According to Sturken and Cartwright, postmodernism began in the 1980s as a way of understanding the relationship of humans in a globalized society, as well as the effects of postindustrialization, computerization and communication technologies. I would argue that our popular culture still adheres to this belief that nothing is new and that reinterpretation is a new art form. Visual culture is full of "remakes" from movies and TV shows to art and fashion.
The postmodern subject has moved away from the human to the animated or robotic replication of the human. Computer games and popular media reinvent real life by using animated characters and giving them human qualities so that we can identify with the technologically capable subjects.
In postmodernism transformation and shape shifting are ways to describe the body. Sturken and Cartwright give the example of the artist Nikki S. Lee who changes her appearance to fit in with a particular group and then photographs herself. This demonstrates the postmodern idea that "identity is produced through performance."
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Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI really like your approach in this response. I, too, wasn't very sure of the movement until the book connected it to indie media. I also really like your comments on the building in Paris. I've actually been to that building twice, and it is something to behold. All your expectations about architecture and what's "normal" are thrown out of whack when viewing the building. I really like that you mentioned this in your posts.