Modern vs Postmodern

Trends & styles - chapter 9

67 is fine art

What is Modernism?

What could
Postmodernism mean then?
 

'post' = 'after' (Latin)
 

Modernism or Postmodernism? Take a guess!
 

+

=

Modernism (1900-1960)*

• Simplicity & minimalism

• Essentialism: less is more

• Form follows function

• Original, creative, new

• Coherence & stability; a clear & focused idea

*Categorisation in time is always artificial!

Postmodernism (1960-now)*

• Mixing styles 

• Eclectism: more is more

• Form follows emotion

• References to old and new ('meta' = about)

• Irony, humour, playfulness, absurdity

*Categorisation in time is always artificial!

Another example of Modernism:
BAUHAUS (1919-1933)

• German school of art, design & architecture

• Liberal & creative students, including many women

• Focus on minimal, functional, modern design

   Layout: simple & minimalistic

• STRUCTURE
  four blocks, one coherent square 

• CONTRAST
  red versus blue, dark background
  

• REPETITION
  font & colours

• ALIGNMENT
  justified: vertical lines
  

Another example of Modernism:
CONSTRUCTIVISM (1913-1920s)

• Russian design movement after revolution

• Experimental artists for constructive progress

• Modernist design for propaganda

   Layout: simple & minimalistic

• STRUCTURE
  circle + triangle + blocks
  

• CONTRAST
  red, blue, green, black, white
  

• REPETITION
  fonts, colours, geometric shapes
  

• ALIGNMENT
  diagonal alignment → megaphone

“Lengiz. Books on all branches of knowledge.”

An example of almost Postmodernism:
POP ART (1950s-1960s)

• British & American art movement
  inspired by mass media and consumer culture

• Artists used popular imagery from ads, comics, celebrities (readymades)

• Colourful, playful and accessible designs 

An example of

Postmodern architecture

Modernism

Postmodernism

Example of Postmodern design

• Ray Gun: American music magazine (90s)

• Designer: David Carson

• Postmodern design: mixing of styles, 'chaotic'

   Layout: 'chaotic' style

• STRUCTURE
  portrait +overlapping text layers
  

• CONTRAST
  black/white photo vs.colour;
  clean face vs. chaotic font
  

• REPETITION
  colour & distressed typography
  

• ALIGNMENT
  broken alignment → text ignores grid, follows visual rhythm

To conclude:
some more examples of Postmodern culture 

> Chaotic & destructive 
​> No clean, structured design: brownish-yellow filter, gritty
> Creative and original, 
yet massively popular ​ ​

Title Text

The 1980s
The blooming period of Postmodernism
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Excerpt from the book I Want My MTV,
The Uncensored Story Of The Music Revolution (Rob Tannenbaum & Craig Marks, 2011)