Will Gompertz - What Are You Looking At
This chapter begins by saying that postmodernism can be defined as anything you want it to be defined by. Gompertz explains that modernism is generally thought to have ended in the 1960s with minimalism.
The definition of modernism was simply a quest to find one all encompassing solution to all of humanity’s problems, whereas post modernism came in with the belief that this was a naive way of thinking. He gives examples of the creations that encompass both modernism and post modernism elements as the transition between eras was happening.
I think that the point that this chapter is trying to make is that it can be hard to define modernism and post modernism. It is almost impossible to define their time spans. But generally modernism was about very specific and definite ideas and post modernism is more about the subtlety. It’s the difference between a book saying “he looked sad” and “once the first tear got away, the rest followed and there was no sign of them stopping. His lungs rummaged for oxygen, and his sobbing had the same force of someone drowning.”
But often post modernist art is even more cryptic. Gompertz explains that although many pieces can be appreciated in their own right, many make reference to other pieces of art or even other events that could give even more meaning to the the art. He says that the viewer is rewarded for their knowledge. He makes the bold statement “there is always more to postmodernism than meets the eye”.