Before talking about Modernism, one must first define modernism in order to properly define what it is to come after the modern. Born out of the aspirational and optimistic reaction to WWI, with a view to harnessing technology to improve people's lives, however in reality the ideology ends up doctrinaire, with almost blind obedience to rules above all. While Modernism is associated with innovation, individualism and progress, Postmodernism is about challenging these principles of modernism and the perceived austerity and pressure to conformity that comes with it's adoption. Postmodernism is characterised by exhaustion, pluralism, pessimism and disillusionment with the idea of absolute knowledge.
The term was first coined by German writer Rudolph Pannwitz, however wasn't widely popularised until the countercultural movements of the 1960s, born out of the perceived failure of Modernism. Postmodernity is very much a response to modernity, but does not necessarily have to come directly after it. Postmodernity rose to prominence with the countercultural movements of the 1960s, born out of a disillusionment with modern life in the west, and in America in particular, the Vietnam war. Postmodernity started off as a critique of the modernist International style but soon grew into it's own ideology. The only rule is there is no rules, so to speak. The Postmodern celebrates what may otherwise be deemed kitsch, perceived 'low culture' by the modernist elite.
Andy Warhol is probably one of the most widely recognised postmodern artists for his work with The Factory. His 1962 piece 'Marilyn Monroe Diptych' Warhol sought to expose the meaninglessness of art with an anti-auratic piece, a poorly printed pattern of Marilyn Monroe. It was anti-iconic, exposing the flaws of Technology and thus by extension the modern world, embodying a Postmodernist message.
For my essay I have chosen to answer the question 'To what extent can contemporary animation be described as Postmodern'. I really feel that this lecture, while a good introduction to the concept was overly broad in it's relation to animation, as is the nature of the term, whose meaning is still disputed to this day. I did pick up on a number of names of theorists on the subject, whom I will research further for my essay, such as JF Lyotard, who talks about 'The Postmodern Condition' and our rejection of 'totalising belief systems'.
Andy Warhol is probably one of the most widely recognised postmodern artists for his work with The Factory. His 1962 piece 'Marilyn Monroe Diptych' Warhol sought to expose the meaninglessness of art with an anti-auratic piece, a poorly printed pattern of Marilyn Monroe. It was anti-iconic, exposing the flaws of Technology and thus by extension the modern world, embodying a Postmodernist message.
For my essay I have chosen to answer the question 'To what extent can contemporary animation be described as Postmodern'. I really feel that this lecture, while a good introduction to the concept was overly broad in it's relation to animation, as is the nature of the term, whose meaning is still disputed to this day. I did pick up on a number of names of theorists on the subject, whom I will research further for my essay, such as JF Lyotard, who talks about 'The Postmodern Condition' and our rejection of 'totalising belief systems'.
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