Week 2 - Post-Modernism - Ai Weiwei and Banksy.

SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2012

Week 2 - Post-Modernism - Ai Weiwei and Banksy.

POST-MODERNIsm

This week's ALVC tutorial covers Post-Modernism. Use the ALVC texts and definitions from the internet to define the term and answer the following questions;


1. Define Post-Modernism using 8-10 bullet points that include short quotes.

1) "For some it means modern; for others it means the revision of modernist practice"

2) The belief that man is perfect and that humans can create s perfect society.

3) "Modernist culture is Western"

4) White people was seen as its racial complexion

5) Seen as "anti modern" worldview of God, self purpose etc was done away with

6) "Values are baseless" and "that life itself is meaningless".

7) Concerned with process and "becoming" it is opened

8)Takes part in uncertainty "accepts ambiguity"

2. Use a quote by Witcombe (2000) to define the Post-Modern artist.(page 24)

"A post mordern artist is self aware and conciously involved in a process of thinking about him/herself and society in a deconstructive manner...accelerating the process of self-consciousness"

3. Use the table on pages 47 and 48 in your ALVC handbook to summarize the list of the features of Post-Modernity.

Pluralism in society and culture, disunity socially, nationally and ethnically. Visual media subtituting reality. Popular culture dominating high culture. challenge of seriousness replaced with play and irony. 

Use this summary to answer the next two questions.


4. Research Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994)
in order to say what features of the work could be considered Post-Modern.

Ai wei wei's Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-cola logo can be considered as post modern because it disrupts the dominance of high culture and mixes it with popular culture. Ai takes the ancient traditional Urn and boldly paints the Coca-cola logo onto it, by doing this he is mixing something that has so much history (the urn) with something has less history and not as well respected or valuable (coca-cola logo). His work is playful and has the chracteristic of irony, it "challenges official seriousness". These characteristics make Ai's work post modern.

'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994), Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei dropping a Han Dynast Urn.

6. Research British artist Banksy's street art, and analyze the following two works by the artist
to discuss how each work can be defined at Post-Modern.(Use your list from question 3.)

Banksy's "Flower Riot" illustrates the disunity in social culture however at the same time it is play and is ironic because the flowers are said to represent peace. Banksy has contrasted an image of violence and peace, which is what makes it ironic and takes away the seriousness of it.

In his work "Los Angeles" a caveman is shown carrying fast food, the image is quite simple but effective which is a typical characteristic for a post modern work, it does not show yo much concern for depth. Once again Banksy has mixed something from mankind's history (the caveman) with something modern (fast food tray), by doing so he mixes high culture with popular culture. The work is also playful just like all his other works, and ironic.

'Flower Riot', Banksy

Los Angeles (2008), Banksy

http://artasiapacific.com/Magazine/78/DevastatingHistory

http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-685801.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4563751.stm

http://theworldsbestever.com/2008/02/new_banksy_pieces_surface_in_l.php

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/03/11/how-china-conquered-the-art-world.html