What is Postmodernism?

Summary

The transcript explores postmodernism through architecture, design, music, and culture. It highlights the movement's pluralism, departure from clean modernist styles, and its embrace of chaos and diversity. Key points include postmodernism's role in architecture, the cultural shifts in the 1970s, and its influence on areas like Times Square's redevelopment. The discussion also touches on the evolution of visual arts, from record covers to fashion, and how postmodernism embraces multiplicity, rejecting singular aesthetics for a more democratized, eclectic approach in a globalized society.

Takeaways

• 😕 The speaker expresses confusion about postmodernism, acknowledging that it has been explained multiple times but remains unclear.
• 🏛️ Postmodernism is seen as an architectural movement, characterized by outrageous and unconventional styles.
• 🧠 The term 'retrievalism' is introduced as a preferred term over postmodernism, implying looking back to earlier ideas and movements.
• 🎨 Postmodernism in design rejects the 'clean' International style, focusing on expression and spirit rather than order.
• 🏙️ The revitalization of Times Square is presented as an example of postmodernism, emphasizing pluralism and capitalist impulses.
• 🌀 Postmodernism involves embracing messiness and rejecting the idea of a singular aesthetic, accepting a more pluralistic view of society and culture.
• 📀 The speaker discusses the role of record covers in the 70s and 80s as a medium of visual information, reflecting the influence of postmodernism in art and media.
• 🎵 The shift from Joy Division to New Order is explored, with the speaker connecting this transition to futurism and postmodern ideas.
• 🎓 Postmodernism is linked to broader philosophical movements, such as feminism and black power, which sought to break free from traditional constraints.
• 🌍 London's diversity and its layers of history are described as embodying postmodernism, with various cultural elements coexisting and blending together.

Q & A

What is the speaker's initial understanding of postmodernism?

The speaker admits to being bewildered by postmodernism, despite having it explained many times. For them, it is primarily associated with architecture and outrageous design, but they still feel unclear about its broader meaning.

How does the speaker relate postmodernism to architecture?

The speaker mentions that postmodernism, in their understanding, started as an architectural movement with a style that was 'outrageous.' It represented a departure from the modernist emphasis on cleanliness and order.

What does the speaker mean by 'retrievalism'?

The speaker describes 'retrievalism' as a personal approach to design and working. They indicate that postmodernism, for them, often represents the idea of reusing or bringing back styles, akin to retrievalism.

How does the speaker describe the creative environment of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in design?

The speaker reflects on how the 70s and 80s were a time when design, especially in music and record covers, became an important medium of visual information. There was an experimentation with tools like photocopiers to manipulate images, moving away from modernist ideals of order and embracing more expressive designs.

What role did postmodernism play in the revitalization of Times Square?

The speaker explains that the revitalization of Times Square was influenced by postmodern architecture, which embraced pluralism and the idea of messiness. They worked with designer Tibor Kalman to develop Times Square in a way that was not about strict order but rather about reflecting the complexity and pluralism of the modern world.

How does the speaker connect postmodernism with pluralism?

The speaker asserts that pluralism is central to postmodernism, especially in philosophy and literature. Postmodernism embraces messiness and rejects the idea of a singular aesthetic, aiming instead to make things more complex and varied.

What does the speaker highlight about the transition from Joy Division to New Order?

The speaker discusses how, after Ian Curtis's death, New Order had to find their identity without him. The band moved toward a more futuristic sound, marked by a pulse beat, which became part of their distinct musical style.

How does the speaker relate postmodernism to consumerism and capitalism in Times Square?

The speaker notes that postmodernism in Times Square embraced the capitalist impulse. By setting minimum requirements for the size and brightness of signs, they encouraged competition among entrepreneurs to make their signs even bigger and brighter, aligning with capitalist values.

How does the speaker describe the legacy of postmodernism in relation to historical movements?

The speaker connects postmodernism to the social movements of the 1960s, such as feminism and Black Power. These movements helped release design from the strict functionalist codes of modernism, promoting a more open and experimental approach to aesthetics.

What does the speaker imply about the impact of postmodernism on art and society?

The speaker suggests that postmodernism represents a shift away from absolutes in art. In all creative fields—whether architecture, painting, music, or literature—postmodernism challenges the idea of a singular truth or style, embracing a more fluid and pluralistic approach.