Postmodernism Lesson 2

Modernism & Technology

Key Terms• Modernism• Modernity• Baroque• Romantic• Realism• Agrarianism• Capitalism• Industrialism (mass production)• Rationalization• Secularism • Urbanization• Fordism• Taylorism• Consumers• Feminization• Globalisation

Review of Ism’sPostmodernism

What was involved in this time period?

 Key Question • The Modern age was exemplified by a number of key scientific 

examples - can you think what these could be?

Pre-Modern• Sense of self and purpose was often expressed via a faith, be that

in a single god or in many gods (religion)

• Pre-modern cultures have not been thought of creating a sense of distinct individuality

• Religious officials, who often held positions of power, were the spiritual ‘messengers’ to the common person. It was only through these ‘messengers’ that the general masses had access to the divine

• Tradition were sacred; social order/ceremony/morals are strictly enforced

Modernism• Late 19th century / early 20th century• move from agrarianism toward capitalism,

industrialization, secularization (moving away from traditional and religious values), etc….

• Wide-scale and far reaching changes• post-traditional

• development of modern industrial societies• rapid growth of cities• followed by the horror of World War I

• In art, Modernism rejects the ideology of realism

• Modernism also rejects the lingering certainty of Enlightenment thinking, as well as the idea of a compassionate, all-powerful Creator

Changes during modernism

• Adoption of new technologies into daily life of ordinary people. – What kind of technologies do you think?

• Associated with urbanization and changing social traditions also came smaller families and changed relationships between parents and their children.

Technologies• Automobile• Modern Medicine• Telephone• Phonograph• Television • Electricity • Radio

The need to work with these technologies, repair them andlive with them—created social change.

Common theme in technologies?

• Altered our perception of time and space through communication and speed

• **** ALTAR TIME AND SPACE (by communication and speed)

Extra modern examplesModern Examples Youtube address

Modern design (chairs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErBGq6ZA-2U

Or first few mins of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz9NIQ3SIvY

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bauhaus+chairs&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=1048&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiotJnn1bbPAhVBD8AKHdAbDKUQ_AUIBigB&dpr=0.75 Bauhaus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8zuGsX_z_Y&feature=PlayList&p=F0EA633E28C6FC94&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=54

Cubism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkODKN_m_H4&feature=PlayList&p=270D2871A940F123&index=3&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

Differences between Modernism and postmodernism

• By the early 1980s the postmodern movement in art and architecture began to establish its position through various conceptual and multi-media formats.

• However dates are highly debatable, "one critic's postmodernism is another critic's modernism“

• Some see them as two aspects of the same movement, and believe that late Modernism continues

• Postmodernism is essentially a reinterpretation the modern.

• Rejection of tradition

• Many modernists believed that by rejecting tradition they could discover radically new ways of making art.

Key Points - Modernism• Inspired by technology and science• Applied mathematical and scientific logic to all human 

process'• Sought to make thing efficient and productive • Profit driven capitalism was the base "superstructure" behind 

production • Mass production and factory labour• Science and technology seen as essential components in 

human evolution • Design based around need and function• Efficiency and cost productiveness

Key points of modernism?

Frederick W.Taylor (1856-1915) The Principles of Scientific Management

Managers assume full coordinating roles

Analysis of production processes lead to simplification

Time and Motion studies implemented for streamlined cost cutting

To what extent are Taylor's Ideas still prevalent in today's Postmodern world?

• Sky+• wireless internet• Iphone/ipad – smart phones/technological convergence

• Tills in the workplace

Henry Ford (1863-1947)Inventor and manufacturer of the Ford motor car

Assembly line manufacturing process

The Standardization of the product

The use of Special-purpose tools and/or equipment via the assembly line

The Elimination of skilled labour in direct production

Key Concepts: Fordism and Taylorism 

• Perception of time radically changed in Modernity (bigger, better, FASTER, cheaper)

• New Technologies of Management such as Taylorism & Fordism altered the way people behaved as "Labouring Units"

Film as a Modernist Art Form

• To what extent is Film a modernist art form?

Snow White (1937)

• The 1930s were a period of immense upheaval economically

• 1929 Wall Street Crash• Mass unemployment and homelessness

Post-Fordism (in Postmodernity)• New information technologies. • Emphasis on types of consumers 

in contrast to previous emphasis on social class.

• The rise of the service and the white-collar worker.

• The feminization of the work force (shift in gender roles in work place)

• The globalization of financial markets

Key Modernity Points

• Structure and Order• Efficiency and productivity• Science and technology

Pomo: "Style over substance"Modern Postmodern

Modernism - Plenary

• What events do you think caused the shift into Postmodernism between the 30s-50s?

• Why would our trust in science and technology be questioned?

What caused the collapse of Modernism?

• Stock Market Crash 1929

• World War 2 and the Holocaust

• Cold War and M.A.D

• Warhol's "Marylyn" goes on a European tour

Key Terms• Modernism• Modernity• Baroque• Romantic• Realism• Agrarianism• Capitalism• Industrialism (mass production)• Secularism • Urbanization• Fordism• Taylorism• Consumers• Feminisation• Globalisation

Modernism vs Postmodernism • On the attached sheet complete the column "postmodern" 

with the opposite of what is down in the "Modern" Column.

-non conventional, neo conventional, hybridisation and bricolage, typecasting (organisation) by various methods (i.e. Netflix),

-unconventional representation that challenges stereotypes, (countertypes), tokenism, representation that makes us question previous stereotypes, progressive and truthful (like realism), parallel social/political

-active audiences, power of audience: audience to institution, dominant reading challenged/reversed,Celebration of underdog

-dominant ideology challenged and active audiences aware, status quo challenged and power from all, ethics, reasoning and justice of ‘accepted norm’ challenged and in question

-non linear narrative (in many diff ways) -dystopian/pessimistic narratives -abstract or open endings, range of character types, unconventional protag/antag.,

Modernist Texts(challenge established styles and forms)

Texts on modern/postmodern border-dada-surreal-abstract expressionism

19th century Early 20th century(before WW1)

WW1-WW2 Post WW2

Van Gogh (post impressionism)

Mondrian (abstract)Picasso (cubism)

Duchamp (dadism – anti-art)Dali & Magritte (surrealism)Bauhaus

Pollock (abstract expressionism)

Van Gogh

Mondrian

Duchamp

Dali / Magritte

Bauhaus

Pollock

Task/homework

• A) Complete modern/pomo chart (fill in pomo side)

• B) 2 mind maps