European Postmodernism

Postmodernism was movement that responded but was also a departure from modernism in the late 20th century. This artistic and philosophical movement began in France in the 1960’s. The movement was inspired by avant-garde and surrealist art. The term “postmodern” was also coined by Jean Francois Lyotard in his 1979 book, “The Postmoodern Condition”. Appropriately, he defined this as having a penchant towards “metanarratives”, that being a wide-ranging and cohesive explanation for large phenomena.

It was a skeptical interpretation of culture, art and history. The word is associated often with deconstruction and post-structuralism and has been applied to many movements and definitions.

The postmodernists aimed to break the strict Modernist mold and hold on design at the time and tried to contribute something brighter and more experimental. Over the years however, it has been called ugly, superficial and derivative, many architects were embarrassed to be associated with the label. The word signified revolt but was also meant to be funny and not be taken seriously, proposing art that was varied and unique as people were themselves. Postmodern art is more concerned with the experience than with the artist motive.