Navigating Postmodernism: Embracing Chaos in Art

Expanded version of an article I wrote for my school's bi-yearly publication, the Carpe Diem Chronicles.

Introduction

Emerging in the mid-20th century, postmodernism is a broad cultural, artistic and intellectual movement that emerged as a response to modernist sensibilities and the tensions caused by the rapid change in the world order- both in and outside the sphere of arts. Where modernism is best characterised by a belief in progress, reason and a focus on the big picture, postmodernism responds with cynicism, irony and a rejection of modernist ‘absolute’ narratives. Best summarised, postmodernism rejects a single, absolute truth representing all of humanity and embraces diversity, contradiction and fragmentation. This provides its artists a way of expressing themselves in an increasingly fragmented, nonsensical world.

You may recognise postmodernism art in Andy Warhol’s inane soup cans, The Caretaker’s horrifyingly empathetic soundcapes of degenerative illness, or even the commitment to madness in Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff. Nothing is off limits, cringe is effectively dead. Postmodernism cares not for pretension, instead engaging with past traditions playfully while adapting them for a world that can’t hang onto a cultural movement for much longer than a year or two and embraces multimedia experiences.

1- Why Does It Look So Weird?

One of the most striking features of postmodernist art is its apparent “weirdness.” Unlike the clean lines and abstract forms of modernism, postmodern art often appears chaotic, contradictory, and even nonsensical. This strangeness is intentional. Postmodern artists sought to subvert traditional expectations and challenge the viewer’s perception. They often used parody, pastiche, and irony to create works that defy conventional aesthetics. One thing everyone is likely to associate with postmodernism: it’s utterly bonkers. Music warps beyond stanzas, bridges and choruses, words do their best to escape their pages, and looking at visual art has you wondering whether you missed a century of context or you’re having a stroke. This is all part of the plan- the break from the norm forces the purveyor to engage with the art not as a painting to admire the lighting and brushstrokes, but as a work that forces you to look at the whole and analyse it through a new lens, because all your old tricks don’t apply here.  

Postmodern artists aren’t picky with their influences either. SOPHIE, late founding mother of the Hyperpop genre, was influenced by the sound of liquid metal, what non-euclidian geometry could sound like, and American boy bands. Sampling ‘Pulp Fiction’ in Trophy, a song she produced with her protegé Charli XCX, was hardly a question. The weirdness of postmodernism also stems from its embrace of popular culture and mass media. Postmodern artists borrowed imagery and techniques from advertising, television, and comic books, blending high and low culture in ways that were often jarring. This blending of disparate elements can create a sense of disorientation or absurdity, but it also reflects the complexity and fragmentation of postmodern society.

2- Children all rebel

To understand postmodernism, it is helpful to compare it to the movement that preceded it. Modernism was driven by the belief in progress, innovation, and the pursuit of purity in form and content. Modernist artists sought to distill art to its essential elements, often focusing on abstraction, minimalism, and the exploration of the medium itself. They believed in the possibility of universal truths and aimed to create works that were timeless and autonomous from social and historical context.

In contrast, postmodernism rejects the idea of universal truths and embraces the complexity and plurality of meanings. Where modernism sought to innovate and break away from the past, postmodernism revels in the past, often through the use of pastiche—a combination of various styles and historical references. Postmodern art is less concerned with purity and more with stylistic chimeras, embracing contradictions and the coexistence of multiple perspectives.

2- Sorry, any writing about postmodernist art is at least 4% about memes.

I hand in my card of ‘Not Pretentious’ with the utmost remorse. However, memes, often described as the cultural currency of the internet, have a surprising connection to postmodernism. Like postmodern art, memes thrive on irony, pastiche, and the blending of high and low culture. They are inherently self-referential and rely on the viewer’s ability to recognize and interpret cultural references. The rapid evolution and remixing of memes mirror the postmodernist approach to art, where the boundaries between original and derivative are blurred, and the notion of authorship becomes fluid.

Memes also exemplify the postmodernist idea of the “death of the author,” where the creator’s intentions are less important than the audience’s interpretation. This democratization of content creation and the emphasis on shared cultural knowledge reflect the postmodernist rejection of elitism and the embrace of popular culture. In many ways, memes can be seen as the digital descendants of postmodern art, continuing the tradition of subverting norms and questioning established meanings.

4- What does the post-[whatever]ist cycle have to say about us?

The rise and evolution of postmodernist art offer a mirror to the broader cultural shifts in society. Postmodernism’s skepticism, irony, and fragmentation reflect a world increasingly aware of its own complexities and contradictions. In a time of rapid technological change, globalization, and the proliferation of information, postmodernism captures the anxiety and ambiguity of contemporary life.

However, the cycle of postmodernism also suggests a yearning for new ways of understanding and interpreting the world. As we move further into the 21st century, there are signs that the postmodernist approach may be giving way to new forms of expression that seek to reintroduce meaning, connection, and authenticity. This ongoing cycle of artistic movements speaks to our ever-evolving search for meaning in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Postmodernism, in its various forms, challenges us to think critically about the ways we construct meaning, engage with culture, and navigate the intricate landscape of modern life.