Modernism ---> Postmodernism

An important period of revolution and social reformations, better known as Modernism, bloomed from the 19^th century into the 20^th century. The main agenda of Modernism was to overthrow the traditional limitations of the past that were related to political and social affairs. One of the major causes that enabled women to engage and voice themselves for this change was the fact that by the 20^th century, women were granted the right to vote and have more freedom to explore their options, such as in art. This was a time where artists started using new techniques and imagery to create art that they felt better echoed the authenticities of the contemporary culture. The Modernism movement gave growth in fashion designs and other modern thought processes as it was based on a linear concept of history, where art started building upon itself and became progressively better. Through these series of strong cultural movements came along many new art forms that held greater depths and meaning as a whole. This enabled artists to experiment new platforms and perspectives within art and media and this further became the time where the “ism” art forms came to play; "...impressionism, postimpressionism, fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, dada-ism, surrealism, expressionism… Put them all together and you get Modernism" (Guerilla Girls 59).  Modernism included reforming movements in architecture, art, music, and literature.

Surrealism could possibly be considered one of the most important movements of this time simply based on its redeeming attributes. With little to no restricting boundaries or guidelines to follow, art could subconsciously be expressed and shared in almost any way possible. Many female artists during this time decided to make use of female figures to illustrate that the female body was not always dominated by the male gaze and ideals, but rather they could be existing for themselves. Women were suddenly able to be in charge of the image they wanted women to have.

Postmodernism on the other hand, was known as the “breaking down of the unified traditions of Modernism” (Chadwick 380), and questioned the rationality of Modernism by highlighting the manipulations that society was undergoing at the time. It emphasized on pluralism and that there are many perspectives coexisting simultaneously. This called for diversity and contradiction. In terms of the structure of art, all art forms were equally valid in the sense that it could be made by anyone and out of anything. It was during this movement that conceptual art, performance art and installation art were created. It was a movement that took place after the second World War and was characterized by the playfully expressive advancement of technology and its use in music, art, and literature. 

Artists often started using their own bodies as canvases to put their messages across to their audience. This would include examples talked about in class, such as Hannah Wilke who made a half hour video called “Gestures” to portray how facial expressions can be perceived in many different ways, as well as Yoko Ono and her famous performance art work called “Cut Piece” where she gave herself to the audience and allowed them to cut her clothing off.

"Gestures" By Hannah Wilke - Demonstrating how the female body does not have to be within frame to be judged or stereotyped by men, even her expressions can be depicted to a conclusion.

"Cut Piece" by Yoko Ono - Demonstrating how the audience take (or even lack) consideration of the artist's or any female body.

 

Feminist viewpoints played a huge role in Postmodernism, as well as in the demolition of fabrications and platitude towards the stereotypes of that time. Chadwick goes on to talk about how artists like Barbara Kruger further depict this by “...emphasizing the ways in which language manipulates and undermines the assumption of masculine control over language and viewing, by refusing to complete the cycle of meaning, and by shifting pronouns in order to expose the positioning of woman as other" though text images (Chadwick 382). Postmodernism expression was used as a channel to in a way “protest” against the male superiority that was held with art in the past. According to the Guerrilla Girls, “…more kinds of art practice and more kinds of artists are accepted and written into the historical record during this postmodernism era,” which further gave a more crystal-clear representation of the past, present, and future (Guerrilla Girls 90).

Barbara Kruger's Text Image Examples

In conclusion, Modernism and Postmodernism both had a common push for feminism. They both were time periods with heavy women involvement and as major contributors, women could furthermore be held accountable feminism and art today.

Works Cited

The Guerilla Girls, The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Langara College, 2016

In Class Presentations/Lectures, November 13th, 2018.