First Postmodernism Lecture

From my understanding of today's lecture, postmodern is anything but simple and straightforward, it is argued whether the concept even exist but there is much evidence in recent society that proves it does exist and it is our era in recent culture.

Modernism is an intentional movement that aims to leave tradition through the use of new ideas and creative thinking (innovative ideas).

Postmodernism is the era after modernism, which takes modernism to a more complex/extreme level, it's a skeptical concept one open to much ambiguity. On one hand postmodernism can be viewed in an optimistic way, it's playful and welcoming, you can experiment with new ideas - ones you can identify yourself with. You explore your environment it encourages you to seek out your own truth - an example of this is the LGBTQ+ community you can find yourself and your own truth through questioning traditional values. People may also start to question religion and the beliefs they were perhaps raised with, many people become atheists because they can't find a truth in religion for them. Religious people commit to their version of truth (according to that religion) because they have the right for that to be their truth - the story is their way of connecting to the world, it lowers barriers and provides opportunity to discover and identify ourselves - it is our right too as postmodernists. From a positive perspective postmodernism can unite the world through accepting each others differences and truth but unfortunately not everyone can be like that in a political and social world. In an artistic sense or storytelling/film making sense it allows creativity to go to new extremes i.e. surrealism art movement. What would seem irrational, absurd, ridiculous perhaps discarded by traditional values has a chance to be seen in a new light in a new truth or could be a Hollywood hit - Deadpool is a good example of this taking a Superhero that saves the day but Deadpool isn't a superhero that has traditional superhero morals. Maleficent is a good example too as Sleeping Beauty is such a traditional story and now postmodernists have adapted it into a whole new truth for new generations to identify with.

Basically it is an attempt to find new versions and more truthful versions of the world starting in the 20th century. I am because I choose.


On a negative note postmodernism is regarded unimaginative and ridiculous for example the surrealist art movement which featured Duchamp's "Fountain" urinal sculpture is disregarded as art. Some people interpret postmodernism as a main reason for division - our individual truths provide conflict among us and subjects get too personal to talk about. In a more political sense postmodernism means the world has gone mad because new ideas stray so far away from tradition and people's comfort zones. Some might say postmodernism ridicules religion for being traditional and believed by millions over modern scientific theories. Advertisements take advantage of postmodernists by using individuality as a selling angle, buying a product will give you even more confidence in your truth, in your identity, in your world. Postmodernism is hard to understand and because of this lack of simplicity (obfuscation) people ignore what they can't understand. It's more of a mood that is recognized by many theorists than a discipline which also makes people reluctant to accept it.


My personal take on this subject is it is definitely real, it's a mood that doesn't change it is part of our feeling and being how we receive and interpret our world based on preconceptions and our identities. I love the idea "I am because I choose." As an artist I appreciate avante garde and new creative ideas - mostly surrealism art and literature, art is a way for me to explore my truths and animation arts is a way of sharing it with others, What if Metropolis is a good example of me doing that. I can see both negatives and positives, I love when people are confident with who they are and I can get to know them and share their truths without it having to affect my own - respect and be respected. But I can see how it can create a divide what some might see as amazing and powerful others will disagree, depending on how passionate or comfortable they are with tradition - age is a contributing factor of this.