POST #15 – READING - DISCUSSION – ARSON AND MANSFIELD MODERN ART EXCERPTS

 This week’s reading and video were about the differences between Modern Art, Postmodern Art, and Contemporary Art. In the reading by Arnason and Mansfield, one major idea is that Postmodernism is not about following strict rules. Postmodern artists believed that art could come from anywhere—everyday life, media, even other artwork. They used humor, shock, and ideas from the past in new ways. This is called appropriation. For example, Duchamp’s “Fountain” was just a urinal turned into art. He made people think about what art really is.

The video also helped explain how Postmodernism is different from Modernism. Modern art focused on form and structure. Postmodern art focused on meaning and let the viewer decide what something means. It didn’t have to be beautiful or serious. It could be silly, strange, or emotional.

Discussion Question: Do you think it’s okay for Postmodern artists to copy or remix other people’s work? Does that still make it creative and original? Can stealing ideas still be art if it makes people think?

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