Modernism and Post modernism

Modernism was a movement that was shaped by huge technological changes in Western society, occurring in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. A pinnacle point was the invention of the steam engine, which had a catalyst effect on all elements of Western society: These new technologies drove the economy and so those who owned them became a new ruling class, undermining the power of the monarchy. The working people also gained power also through for example trade unions, and secularisation occurred.  Mass manufacturing and consumption drove society towards a philosophy concerning belief not in people, but in machines and objects. In art, designers and artists moved towards new ways of creating and different perspectives; they embraced science and progress and believed embedding these into cultural works would improve the world. Through experimentation and expression, they rejected tradition. Graphic designers saw ornamental design as a crime, stating the most important element as functionality. Post world war 2, modernism was no longer about expressionism and experimentation, but about change and order, driven by the peoples’ desire for an end to chaos and something new.

 

-          Uses a grid system

-          Colour-blocking, no gradient

-          Minimalistic typeface

-          More about function than form

-          Abstract illustration

Modernism came to an end as people became cynical of the values the movement presented. They felt rationality, functionality and order was no longer helping society to progress as it might have done at the start. Modernism had also been giving a large voice to fascists who had a large involvement in the Brutalist and Futurism movements.

Post Modernism appeared under the philosophy of “Anything Goes”. As Graphic Designer Paula Scher comments, it was “not about creating order but about creating spirit”. Post modernism was characterised by a release from constrain and an absences of thinking things must be designed and created with a political and social sense. Designers believed there are no absolutes in art and started to question functionality. Elements of post modernism include historicity, as some argue it is made up of appropriating ideas from other cultures and traditions to commodify them. The increase in visual communication also drove hyperreality, in which Jean Baudrillard argues people were being surrounded by so many images at once that once they were presented with a new one, they would only understand it through referencing to other images and information. 

-          Chaotic

-          Follows a loose grid system

-          Bright colours

-          Expressive

-          Does not place function as predominant element

-          Mixed media