Post-Modernism We live in a post-modern world

What is post-modernism?  An attitude which questions human systems as sources of truth or strength  Government  The media  Religion & philosophy  Language  Family  Sexuality & gender  Art & literature  Truth is seen as slippery or impossible  Arose in the 1940s after World War II and currently dominates popular culture in much of the Western world  In a post-modern world, everything is “constructed” by choices and signals some meaning larger than itself

Hallmarks of Post-modern art: Symbol and Metaphor  “Symbol”  an action, object, or character that stands for something beyond itself  “Metaphor”  comparing two objects by making one into the other  Often, the purpose of art in a post- modern world is to send a message or “make meaning”  Everything – it is thought – send a message, reveals an idea, or stands for something  Every part of a work can be “deconstructed” or analyzed to identify the meaning/message of a work  Thus, almost every part of a work of post-modern art can be a symbol or metaphor for something else David Hockney, Beverly Hills Housewife

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art The use of extensive symbols and metaphors to make meaning and share the artist’s point

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Mixing of different styles into one work of art Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Mixing of different styles into one work of art “Fun Times with Weapons” South Park

Hallmarks of post- modern style in art Mixing of different styles into one work of art

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Blending of “high” and “low” culture in a work of art Soup Cans, Andy Warhol

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Blending of “high” and “low” culture in a work of art Michael Jackson and Bubbles, Jeff Koons

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Referential approach to a creative work “Something Something Something Dark Side” Family Guy

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Referential approach with a creative work Nighthawks, Edward Hopper From last night too…

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Referential approach with a creative work Delfonics – 1968Fugees

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Playing with form and structure to make meaning [Buffalo Bill 's] By E. E. CummingsE. E. Cummings Buffalo Bill 's defunct who used to ride a watersmooth-silver stallion and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat Jesus he was a handsome man and what i want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Playing with form and structure to make meaning David Hockney iPad Art Show

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Playing with form and structure to make meaning

Hallmarks of post-modern style in art Playing with form and structure to make meaning Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson

What is post-modernism?  Arose in the 1940s following World War II and has dominated into today  Hallmarks of post-modernism in arts and literature:  Mixing different styles into one work  Blending of “high” and “low” culture  Referential approach to art  Playing with form and structure of art to make meaning  Self-conscious and intentional use of metaphor and symbol to make meaning and share the author’s point-of-view  Symbol and metaphor are incredibly important in post-modernism