Lecture 2: Postmodernism

Notes made in Lecture:

Definition; Generally referred to as a significant shift in attitude away from the certainties of a modernism based on progress. Importance of surface rather than depth. Collapses the distinction between high culture and mass or popular culture.
• Modernism roughly – 1860-1960
• Logically Postmodernism is 1960s-today.
• Postmodernism – reaction to rules of modernism, only rule is that there are no rules, celebrating what might otherwise be termed as kitsch.
• Robert Venturi, “learning from Las Vegas” 1972.
• Ideas developed by Charles Jencks, 1977
• Kitsch – celebrating bad taste.
• Richard Long, “A line made by Walking”

Modernism:
• Simplified aesthetic.
• Utopian ideals.
• Truth to Materials.
• Form Follows Function.

Postmodernism:
• Complexity
• Chaos
• Bricolage
• Parody, pastiche and irony.

P-M = questioning conventions set up by Modernism.
• Multiplicity of styles and approaches.
• Theme of ‘double coding’, borrowing, or ‘quoting’ from a number of historical styles.
• Knowing juxtapositions, or ‘post-mod. Irony’
• Questioning old limitations.
• Space for marginalised discourse – Woman, Sexual diversity & multiculturalism.

• Le Corbusier, “Chapel of  Notre Dame du Haut” Ronchamp, 1953-5, architecture.

• Le Corbusier, “Maisons Jaoul” Neuilly sur Seine, 1954-6, architecture.

• Robert Venturi; “I like elements which are hybrid rather than ‘pure’, comprising rather than ‘clean’...”
• Las Vegas – a postmodernist city.

• Victor Papnek, “The Green Imperative: Ecology and Ethics in design and architecture”
• Miles van der Roke and Philip Johnson, “Seagram Building” New York.
• Philip Johnson, “Sony Plaza” (former AT+T Building) New York, 1978-84.
• Ron Herron/Archigram, “Walking in the city in New York,1964”

• Renzo Piano + Richard Rogers, “Pompidon Centre,” Paris, 1972-77
• James Stirling, “Nene Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart”, Germany, 1977-1983.
• Away from truth to materials.
• Michael Graves, “Kettle” for Alessi, 1985 – design.

• Postmodern design is more about who you are than functionality.
• Phillipe Starck, “Juicy Salif” 1990.

• Ettore Sotsass.
• Vivian Westwood – SEX Boutique, Kings Road London, 1975 – Fashion Punk.

• Hussein Chalayan, “After Words” 2000-2001, his response to civil war.

• Hussein Chalayan, spring/summer collection 07
• Hussein Chalayan, ‘veiled and unveiled/chador, 1998.
• Mark Rothko, “Murals for Four Seasons Restaurant” Seagram Building, 1957, now TATE modern.
• Andy Warhol, Campbell’s soup cans, 1962.

• Pop art celebrates the everyday, looking at consumerism and its rise.
• Lichtenstein, Drowning girl, 1963.

• Jeff Koons, Dirty – Jeff on top, 1992

• Jeff Koons, “Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988”.
• Michael Jackson – a product of postmodernism?
• Marchel Duchamp-1887 – 1968, L.H.0.0.Q.
• Michael Craig Martic – An Oak Tree, 1973.
• David Shrigley.
• Damien Hirst, “Mother and child divided” 1993
• Tracey Emin, “Everyone I have ever slept with” 1963-95, 1995.
• “ , “My Bed” 1998.

• Sarah Lucas, “Au Naturel” 1994.
• Jake and Dinos Chapman, Fine Art.
• “, “Works from the Chapman family collection” 2002.
• Chris Ofili, “ No Woman, No Cry.” 1998

• “, “Holy Virgin Mary”. 1996
• Was in Sensation exhibition – look at book.
• “, “Shit head”.
• “, “Captain Shit and the legend of Black Stars”.

• Martin Creed, “Work No. 227, The lights going on and off” 2000
• Mark Wallinger, “Sleeper”.
• Helmut Krone, for Doyle Dane Berbach, “Think small”, Advert for Volkswagen, 1959.
• Tony Kaye, Oglivy+Mather, “Tested for the Unexpected” 1993.
• Langlands and bell, “The House of Osama Bin Laden,” 2003.
• David Carson, “Ray Gun” –unconventional magazine.
• “Postmodernist aesthetic.”
• “Don’t mistake legibility for communication” – David Carson.

• Barbara Kruger, “I shop therefore I am” 1987 – feminist artist.
• Selfridges-look up link between the artist (Kruger) and store.
• Banksy, parody’s Warhol’s soup can.
• Same parody with Turquoise Marilyn.

• Rachel Whiteread, “House” 1993.
• The K Foundation, “ Nailed to the Wall” 1994.