How has modernism and post-modernism changed our world for the better?

Well before I can answer that question I first have to define what modernism and postmodernism is.  Modernism is defined as “A style or movement in the arts that aims to depart significantly from classical and traditional forms” . In modernism, there are 3 phrases;

Between 16^th- 18^th century  “called the Early Modern Period” 

The French Revolution between 1789 -1799 “France went from a monarchy ruled by King Louis XVI to a republic ruled by the people …and then to a dictatorship run by Napoleon” 

The 20^th century – “The process of modernization expands to take in virtually the world and the developing world culture of modernism achieves spectacular triumphs in art and thought” 

An example of a modernist photographer is William Eggleston. Eggleston’s photo of the child’s bicycle was of that particular time (the 1970s).

Postmodernism is defined as “A late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories” 

I would say that Cindy Sherman is good example of postmodernism photography. Sherman is a self-portrait photographer, and her film still in the early part of her career. This really shows photography in a different way. The film still in black and white and made to look like the old movies of the early 50s/ 60s.

In essence, modernity refers to "historical, cultural political and economic conditions related to the enlightenment (18th century philosophical movement) the rise of industrial society". This was due to " the formation of republics based on explicitly modern political ideals such as liberal democracy" which happened during the French and American revolutions.I think that this had a great impact for generations to come, "in the form of industrialization and technological advancement" to a "communist ethos of equal benefits and living conditions for all citizens".

So to answer the question modernism and postmodernism has done a lot for us, it means that creative people and the public alike can expression themselves through creating art/photography and we as the public can look and comment on it.

Bibliography

Online

Arthistoryresources.net, (2014). Modernism: The Roots of Modernism. [online] Available at: http://arthistoryresources.net/modernism/roots.html - accessed on 14/05/14

 Cliffsnotes.com, (2014). I don't really understand the French Revolution. What started it, and what stopped it?. [online] Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/history/i-dont-really-understand-the-french-revolution-what-started-it-and-what-stopped-it - accessed on 14/05/14

Oxforddictionaries.com, (2014). modernism: definition of modernism in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). [online] Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/modernism - accessed on 14/05/14

Oxforddictionaries.com, (2014). postmodernism: definition of postmodernism in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). [online] Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/postmodernism - accessed on 14/05/14

Book

Berman, M. (2001). All that is solid melts into air. 1st ed. London, Verso

Sturken,M and Cartwright,L (2009) Practices of Looking 2nd ed, Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press

Online - Images 

William Eggleston - http://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/william-eggleston-05-660x451.jpg - accessed on 14/05/14

Cindy Sherman - https://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/P/P11/P11519_10.jpg - accessed on 14/05/14

BBC 2 “Blur the Lines the New Battle of the Sexes”

Kirsty Wark investigates the inequality between the sexes.  How misogyny and the growth of sexism towards women has become widespread in social media and gaming.  She also looks at how different attitudes mostly from men are counter-balanced with how women feel about it as well as talking to a wide range of people from psychologist to comedians and feminist.

In this one hour special, Kirsty Wark goes on a journey to gain a greater understanding of why there is so much misogyny and sexism in society. In turn this has dramatic consequences, causing in certain situations for women to be abused or threatened to be attacked. 

Kirsty Wark defines what both sexism and misogyny is:

Sexism – Is prejudice and discrimination against men or women.

Misogyny – Is personalised sexualised and often violent towards women.

During the late 80s, imagery of the sexes had changed:

For women = “For women it was power suits” Kirsty Wark

For men = “For men there was the new man from posters to advertising” Kirsty Wark

Throughout that time there was a rise of UK pop with groups like Oasis and Blur. This in turn changed popular culture and there was a magazine that celebrated it. “In 1994, Loaded busted onto the scene with a swagger, a beer can and a topless women.    

Kirsty Wark interviewed Martin Dobney, Loaded longest running editor. In this interview, I learned about who the readership of the magazine (white, working class males). Martin Dobney stated that “Loaded was a reaction to that with 2 fingers up” against the “asexual image of what men had been told to be” by older generations. Kirsty went onto say “we are celebrated women …but it was more about their looks” Then Martin Dobney admitted that women in their magazines were used as objects “sales devices, they did sale magazines because if you put a man on the cover of a man’s magazine, it was commercial suicide”. 

Later on, Kirsty Wark sums up the programme with these final statements “ young women and men deserve to grow up in a society that women and men have mutual respect.” “We are at a moment at where misogynic views are tolerated and gain a solid footing there’ll be destructive consequences for the next generation and that’s not a laughing matter for any of us. Both of these statements I agree with. I would definitely recommend this show for everyone to watch because if you watch this you will learn something.

Bibliography

Blur the Lines the New Battle of the Sexes, 2014, TV special, BBC2, London 

Image

Advertisting photo - http://img.rlsbb.com/images/2014/05/09/624.jpg - accessed on 12/05/14

The Big Debate – 'THIS HOUSE BELIEVES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS MAKING LIFE WORSE'

I took part in this debate for the last lesson of discourse. I decided to be on the side that was for social media. There were 3 people on either side for and against and other people in the class got a chance to give their opinion on the topic of social media as well. 

The debate started off with the side that was against social media. The points that come up were:

Because of social media, kids and teenagers are spending all their time indoors instead of playing outside or meeting in person with friends.

Bullying amongst kids and teenagers has increased due to cyber bullying

On sites like Facebook, if a person uploads an image, Facebook own the rights to that image.

Then, we moved on to the side that was for social media. The points that were highlighter are:

   Social media has helped women bridge that gap between men in the business world leading to women setting up more of their own businesses.

   Social media is good because people are able to communicate with long lost school friends that they haven’t spoken to in years.

Social media is a powerful, immediate communication tool. However it comes with great responsibly and the need to self regulate. Whatever you put in reaches a very wide audience at great speed and you cannot change the consequence.

After that it was the other people’s turn to take part in the debate. Here are the general points.

     Celebrities should be more responsible for the images that they put of themselves on social media because some of them have very young fans that can be influenced by what they see.

A few people were unsure whether social media was a good thing or not.

    Young people on social media use text speak (slang) instead of Standard English to talk to each other.

Social media users should not put anything (written/images) on sites that they would not want everyone to know about.

Even though I support social media, like everything in the world, there are positives and negatives of social media. I believe that social media sites are very good. Social media is the future and if you don’t embrace them you will be left behind.

Bibliography

Discourse lecture, The Big debate, 'THIS HOUSE BELIEVES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS MAKING LIFE WORSE', supporting for the debate, 02/05/14

Images

Photo of debate in lecture, 02/05/14, University of East London

Snoopy - http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/how-social-media-will-help-your-job-search/ – accessed on 04/05/14

Social media logos - http://www.cosmic.org.uk/consultancy/social-media  – accessed 04/05/14