Lecture Notes 2 - Post-Modernism.

Post-Modernism was a negative reaction to Modernism.

Modernism valued:
- Experimentation.
- Innovation.
- Progress.
- Purity.
- Originality.
- Seriousness.

Post-Modernism was basically the opposite in view:
- Exhaustion.
- Pluralism.
- Pessimism.
- Disillusionment with the idea of absolute knowledge.

They do however both share the fact that they are tied to the modern and technology. One being an expression of and see it in a much more positive outlook whilst the other is more of a negative reaction to this.

1917 - Writer Rudolph Pannwitz spoke of nihilistic post modern man.

1960's - Beginnings.
1970's - Established as a term.
1980's - Recognizable style.
1980's & 1990's - Dominant theoretical discourse.
Today - Tired and simmering. Fallen out of fashion.

Terms: After Modernism, historical era following Modernism, contra Modernism and equivalent to 'late capitalism'.

15th of July 1972 3:32pm. Modernist flatblock project demolished in St. Louis 4 years after it's build.
Charles Jencks claims this is the moment Modernism died.

The utopian ideals of modernism didn't seem to be working in reality as it stiffled individuality. Flat blocks around the world were being demolished as too were the dreams of Modernism.

The only rule of Post-Modern was that there are no rules. A direct reaction to Modernism's strict values and guidelines to design.  It starts as a critique of the 'international style'.

Park Hill Flats - Sheffield.

A good example of this is the Park Hill Flats in Sheffield. Seen as a progressive modernist structure but in reality they spawned crime, vice and depression among the residents who eventually had to speak out to the council and ask to be re-housed somewhere else. Unlike most of these structures however this had been granted listed status by the government and therefore the council were unable to pull it down. It was granted a very post-modern renovation.

Far less serious. It allows colour and playfulness into an otherwise overbearing eye sore. Interestingly enough however it is now being sold off to a different young professionals. 

They felt Modernism favored ideas over peoples needs and individuality. Meaning Post-Modern buildings aimed to be far more frivolous.

Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao.

 Writer and philosopher J-F Lyotard wrote some musings on the topic in his book 'The Post-Modern Condition (1979)'.
- Incredulity towards the meta narrative.
- Meta narrative being a total belief such as religion or communism which gave a structure to life.
- Result of which left people with a crisis in confidence and a lack of hope which total belief gives. Leading to anxiety.

It was a clash of styles. Complexity and chaos.

Roy Lichtenstein - This Must Be The Place.

Images like this began to spur a high art and low art divide deterioration. Posing questions like why can't comic books be hung in a gallery and be seen as art?