product the pinnacle of their design. The idea of removing all decoration and style in theory makes the design immortal, it should never go out of fashion as it does not follow any fashion. This Bauhaus cutlery,  Topos by Robbe and Berking

is a perfect example of this delivery as it is minimal and true to its materials.

Architecture is built which delivers the materials as they are and try to hide them, raw concreate or glass is left how they are which conforms to the form follows function rule. This can be seen on the Mies Van der Rohe Seagrams Building below

This vast spread of Modernist life between 1750 - 1960 covers almost 200 years however, not everything created in this time period is considered as modernist. For example, even though Times New Roman was created in the modernist timeline, it is not a modernist font as it is based on historic columns in Rome.