modernism and post-modernism

[erick...@bvu.edu]

In response to D.D. Barton's request written on January 18, I have
come up with my brief interpretation of the differences between
Modernism and Post-Modernism. After taking only one semester of a
college art history class, my knowledge of this subject is limited.
If anyone has any ideas to add to my interpretation, it would be
greatly appreciated. I got the majority of my research from Janson's
book, The History of Art.

Modernism was born in the turn of nineteenth century to the twentieth
century. It was born parrallel to the birth of the Industrial
Revolution, which plays a significant role in the development of
Modernism. After the machine was invented, modern consciousness of
the society at the time changed greatly. The invetion of the machine
offered a very different concept of the reality of time and space.
With these changes came a new society. Modernist art is truly
reflective of these times. The modernist artists seeked to assert
their freedom to create and looked into the future. The goal of many
of the modernist artists was to reshape the current society.

Post-Modernism came about in the late twentiety century. In Janson's
words, "Post-Modernism is a product of the disillusion and alienation
aflicting the middle class." Post-Modernism was born parallel to the
post industrial stage in history. Post-Modernist artists attempted to
get a break from the past in a way which they placed earlier imagery
in a new context. Post-Modernist artists are known for merging
together different art forms very effectively. The focal point when
studying Post-Modernist art seems to lie on the intallations that many
artists produced. These instillations allow the artist to create a
self contained universe. The viewer of these universe's is able to be
completely surrounded by this small universe.

That is the extent of the information I could find about this subject.
I know it is only a brief description of the differences between
post-modernism and modernism. I do not fully comprehend all of the
differences between these too. If anyone has any additional
information please respond via the newsgroup or email me @
erick...@bvu.com