Through this frame, art may be thought to be about and represent ‘texts’ that reconfigure and question previous texts and current narratives. These are woven together through such things as irony, parody, quotation. From this view, meaning is attained through critique that exposes the patterns of authority and the assumptions of mainstream values in the visual arts to reveal inconsistencies, uncertainties and ironies.
- From the HSC Visual Arts Syllabus
- From the HSC Visual Arts Syllabus
This is probably the most difficult frame to use and understand. Using this frame, you are expected to question practice in art and the generally accepted classifications of artists, artworks, movements and styles. You need to identify any inconsistencies in what is written about the artist, artwork, movement or style. You have the opportunity to re-evaluate notions of the artistic genius and the masterpiece, and study influences and chronologies to reveal power relations, disjunctions and hidden assumptions.
Key words and termsAppropriation, challenging, quotation, popular culture, non-traditional, media, new, diversity, mass media, irony, parody, reinterpretation, the role of art, power, authorities, classifications
Focus questions for the postmodern frameIs the artwork mainstream or is it outside the mainstream? What makes you say this?
Are any elements appropriated or quoted from another source? Explain the source and what meaning is added. Does the appropriation produce humour, irony, parody, wit or playfulness? What is omitted or disregarded? What is re-configured and reinterpreted? What is challenged in social cultural values, beliefs spiritual/secular, power authorities? What is challenged in art practices –classifications, conventions, art movements/styles? What is challenged about art history; the masterpiece, art for art’s sake, the role of art? |
Investigating themes using the postmodern frame
When looking at your chosen artwork through the postmodern frame, you need to compare it to other artworks in history.
One way of doing this is to pick a theme in the artwork, and study how that theme has been presented and explored in the past, and how it has changed, due to context. Try the questions below as an example, then create your own questions to investigate and start your own research on the themes in your chosen artwork. Using the artworks above, describe the way in which women are represented. What is the role of the woman in each work? How has feminism changed how women are represented in art.
Start with the differences you can see, and write as much as you can. You should then read a little bit about the artists, and the conventions of art at the time they were working. The links below will direct you to some information on each work. The Birth of Venus - http://www.artble.com/artists/sandro_botticelli/ Torture of Women - http://www.art21.org/texts/nancy-spero/interview |