📝History of Art Criticism Unit 6 – Postmodern Art Criticism

Key Concepts and Theories

• Postmodernism rejects the notion of a single, universal truth or grand narrative in art criticism
• Emphasizes the role of context, subjectivity, and multiple interpretations in understanding art
• Deconstructs traditional hierarchies and binary oppositions (high art vs. low art, original vs. copy)
• Embraces pluralism, acknowledging the validity of diverse perspectives and experiences
• Questions the authority of the art critic and the institutional power structures of the art world
• Recognizes the influence of cultural, social, and political factors on the creation and reception of art
• Challenges the modernist idea of the autonomous, self-contained artwork
• Explores the relationship between art, mass media, and popular culture (appropriation, pastiche)

Historical Context and Influences

• Emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s as a response to the limitations of modernist art criticism
• Influenced by post-structuralist philosophy, particularly the works of Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault
  • Derrida's concept of deconstruction challenged the stability of meaning and interpretation
  • Foucault's theories on power, knowledge, and discourse shaped postmodern critical approaches
• Reacted against the formalist criticism of Clement Greenberg and the modernist emphasis on medium specificity
• Drew from various intellectual movements, including feminism, postcolonialism, and cultural studies
• Coincided with the rise of conceptual art, performance art, and installation art, which challenged traditional notions of the art object
• Reflected the broader cultural shift towards globalization, mass media, and the information age
• Responded to the sociopolitical upheavals of the time (civil rights movement, Vietnam War, student protests)

Major Postmodern Art Critics

• Rosalind Krauss: Challenged the modernist notion of originality and explored the role of reproduction in art
• Hal Foster: Analyzed the relationship between art and mass culture, focusing on the concept of postmodernism as a critical tool
• Douglas Crimp: Examined the institutional critique of museums and the politics of representation
• Craig Owens: Investigated the allegorical impulse in postmodern art and the role of appropriation
• Griselda Pollock: Applied feminist and psychoanalytic theories to the study of art history and criticism
• bell hooks: Explored the intersections of race, gender, and class in art and visual culture
• Homi K. Bhabha: Developed the concept of hybridity and the third space in postcolonial art and criticism
• Arthur C. Danto: Proposed the idea of the "end of art" and the philosophical implications of postmodern art

Postmodern Approaches to Art Analysis

• Intertextuality: Examining the relationships between artworks, texts, and cultural references
• Appropriation: Analyzing the use of pre-existing images, objects, or styles in the creation of new artworks
• Deconstruction: Interrogating the underlying assumptions, hierarchies, and binary oppositions in art and criticism
• Institutional Critique: Investigating the role of museums, galleries, and other art institutions in shaping the meaning and value of art
• Feminist Critique: Examining the representation of gender, sexuality, and power dynamics in art and visual culture
• Postcolonial Critique: Exploring the impact of colonialism, imperialism, and cultural hegemony on art production and interpretation
• Semiotic Analysis: Studying the signs, symbols, and codes embedded in artworks and their cultural significance
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Incorporating insights from various fields (philosophy, sociology, anthropology) in art criticism

Case Studies: Iconic Postmodern Artworks

• Sherrie Levine's "After Walker Evans" series (1981): Appropriated and re-photographed famous Depression-era photographs by Walker Evans
  • Challenged notions of originality, authorship, and the aura of the artwork
• Barbara Kruger's "Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face)" (1981): Combined text and image to critique the male gaze and the objectification of women
• Cindy Sherman's "Untitled Film Stills" series (1977-1980): Explored the construction of female identity through the lens of popular media and film
• Jeff Koons' "Banality" series (1988): Appropriated kitsch objects and images to blur the boundaries between high art and mass culture
• Felix Gonzalez-Torres' "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) (1991): Used candies as a metaphor for the body and loss during the AIDS crisis
• Kara Walker's silhouette installations: Confronted the history of slavery, race, and violence in America through cut-paper silhouettes
• Ai Weiwei's "Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn" (1995): Documented the destruction of a valuable ancient artifact to question cultural values and authority
• Judy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" (1974-1979): Celebrated the contributions of women throughout history through a large-scale installation and collaborative project

Critiquing Postmodernism

• Accusations of relativism and the erosion of aesthetic standards
  • Some argue that postmodernism's emphasis on subjectivity and multiple interpretations undermines the ability to make qualitative judgments about art
• Concerns about the loss of historical context and the flattening of meaning
  • Critics argue that postmodern appropriation and pastiche can lead to a superficial engagement with art and culture
• Questions about the political efficacy of postmodern strategies
  • Some question whether postmodern critique can effectively challenge existing power structures and bring about social change
• Debates about the relationship between postmodernism and late capitalism
  • Critics argue that postmodern art and theory may be complicit in the commodification and spectacularization of culture
• Discussions about the relevance of postmodernism in the contemporary art landscape
  • As new artistic practices and critical frameworks emerge, the role and influence of postmodernism continue to be reassessed

Impact on Contemporary Art Discourse

• Expanded the field of art criticism beyond formalist concerns to include social, political, and cultural dimensions
• Encouraged a more inclusive and diverse range of voices and perspectives in art criticism and theory
• Facilitated the development of new genres and hybrid forms of art (installation, performance, video, digital)
• Promoted a critical engagement with the institutions and power structures of the art world
• Influenced the rise of curatorial studies and the role of the curator as a creative and critical agent
• Contributed to the growing interest in art as a site of interdisciplinary research and collaboration
• Shaped the discourse around identity politics, representation, and cultural appropriation in contemporary art
• Challenged the traditional boundaries between art, popular culture, and everyday life

Applying Postmodern Criticism

• Identify the cultural, social, and political context in which the artwork was created
• Consider the artwork's relationship to other texts, images, and cultural references (intertextuality)
• Examine the artwork's use of appropriation, pastiche, or other postmodern strategies
• Analyze the artwork's engagement with issues of identity, power, and representation
• Investigate the artwork's institutional context and its relationship to the art world
• Explore the artwork's potential for multiple interpretations and subjective responses
• Consider the artwork's relationship to mass media, popular culture, and consumer society
• Reflect on the artwork's ability to challenge dominant narratives and power structures
• Assess the artwork's contribution to ongoing debates and discussions in contemporary art and criticism