What is Post-modernism?

What is Post-modernism?

One of the hardest essay i written so far for design studies!

Topic: What is Post-modernism? Discuss from the point of view as a Designer (not necessarily an Interior Designer but a designer in general)

Postmodernism is a word itself hard to comprehend and grasped, so I will try my best to share my views on this topic from a view of a designer. In my opinion, a generic view of Postmodernism is a whole package of ideas where they borrow styles from the past, sometimes without any functional purposes and just putting it all together mainly focusing more on its aesthetic appeal. Or simply its a total opposite from modernism where for example in modernist architecture its design are base on form follows function compared to postmodernist designs where the aesthetics value tends to outweighs the functionality of the design.

Elaborating more into Postmodern architecture, it normal encompass interesting lines and curves, and normally has motif reference or elaborate ornamentation, which sums up that the architecture focus more on the surface of things. Some examples of postmodern architects like Michael Graves who design the Portland Building and the Humana Building and Charles Moore who designed the Piazza.

Personally, I’m not totally for the idea of most postmodernist designs in relations to architecture. Yes I do like the way how they break away from the blend style of modernist system, however if functions of a design is neglected and is just for the sake of aesthetic appeal I think critics will question if that’s more of art than design now. As to me, I view that our designs definitely need to be function able before we state that it’s a design. And if postmodernism is mainly just borrowing styles from the past, how it will last In the future, we need fresh new ideas every time!

However, if I see it in the perspective of a post modern architect despite the critics against them, I guess I can agree in why they prefer the post modern style. Like for example, I like why Charles Moore has a postmodern view towards architecture, he said this, “Architecture is about feeling, and about place, and its function is to enrich human emotion and enhance a sense of place.” Adding on to that statement, he pursuit of joy and the way how he was horrified by almost all the corporate and commercial architecture he saw around him cause him to do pursue and architecture where he can be just expressive and free form. That’s a good reason for me to support his idea if I look in his point of view.

On the other hand, going back to my view on postmodern architecture as a whole, if I take Michael Graces design of the Portland Building for example, the façade of the building portrays two obtruding triangular forms which are just ornamental and for the aesthetics viewing only and there’s totally no function for that design. Adding on to it, if one look at other postmodern architecture, a lot of them focuses their designs on the surface and it’s something which can be questionable of what architecture really is. Critics again may question the design as shallow as it loses the depth of the developing of architecture ever since the modernist age.

However, I like how postmodern designs in relations to visual communication are being portrayed. For example, post modern designer/artist Barbara Kruger, where she used magazine cutout-like pieces to speak of issues of the self and identity. Her art pieces incorporate appropriated media images with strong phrases. And the style of how she made her composition of the magazine cutouts communicates very well visually. Thus not only does it have a strong purpose with function, it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye as well. So I can say this is one good example of a successful postmodern design.

Another example, of a well known designer/artist is none other than Andy Warhol, although he is better known as a “pop-artist”, his designs are actually quite post modern. For example, his famous for his multi-colored and repetitive images of iconic cultural images, of objects or of people which is more viewed towards the post modern kind of design. And to me, that is one successful design where I personally like the concept to it as well. It not only aesthetically appealing, it has a deep purpose and meaning to it as well.

In conclusion, I wound say that I’m not totally for postmodern architecture due to it focusing mainly only on the surface but I would support it if the design or architecture has a good sense of function and purpose adding on to its only known aesthetic appeals.

Would love to hear your comments on this too! =)