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.