From class this week, I realized the difference between modernity and post-modernity more clearly, although there is still debate among scholars if post-modernity is even a recognizable ‘era.’ We talked about the different schemas between modernism and postmodernism such as functionality vs. play. Concrete examples of this were provided in the differences between Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture (modernist) and Frank Gehry’s architecture (post-modernist).
Although ideology behind architecture seems like a narrow translation to the rest of society’s functions, such as labor—from this distinction presented in the two examples, I can begin to see how we are living in a time more focused on play than past generations. For instance, labor in the past has been repressive (even in the modernist era). Yet today, workplace satisfaction is seen as more highly valued and new companies such as Google have even tried to make workspaces playful.
Furthermore, to better understand the functionality of modernism, that was more prominent in the past, we can look at the economic system of capitalism which is sometimes considered responsible for the birth of modernism. Capitalism drove material value and production to the forefront of everyone’s minds. If people did not own resources (known as capital), they would have to sell their labor for profit. This became a repressive system where most of society had to work long hours and receive little wages for their contributions.
Despite repression, ideas grown out of the capitalist workforce and daily labor, such as advancing technology and increasing practicality (seen in forms of communication and transportation) led society to be committed to refining itself. These same ideas of improved functionality became apparent in modern art. However, functionality in art became boring, and a wave of playfulness has appeared.
Now that we have arrived at this point of excessive technology and material in our society (as a result of dedicated functionalism), we are compelled to try to bring light to our creations—to add an element of play. This is seen in the advance of the arts and creativity apparent in the increase of social media, Netflix shows, and young start-up companies being built. Creativity is thriving, just as seen in the picture shown in class of the post-modernist architecture of Frank Gehry in LA from the early 2000s.
I agree with you that class clarified the readings. Like you, visual representations of the terms helped me understand them. I identified with your interest in the aspect of "play". To be honest, I had never thought about this idea as a valid characteristic of a movement.
ReplyDeleteAfter class and our readings, I found myself analyzing various aspects of today; TV, trends, architecture etc. and found that "play" is a common denominator. I think it is often hard to critically notice aspects that you are so fully immersed in. Like you said, our generation is living in a time that is more focused on play, so I think it makes it a little harder to identify as a characteristic mainly because I feel like what we associate by "play" has come to be "traditional" for us, in some manner. Now however, I can recognize that we are more accepting of the "anything goes" attitude. I kind of like it.