Postmodern Frame

This is probably the most difficult frame to use and understand. Using this frame, you are expected to question practice in art and the generally accepted classifications of artists, artworks, movements and styles. You need to identify any inconsistencies in what is written about the artist, artwork, movement or style. You have the opportunity to re-evaluate notions of the artistic genius and the masterpiece, and study influences and chronologies to reveal power relations, disjunctions and hidden assumptions.

Key Terms

Appropriation: Borrowing images or ideas for use in a new work to change the original meaning.

Challenging: Questioning the accepted norms in art and society.

Popular culture: Music, movies, products, celebrities etc. that are popular at the time.

Non-traditional: Outside of the accepted traditions of artistic practice. Can relate to material, subject matter, techniques or ideas.

Contemporary: New, current day.

Diversity: Differences in culture and social practices within society.

Mass media: Media which is broadcast on a large scale, eg. movies, TV, internet, magazines and newspapers.

Irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean, in order to point or or highlight something funny.

Parody: Mimicking something for the purpose of undermining it.

Reinterpretation: Interpreting an older work through a contemporary point of view.

Recontextualise: To change the context of an object to change its meaning

Power: The ability to exert control over a situation.

Authorities: Political or Military leadership.

Appropriation and undermining

In 1919, Marcel Duchamp took a poster of one the most famous artworks in the world, the Mona Lisa, and gave it a makeover. He graffitied a moustache and goatee on her face and added the letters L.H.O.O.Q to the bottom. When said aloud, using French pronunciation, the letters sound like you're saying, "she has a hot bum," in French.

This artwork did not take a great amount of skill to make nor a very long time. The art is in the idea. The fact that Duchamp chose to poke fun at this highly respected artwork, despite its popularity, makes it art.

This artwork uses appropiation, parody, mass media (made using a poster) and challenges authorities.

Here are some questions for the Postmodern Frame

Is it mainstream or outside of mainstream?
Has anything been borrowed, appropriated, recycled from different source? Where did it come from and why was it used?
Does the style of the artwork mimic a particular artwork or art movement?
How has the meaning of the source material changed?
Is the work humorous, ironic, satirical?
What is the work questioning or challenging any cultural values or accepted norms?
What unconventional materials and techniques are used?
What things have been noticeably left out?
Does the work place object or ideas outside of their normal context?
What does the work challenge about the art world?

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