12.4 Postmodern and contemporary criticism
9 min read•august 21, 2024
emerged in the mid-20th century, and cultural norms. It influenced performance art by encouraging experimentation, blurring boundaries between disciplines, and questioning the nature of art itself. This approach shaped new ways of creating and interpreting performances.
build on postmodern ideas, addressing digital technologies, globalization, and identity issues in performance art. These perspectives examine , explore the impact of digital media, and consider in artistic expression and reception.
Origins of postmodern criticism
- Emerged as a response to modernist ideals in the mid-20th century, challenging established artistic conventions and cultural norms
- Influenced performance art by encouraging experimentation, blurring boundaries between disciplines, and questioning the nature of art itself
- Shaped new approaches to creating and interpreting performances, emphasizing audience engagement and multiple interpretations
Reaction to modernism
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- Rejected modernist notions of universal truths and grand narratives in art and culture
- Embraced , , and as alternatives to modernist coherence and unity
- Questioned the authority of artistic institutions and traditional forms of representation
- Challenged the idea of art as a vehicle for social progress or moral improvement
Key postmodern thinkers
- introduced the concept of "incredulity towards metanarratives"
- developed as a method of textual analysis and critique
- explored the role of and in postmodern society
- analyzed postmodernism as the cultural logic of late capitalism
- examined performativity and gender as social constructs
Influence on performance art
- Encouraged artists to break down barriers between different art forms and disciplines
- Promoted the use of everyday objects and actions as valid artistic materials
- Emphasized the importance of context and audience interpretation in creating meaning
- Inspired performances that challenged traditional notions of authorship and authenticity
- Led to the development of site-specific and durational performances
Characteristics of postmodern criticism
- Emphasizes the of interpretations and the role of the audience in creating meaning
- Challenges traditional hierarchies and boundaries in art and culture
- Explores the relationship between art, society, and power structures
Rejection of grand narratives
- Dismisses overarching explanations or theories that claim to explain all aspects of reality
- Questions the validity of universal truths or absolute values in art and culture
- Focuses on local, contextual, and subjective interpretations of artistic works
- Encourages diverse perspectives and multiple readings of performances
- Challenges the idea of a single, authoritative interpretation of art
Deconstruction and fragmentation
- Analyzes texts and performances by breaking them down into constituent parts
- Reveals hidden assumptions, contradictions, and power structures within artistic works
- Emphasizes the instability of meaning and the role of language in shaping perception
- Encourages non-linear and discontinuous narratives in performance art
- Explores the use of collage, montage, and juxtaposition in artistic creation
Emphasis on plurality
- Celebrates diversity and difference in artistic expression and interpretation
- Rejects the notion of a single, dominant cultural or artistic voice
- Encourages the exploration of marginalized perspectives and experiences
- Promotes the idea of multiple, coexisting truths rather than a single, objective reality
- Embraces hybridity and the blending of different cultural and artistic traditions
Contemporary critical approaches
- Integrate postmodern ideas with new theoretical frameworks and social concerns
- Address the impact of digital technologies and globalization on artistic production and reception
- Explore the intersections of identity, power, and representation in performance art
Intersectionality in criticism
- Examines how different aspects of identity (race, gender, class, sexuality) interact and intersect
- Analyzes performances through the lens of multiple, overlapping systems of oppression and privilege
- Considers how intersectional identities shape artistic creation and audience reception
- Encourages a more nuanced understanding of representation and diversity in performance art
- Challenges single-issue approaches to analyzing artistic works
Digital age perspectives
- Explores the impact of digital technologies on the creation, distribution, and reception of performance art
- Analyzes the role of social media and online platforms in shaping artistic discourse and criticism
- Examines the blurring of boundaries between live and mediated performances
- Considers the implications of virtual and augmented reality for performance art
- Investigates the changing nature of audience engagement in the digital era
Globalization and cultural hybridity
- Analyzes the impact of global cultural flows on local artistic traditions and practices
- Examines the emergence of transnational artistic networks and collaborations
- Explores the concept of "glocalization" in performance art (global influences adapted to local contexts)
- Considers the role of performance art in addressing issues of migration, diaspora, and cultural identity
- Investigates the potential for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding through artistic exchange
Postmodern performance techniques
- Challenge traditional notions of theatrical representation and narrative structure
- Emphasize the role of the audience as active participants in the creation of meaning
- Explore new ways of using space, time, and the body in performance
Blurring of art forms
- Combines elements from different artistic disciplines (theater, dance, visual arts, music)
- Creates hybrid performances that defy easy categorization or classification
- Experiments with multimedia and interdisciplinary approaches to artistic creation
- Challenges the boundaries between "high" and "low" art forms
- Incorporates everyday actions and objects into performances, blurring the line between art and life
Audience participation
- Involves spectators directly in the performance, breaking down the fourth wall
- Encourages interactive and immersive experiences that challenge passive
- Explores the concept of co-creation between performers and audience members
- Uses techniques like improvisation and chance operations to create unpredictable outcomes
- Examines the ethical implications of audience involvement in performances
Non-linear narratives
- Rejects traditional plot structures in favor of fragmented or circular storytelling
- Employs techniques like montage, collage, and juxtaposition to create meaning
- Explores multiple perspectives and temporalities within a single performance
- Challenges the notion of a fixed, singular interpretation of events
- Encourages audiences to actively construct meaning from disparate elements
Critical analysis of performance art
- Applies postmodern and contemporary critical approaches to interpreting performances
- Examines the complex relationships between performers, audiences, and cultural contexts
- Explores the ways in which performance art challenges traditional notions of representation and meaning
Semiotics in performance
- Analyzes the use of signs and symbols in creating meaning within performances
- Examines how cultural codes and conventions shape the interpretation of artistic works
- Explores the relationship between verbal and non-verbal communication in performance
- Considers the role of costumes, props, and set design as semiotic elements
- Investigates how performers manipulate and subvert established sign systems
Body as text
- Examines the performer's body as a site of meaning and cultural inscription
- Analyzes how physical movements, gestures, and expressions communicate ideas and emotions
- Explores the relationship between the body and identity (gender, race, sexuality, ability)
- Considers the role of the body in challenging social norms and expectations
- Investigates the concept of embodied knowledge and its relevance to performance art
Space and context
- Analyzes how the physical and social environment shapes the meaning of performances
- Examines the relationship between site-specific works and their surroundings
- Explores the use of public spaces and non-traditional venues in performance art
- Considers how spatial arrangements influence audience perception and engagement
- Investigates the role of cultural and historical context in interpreting performances
Postmodern vs traditional criticism
- Contrasts postmodern approaches with earlier forms of artistic criticism and interpretation
- Examines the shift from modernist to postmodernist perspectives in art theory and practice
- Explores the implications of postmodern criticism for artistic evaluation and canon formation
Subjectivity vs objectivity
- Embraces multiple, subjective interpretations rather than seeking a single, objective truth
- Challenges the idea of the critic as an impartial, authoritative voice
- Acknowledges the role of personal experience and cultural background in shaping interpretations
- Explores the concept of situated knowledge and its relevance to art criticism
- Questions the possibility of truly objective criticism in art and culture
Multiplicity vs singularity
- Celebrates diverse and contradictory readings of artistic works
- Rejects the notion of a single, correct interpretation or meaning
- Encourages the exploration of marginalized and alternative perspectives
- Examines how different cultural contexts can produce varying interpretations of the same work
- Challenges the idea of a fixed, stable identity for both artists and artworks
Process vs product
- Shifts focus from the finished artwork to the creative process and context of production
- Examines the role of improvisation, chance, and collaboration in artistic creation
- Explores the concept of "work-in-progress" and its relevance to performance art
- Considers the documentation and archiving of ephemeral performances as part of the artistic process
- Investigates the relationship between rehearsal, performance, and audience reception
Impact on artistic practice
- Examines how postmodern and contemporary critical approaches have influenced the creation of performance art
- Explores new methodologies and collaborations inspired by postmodern theory
- Considers the ways in which artists have responded to and challenged critical discourse
Interdisciplinary collaborations
- Encourages partnerships between artists from different disciplines and backgrounds
- Explores the potential for new forms of artistic expression through cross-pollination of ideas
- Examines the challenges and benefits of working across traditional artistic boundaries
- Considers the role of technology in facilitating
- Investigates how collaborative practices challenge notions of individual authorship
Experimental methodologies
- Embraces unconventional approaches to artistic creation and presentation
- Explores the use of chance operations, aleatory techniques, and improvisation
- Examines the role of failure and uncertainty in the creative process
- Considers the ethical implications of experimental practices in performance art
- Investigates how artists push the boundaries of what is considered "art"
Challenging artistic conventions
- Questions established norms and traditions in performance and theater
- Explores alternative modes of representation and storytelling
- Examines the role of shock, provocation, and transgression in performance art
- Considers how artists subvert audience expectations and cultural assumptions
- Investigates the relationship between artistic innovation and social change
Critiquing postmodern criticism
- Examines the limitations and contradictions within postmodern critical approaches
- Explores emerging perspectives that build upon or challenge postmodern ideas
- Considers the ongoing relevance of postmodern criticism in contemporary art and culture
Limitations and contradictions
- Examines the potential for relativism and nihilism in extreme postmodern positions
- Explores the paradox of critiquing grand narratives while potentially creating new ones
- Considers the challenges of evaluating artistic quality in a postmodern framework
- Investigates the tension between postmodern theory and political activism
- Analyzes the potential for postmodern criticism to become overly academic or inaccessible
Post-postmodern perspectives
- Explores emerging critical approaches that address the limitations of postmodernism
- Examines concepts like metamodernism, altermodernism, and performatism
- Considers the role of affect, sincerity, and engagement in contemporary art criticism
- Investigates new forms of political and social critique in performance art
- Analyzes the impact of digital technologies and global networks on critical discourse
Relevance in contemporary art
- Examines the ongoing influence of postmodern ideas in current artistic practices
- Explores how artists navigate between postmodern and post-postmodern approaches
- Considers the role of postmodern criticism in addressing contemporary social issues
- Investigates the relationship between postmodern theory and new forms of digital art
- Analyzes the relevance of postmodern concepts in an increasingly globalized art world
Case studies in performance art
- Examines specific examples of postmodern and contemporary performance art
- Analyzes critical responses to these works and their impact on artistic discourse
- Explores the lasting influence of key performances on the development of the field
Notable postmodern performances
- Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present" (2010) explored endurance and audience interaction
- Laurie Anderson's "United States" (1983) blended music, technology, and storytelling
- Spalding Gray's monologue performances (1980s-1990s) challenged traditional theatrical narratives
- The Wooster Group's deconstructions of classic texts (1970s-present) reimagined theatrical conventions
- Pina Bausch's "Café Müller" (1978) blurred the boundaries between dance and theater
Contemporary critical responses
- Examines diverse interpretations and analyses of key performances
- Explores how critical responses have evolved over time and across cultural contexts
- Considers the role of social media and online platforms in shaping critical discourse
- Investigates the relationship between academic criticism and popular reception
- Analyzes how critical responses have influenced subsequent artistic practices
Legacy and influence
- Examines the long-term impact of influential performances on artistic practice
- Explores how postmodern performances have shaped contemporary approaches to art-making
- Considers the role of documentation and re-performance in preserving ephemeral works
- Investigates how critical discourse around key performances has evolved over time
- Analyzes the influence of postmodern performance art on other cultural forms and practices
Key Terms to Review (32)
Audience participation: Audience participation refers to the active involvement of viewers or spectators in a performance, breaking the traditional barrier between performers and the audience. This interaction can take many forms, such as inviting spectators on stage, encouraging them to engage with the work in various ways, or making them an integral part of the performance itself. This concept has evolved through different movements and styles, reshaping the dynamics of how art is experienced and interpreted.
Body Art: Body art refers to a form of performance art that uses the body as a canvas or medium, often incorporating elements like tattoos, piercings, and other forms of bodily modification. It serves as a powerful means of self-expression, identity exploration, and social commentary, especially within the realms of contemporary art and culture.
Challenging artistic conventions: Challenging artistic conventions refers to the practice of questioning, subverting, or redefining the established norms and expectations within art forms. This approach often seeks to provoke thought, inspire dialogue, and reflect the complexities of contemporary society by breaking away from traditional techniques, themes, and structures, leading to new forms of expression and interpretation.
Contemporary critical approaches: Contemporary critical approaches refer to the various theoretical frameworks and methods used to analyze and interpret art, literature, and performance in modern contexts. These approaches often challenge traditional viewpoints by incorporating elements from different disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, and cultural studies, to provide a more nuanced understanding of artistic works. They encourage diverse perspectives and interpretations, reflecting the complexities of contemporary society and culture.
Cultural hybridity: Cultural hybridity refers to the blending of different cultural elements to create new and diverse identities, practices, and forms of expression. This phenomenon often emerges from interactions between distinct cultures, particularly in contexts of globalization and cultural exchange, where influences are shared and mixed. It highlights the complexity of cultural identity in a world that is increasingly interconnected, revealing how traditional boundaries can shift and transform.
Dada: Dada was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, known for its rejection of conventional aesthetics and its embrace of absurdity, chaos, and anti-art sentiments. It sought to challenge societal norms and provoke thought through unpredictable performances, visual art, poetry, and manifestos that often critiqued war and bourgeois values. The movement laid the groundwork for later developments in performance art, global artistic practices, and contemporary critical theory.
Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a critical approach that seeks to understand the underlying assumptions and contradictions in texts and ideas, highlighting their instability and multiplicity of meanings. It challenges the idea of fixed interpretations, suggesting that meaning is not inherent but rather constructed through language and context. This approach has significant implications in various fields, including literature, philosophy, and performance art, influencing how we perceive and engage with narratives.
Digital age perspectives: Digital age perspectives refer to the way art, culture, and society are influenced by digital technology and the internet. This concept encompasses the transformation of performance art through new mediums, interactive experiences, and the impact of social media on audience engagement and participation.
Experimental methodologies: Experimental methodologies refer to innovative and often unconventional approaches used in the creation and performance of art, particularly within performance art. These methods emphasize the exploration of new ideas, forms, and techniques, challenging traditional norms and encouraging interaction between artists and audiences. By integrating elements from various disciplines and technologies, experimental methodologies facilitate a dynamic dialogue about the nature of art and its role in society.
Fluxus: Fluxus is an international art movement that emerged in the 1960s, characterized by its emphasis on the process of art-making, the blending of different artistic disciplines, and the idea of art as an experience rather than a finished product. The movement is known for its radical approach to art and performance, drawing on ideas from Dada and Futurism, while challenging traditional notions of art through participatory events and conceptual practices.
Fragmentation: Fragmentation refers to the breaking apart of a cohesive whole into smaller, often disconnected parts. In the context of postmodern and contemporary criticism, fragmentation is used to describe how narratives, identities, and experiences are often presented in disjointed or non-linear ways, reflecting the complexities and chaotic nature of modern life.
Fredric Jameson: Fredric Jameson is a prominent cultural critic and theorist known for his analysis of postmodernism and contemporary cultural practices. His work often explores how capitalism influences culture and how we interpret art in a postmodern context, emphasizing the complexity and fragmentation inherent in contemporary life. He argues that art and culture cannot be understood in isolation from the economic and political systems that shape them.
Gender performativity: Gender performativity is the concept that gender is not an inherent quality but rather something that is expressed and constructed through repeated actions, behaviors, and performances. This idea suggests that individuals enact their gender identities through everyday practices, influenced by societal norms and expectations, making gender a fluid and dynamic process rather than a fixed state.
Happenings: Happenings are spontaneous, often interactive events that blur the boundaries between art and life, created primarily in the 1960s. These performances emphasize experience over traditional artistic objects, aiming to engage audiences in a more immersive and participatory manner.
Hyperreality: Hyperreality is a condition in which reality and simulation become indistinguishable from one another, leading to a situation where representations of things become more real than the things themselves. This concept is often associated with postmodernism, as it highlights how media and technology can create a world that feels more authentic than actual experiences. It challenges our understanding of truth and authenticity in art and culture.
Identity politics: Identity politics refers to political positions and movements that are based on the interests and perspectives of social groups defined by aspects of their identity such as race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity. This concept highlights how personal experiences and collective identities shape political beliefs and actions, emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusion in political discourse.
Immersion: Immersion refers to the deep engagement or involvement of an audience in an experience, making them feel fully present and participatory in the moment. This concept is especially significant in performance art, where artists create environments or scenarios that draw viewers into the piece, encouraging them to interact with the work on a sensory and emotional level. Immersion can also involve breaking the traditional boundaries between performer and audience, transforming the viewing experience into an active participation rather than passive observation.
Interdisciplinary collaborations: Interdisciplinary collaborations refer to the cooperative efforts that bring together individuals from different fields or disciplines to create innovative solutions, artworks, or performances. This blending of perspectives encourages the cross-pollination of ideas, enhancing creativity and leading to more complex and nuanced outcomes. In the context of postmodern and contemporary criticism, these collaborations challenge traditional boundaries and promote new ways of understanding and interpreting artistic expressions.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality is a framework that examines how various social identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability, intersect and interact to create overlapping systems of discrimination or privilege. This concept highlights the complexity of individuals’ experiences and recognizes that social identities do not exist in isolation; they shape and influence each other, especially in areas like performance art, where personal and political narratives often intertwine.
Irony: Irony is a literary and rhetorical device where the intended meaning of words is different from their literal meaning, often leading to a contrast between expectations and reality. It can manifest in various forms, such as verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony, each providing layers of meaning that engage the audience in deeper reflection. This complexity in irony can challenge assumptions, provoke thought, and create a space for critical analysis, making it an essential element in contemporary discourse.
Jacques Derrida: Jacques Derrida was a French philosopher best known for developing a form of semiotic analysis known as deconstruction. His work challenges the traditional assumptions of language and meaning, suggesting that meanings are not fixed but rather fluid and contingent, which connects deeply with critical theory and the critique of institutional frameworks in art and culture.
Jean Baudrillard: Jean Baudrillard was a French sociologist, cultural theorist, and philosopher known for his ideas about simulation, hyperreality, and the effects of consumer culture in a postmodern world. His work critiques how reality is represented and perceived, particularly in the context of media and technology, emphasizing that in contemporary society, distinctions between reality and representation have become blurred.
Jean-François Lyotard: Jean-François Lyotard was a French philosopher and literary theorist best known for his analysis of postmodernism and the concept of the 'incredulity toward metanarratives.' His work challenged established ideas of knowledge, truth, and authority in art and culture, making him a key figure in postmodern thought. He argued that in a postmodern society, grand narratives or overarching explanations of historical and cultural phenomena lose their power, leading to a diversity of individual perspectives and fragmented experiences.
Judith Butler: Judith Butler is a prominent philosopher and gender theorist known for her influential work on gender performativity and the critique of gender norms. Her ideas have reshaped the understanding of identity, suggesting that gender is not an inherent trait but rather a performance shaped by social and cultural contexts. This perspective has significant implications for feminist and queer theory, as it challenges traditional binary notions of gender and emphasizes the fluidity of identity.
Multiplicity: Multiplicity refers to the existence of multiple meanings, interpretations, or representations within a single work of art or performance. This concept challenges the idea of a singular or fixed meaning, suggesting that art can be understood and experienced in diverse ways depending on the viewer's perspective, cultural context, and personal experiences. Multiplicity is often associated with postmodern and contemporary approaches to art that embrace ambiguity and complexity.
Pastiche: Pastiche is a literary or artistic work that imitates the style or character of another work, often combining various elements from different sources to create a new piece. This technique serves to celebrate or pay homage to the original works while also revealing the blending and layering of influences that characterize postmodern art and criticism.
Performance as activism: Performance as activism refers to the use of live art and performance practices as a means of raising awareness, provoking thought, and inciting social or political change. This approach often challenges dominant narratives and encourages audiences to engage with pressing social issues, transforming the performance space into a site for critical reflection and dialogue.
Postmodern criticism: Postmodern criticism is an approach to analyzing and interpreting cultural works that emerged in the late 20th century, emphasizing the subjective nature of meaning and the instability of interpretations. It challenges traditional narratives and universal truths, suggesting that reality is constructed through language and cultural context. This type of criticism often deconstructs established norms, blurring boundaries between high and low art, and exploring how power dynamics shape perception and representation.
Simulacra: Simulacra refers to representations or imitations of objects, experiences, or concepts that can create a sense of reality without being connected to an original source. This idea challenges the distinction between the real and the artificial, suggesting that what we perceive may be mere copies or illusions rather than authentic experiences. In today's world, simulacra play a significant role in shaping our interactions with digital technologies and the interpretation of contemporary culture.
Site-specific performance: Site-specific performance refers to art created specifically for a particular location, where the performance's meaning is deeply connected to the environment in which it occurs. This form of performance art transforms the perception of space, allowing the audience to engage with the work in a more immersive and personal way, often prompting reflections on the site’s history, culture, and context.
Spectatorship: Spectatorship refers to the relationship between a performance and its audience, emphasizing how viewers engage with, interpret, and respond to a performance. This concept not only shapes the audience's experience but also influences the artist's intent, especially when considering the role of the audience in shaping meaning and creating a communal experience.
Surrealism: Surrealism is an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the early 20th century, aiming to explore the unconscious mind and challenge conventional perceptions of reality. This movement often employs bizarre imagery, unexpected juxtapositions, and dream-like scenes to provoke thought and evoke emotions, influencing various forms of expression including performance art, where it encourages breaking boundaries between reality and illusion.