Post-Modernism is one of the many things that I dislike learning about. (Sorry Mr. Heidkamp, if it's any consolation you make it much more enjoyable than what I've endured in the past.) My mother is an abstract artist, and certainly counts as Post-Modern. She also performs old pop standards, which seems to count as Post-Modern too.
My father, on the other hand is a classicist. He makes gorgeous wood carvings. Primarily, he builds model ships. "Ships in bottles n' models o' ships!" is the favored slogan. However, he's expanded to pendants, chess sets, and even working musical instruments. He's a Christian-Scientist, but sings in a Methodist church choir because they hired him and he loves that sort of music. Like I said, he is most definitely a classicist.
The only thing my parents have in common is their passion for opera.
So, I've spent my life thus far exposed to many styles of work, and utterly immersed in post-modern work as well as contemporary "classic-esque" work. Most of the paintings I view in class I've seen in person. I've had long talks about meaning and imagery with my mother. I've honestly critiqued her work, and she trusts my opinion - sometimes going so far as to change things in a painting or song because I've told her to.
What upsets me is how Post-Modernism is discussed in school. It's one of the many things I feel cannot be taught in a classroom setting. It is never quite done justice in school and we never have enough time to really go into it. This makes me very, very, sad.
Scores of students won't be able to grasp the concept - not because they are incapable, but because the classroomsetting is an immense hindrance. Essentially: Post-Modernism can only be taught by the self. At least for as long as we are in a post-modern age. Once Post-Modernism fades into the past, it can be taught because then it won't continue to be defined. Now, however, post-modernism is still being created.
For the time being, it is a nigh fruitless effort to teach it.
(So if I begin to tear out my hair in class, you know why.)
It is interesting to hear this insight from someone who has experienced post-modern art before. This is my first time learning about it in depth. I'll be watching out to see how my understanding of the topic grows.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that I never even thought about until reading your post. I think that learning something like this in school is, you're right, really hard, as it is something you should discover for yourself. I think that it's not a bad idea to introduce the idea of postmodernism in school, so we at least know it exists. It's kind of funny actually, because we're talking about things like "can we ever really see reality because the media takes up so much of our lives" and it's kind of similar in a school sense. This is nothing against schools, just interesting that we're viewing the outside world from inside a classroom, like the world is viewing the world from inside a screen.
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