Throughout the course of the twentieth century, society, and more specifically, the art community, underwent a rebirth called modernism. Modernism served as the basis for artists and society as a whole to seeks an expansion away from Victorian morals, which placed such marked constraints on society and social interaction. In this context, art became a philosophical means of expression in which the artist sought to improve the work to a higher level of expression. One artist made the observation that, "modernist art was the avant-garde mainstream within a broader stream, modern art, because it was progressive, verging toward ever-more-autonomous forms."
[...] When this occurred, those creating art sought to abandon the utopian ideal and provide for the community a clear representation of the immediate present. This method of artwork not only symbolizes a need for artists to better experience the world around them, but also for all individuals to look at the world as it truly was; rather than through s rose-colored lens which provided most citizens with a false sense of reality overall. In an attempt to provide a broad overview of postmodern art and its overall context for development, one only needs to consider the specific works that were created during this time period. [...]
[...] Gone are the idealistic utopian goals that served as the creation of art during the modern period. In the end, it seems reasonable to argue that the development of postmodern art was inevitable. As Western society passed through an era of innocence in which many scholars believed that anything was possible, the limitations of society and culture began to demonstrate that human potential was not limitless. In response to this realization, artists began exploring the specific implements of daily life that were impacting and driving social discourse. [...]
[...] Thus, the social ideology of utopia played a significant role in the development of modern art in the early and mid-twentieth century. By all accounts it is what drove the continued development of art. Assessing the manner in which politics, economics and gender impacted the development of postmodern art, it seems feasible to assert that over the course of the postmodern period, individuals caught in the countercultural movement that swept the United States were most likely to engage in and understand postmodern art. [...]
[...] The progression of postmodern art has also entailed the use of technology as a means for promoting social awareness of cultural changes. Between 1969 and 1971 Nam June Paik created the Virtual Video Synthesizer, which allowed real-time synchronization of seven different camera inputs. This artwork essentially used the television screen as a means to produce art. This type of postmodern art is typically referred to as media art. Obviously, this form is one that incorporates the concrete realities of society into the context of creating art. [...]
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