What Comes After Postmodernism?

 

Postmodernism is an art movement that I believe has ended died to the constant changes in our society. Although Postmodernism gave artists a new found freedom all other movements could not provide, it makes it difficult to find a new movement that fits todays standards. Irony and the denial of a grand narrative were some of the main ideas of the Postmodernists. After countless tragedies in the world, artists can no longer create works standing alone on the too cool for school ironic based attitude. Art needed to evolve and I believe it did.

Before the death of Postmodernism many artists worked against the grand narrative and with irony. Cindy Sherman is a great example of a postmodern artist. She does not play into the grand narrative, by using herself as both the model and the photographer. Sherman uses personas as a way to be kept objective in her involvement of the works. The fact that Sherman is a woman transforms her work to help the feminist agenda. This is ironic due to the fact that it was far from her intent for her works.

I believe that the artworld does need a Post-Postmodernism, but obviously with a new name. Metamodernism is a great fit for the new generation of artists. I think that in the aftermath of Postmodernism this is the only direction that makes sense for art to go. Metamodernism is similar to Postmodernism with necessary changes to keep with society’s modern day ideals. Just like Postmodernism, Metamodernism believes in the deconstructing of the grand narrative. Oppositely Metamodernism believes in not being ironic in a sense due to the seriousness of our society today.

Metamodernism is best described as a “modern enthusiasm and a Postmodern irony.” This means that Metamodernism takes from the modern day society to create works while using irony to critique its motivates of order and disorder. The practice of Metamodernism uses semiotics due to the fact that it “exposes itself through a-topic atopos (a place that is no place) taxis (order).” With the modern mindset of oneself as the center of the universe it makes sense that Metamodernism works with the theoretical framework of existentialism.

Metamodernism values many types of practices such as Performativism and Romantic Conceptualism to name a few. I believe that this new movement would encompass both expressionism and pluralism. This is due to the fact that a spaceless and placeless movement would rely on expression from the artist while dealing with the culture of the society of the time. An example of a Metamodern artist would be Kris Lemsalu. Lemsalu created installations based on various inspirations she wishes to comment on in society. She mainly uses ceramics and found materials for her works. Lemsalu’s works can be seen as ironic and a commentary on how she views the artworld.

"Kris Lemsalu." Temnikova & Kasela. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://www.temnikova.ee/?c=gallery-artists&l=en&t=kris-lemsalu&id=25>.

Vermeulen, Timotheus, and Robin Van den Akker. "Notes on Metamodernism." Journal of Aesthetics & Culture. Vers. 2. Rev. 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://aestheticsandculture.net/index.php/jac/article/view/5677/6304>.