Postmodernism

[Editors’ Note: Because Postmodernism is defined and understood differently by different people this entry should try to explore all possible definitions and create a well-rounded group of thoughts on Postmodernism, rather than a single, debatable definition]

Postmodernism, or more accurately The Postmodern, was (is) a period of art / culture / theory starting at some point after the 1950s and extending until today, or ending in 1989 or at some point in-between. If that seems unreasonably vague that is because The Postmodern was not a traditional movement. The defining characteristic of any “ism” is a set of core beliefs and axioms from which a greater movement is built and expressed. While The Postmodern had a set of shared themes and philosophies there was no unifying ground work to build on. Because of this it is difficult for Postmodernism to make a positive statement. It is skilled at critique and tearing down but not at building up meaning. Because of this, the major defining factors of The Postmodern is style and technique not meaning.

It’s important to note that the existence of a new movement in the visual arts is typically confirmed when works of architecture are labeled as belonging to that movement. Architect Robert Venturi’s buildings and interiors were the first to be called “postmodern.” His 1972 manifesto of postmodern architecture, Learning from Las Vegas, proclaimed, “Less is a bore,” to the modernist dictum, “Less is more.”

A simple way to think of The Postmodern is as a movement against modernism (and, therefore the enlightenment.) Where Modernism believed in the universal spirit of man, The Postmodern sees that as diversity destroying, non-pluralistic, overly-rational, and dangerous. While Modernism believed in purity and truth and rational thinking, The Postmodern saw all things as being skewed by the economic-cultural-historical-gendered perspective of all readers and writers. Modernism:Symbols as metaphors for deeper truths::Postmodernism:Symbols as stylistic devices that have no deeper truth (because there is no deeper truth.)

The Postmodern critique of Modernism came from several quarters: Marxism, Feminism, Structuralism / Post-structuralism, and Semiotics among others.

The visual style of The Postmodern is characterized by its obsession with style (as oppose to meaning.) With visual appearance preeminent, meaning is erased and all imagery becomes fair game and intermixable. The two most common modes of communication where parody and pastiche leading to a culture of irony.

Some themes found in work from The Postmodern: Identity politics, the gaze, money as the mediator of all relationships, panopticism, hyper reality, and in general power, who has it and what structures create it.

No More Rules: Graphic Design and Postmodernism by Rick Poynor
New Design Los Angeles: The Edge of Graphic Design by Edward Gomez
Design Discourse: History, Theory, Criticism by Victor Margolin