Modernism vs. Postmodernism

Modernism:
Occurred during the late 19th and early 20th century, when people believed that traditional culture along with culture theories were becoming outdated. Modernists focused on innovative forms of expression and rejected realism and sought to be more progressive in creating and shaping the world (specifically art/architecture/things that make up culture). Modernism can also be called a way of thinking that supports the ability of humans to be able to change their environment in ways that make it more practical for their use. It also rejects boundaries between high and "low" forms of art. Before modernism what was considered to be art and in museums were things that were associated with the upper class. This began to change in modernism when different things could be looked at as art.

The chair to the left is an example of an arm chair that was created in America during the Art Deco stage of modernism.









This is an example of a modernist building.














Postmodernism:
It is a reaction that occurred as a result of modernism. It is a very ambiguous term that is hard to define. Postmodernism deals with the idea that if something is meaningless that it is not important to focus on finding meaning in it, but rather just having fun with creating it. It is also concerned with the organization of knowledge.

Installation art is an good example of post modern art.
To the left is a piece by Jenny Holzer’s who calls her work "truisms."











Andy Warhol is considered a postmodern art. This is also called Pop Art.