Postmodernism Lesson 2

Modernism & Technology

Key Terms• Modernism• Modernity• Baroque• Romantic• Realism• Agrarianism• Capitalism• Industrialism (mass production)• Rationalization• Secularism • Urbanization• Fordism• Taylorism• Consumers• Feminization• Globalisation

Modernism

• Have you heard of the concept of Modernism before?

• If so Where and Why?• If something is Modern how can it be out of

date or old?

Key Question • The Modern age was exemplified by a number of key scientific

examples - can you think what these could be?

Pre-Modern• Sense of self and purpose was often expressed via a faith, be

that in a single god or in many gods (religion)

• Pre-modern cultures have not been thought of creating a sense of distinct individuality

• Religious officials, who often held positions of power, were the spiritual ‘messengers’ to the common person. It was only through these ‘messengers’ that the general masses had access to the divine

• Tradition were sacred; social order/ceremony/morals are strictly enforced

Modernism• Late 19th century / early 20th century• move from agrarianism toward capitalism,

industrialization, secularization, rationalization• Wide-scale and far reaching changes• post-traditional• post-medieval historical period

• development of modern industrial societies• rapid growth of cities• followed by the horror of World War I

• In art, Modernism rejects the ideology of realism

• Modernism also rejects the lingering certainty of Enlightenment thinking, as well as the idea of a compassionate, all-powerful Creator

Changes during modernism

• Adoption of new technologies into daily life of ordinary people. – What kind of technologies do you think?

• Associated with urbanization and changing social traditions also came smaller families and changed relationships between parents and their children.

Technologies

• Automobile• Modern Medicine• Telephone• Phonograph• Television • Electricity • Radio

The need to work with these technologies, repair them andlive with them—created social change.

Common theme in technologies?

• Altered our perception of time and space through communication and speed

• **** ALTAR TIME AND SPACE (by communication and speed)

Extra modern examplesModern Examples Youtube address

Modern design (chairs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErBGq6ZA-2U

Bauhaus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8zuGsX_z_Y&feature=PlayList&p=F0EA633E28C6FC94&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=54

Cubism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkODKN_m_H4&feature=PlayList&p=270D2871A940F123&index=3&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

Differences between Modernism and postmodernism

• By the early 1980s the postmodern movement in art and architecture began to establish its position through various conceptual and multi-media formats.

• However dates are highly debatable, "one critic's postmodernism is another critic's modernism“

• Some see them as two aspects of the same movement, and believe that late Modernism continues

• Postmodernism is essentially a reinterpretation the modern.

• Rejection of tradition

• Many modernists believed that by rejecting tradition they could discover radically new ways of making art.

Key Points - Modernism

• Inspired by technology and science• Applied mathematical and scientific logic to all human

process'• Sought to make thing efficient and productive • Profit driven capitalism was the base "superstructure"

behind production • Mass production and factory labour• Science and technology seen as essential components in

human evolution • Design based around need and function• Efficiency and cost productiveness

Frederick W.Taylor (1856-1915) The Principles of Scientific Management

Managers assume full coordinating roles

Analysis of production processes lead to simplification

Time and Motion studies implemented for streamlined cost cutting

To what extent are Taylor's Ideas still prevalent in today's Postmodern world?

• Sky+• wireless internet• Iphone/ipad – smart phones/technological

convergence• Tills in the workplace

Henry Ford (1863-1947)Inventor and manufacturer of the Ford motor car

Assembly line manufacturing process

The Standardization of the product

The use of Special-purpose tools and/or equipment via the assembly line

The Elimination of skilled labour in direct production

Key Concepts: Fordism and Taylorism

• Perception of time radically changed in Modernity (bigger, better, FASTER, cheaper)

• New Technologies of Management such as Taylorism & Fordism altered the way people behaved as "Labouring Units"

Film as a Modernist Art Form

• To what extent is Film a modernist art form?

Snow White (1937)

• The 1930s were a period of immense upheaval economically

• 1929 Wall Street Crash• Mass unemployment and homelessness

Post-Fordism (in Postmodernity)

• New information technologies. • Emphasis on types of consumers

in contrast to previous emphasis on social class.

• The rise of the service and the white-collar worker.

• The feminization of the work force (shift in gender roles in work place)

• The globalization of financial markets

Key Modernity Points

• Structure and Order• Efficiency and productivity• Science and technology

Pomo: "Style over substance"

Modern Postmodern

Modernism - Plenary

• What events do you think caused the shift into Postmodernism between the 30s-50s?

• Why would our trust in science and technology be questioned?

What caused the collapse of Modernism?

• Stock Market Crash 1929

• World War 2 and the Holocaust

• Cold War and M.A.D

• Collapse in socialist housing programmes

• Warhol's "Marylyn" goes on a European tour

Modernist Texts(challenge established styles and forms)

Texts on modern/postmodern border-dada-surreal-abstract expressionism

19th century Early 20th century(before WW1)

WW1-WW2 Post WW2

Van Gogh (post impressionism)

Mondrian (abstract)Picasso (cubism)

Duchamp (dadism – anti-art)Dali & Magritte (surrealism)Bauhaus

Pollock (abstract expressionism)

Modernism vs Postmodernism

• On the attached sheet complete the column "postmodern" with the opposite of what is down in the "Modern" Column.

Task/homework• A) Complete modern/pomo chart (fill in pomo side)

• B) choose a modernist artist - choose 1 piece of their art and know the context of this work (and the time period they lived in/what the world was like then) (you will have to research it obviously!)

(COMPLETE AS MIND MAP)

• C) choose a pomo piece of work from last 3 years - know how it is postmodern and again, know the context, (why produced in relation to the current world/what the world is like now)

(COMPLETE AS MIND MAP)

• B&C – complete as mind maps, can have work/artist in middle, contexts are the branches

• Get B & C approved by teacher before completing.

You will eventually…..

• D) Write a short essay to COMPARE similarities and differences – -make sure you explain the work first (5 w's) – Explain different purpose/audiences etc.– Explain differences/similarities in platforms– Explain the social/historical/economical/political

contexts (SHEP)– -compare similarities and differences between them – -remember comparative connectives! (similarly,

however, on the other hand etc)