Difference Between Modern Art and Postmodern Art

Table of Contents

Main Difference

Art is something that gives peace of mind and beauty to behold. At the same time, it can be a wee bit annoying because of the complications it brings. Be it the use of words or the abstract art while painting or material which is present for people to read. It has been divided into different eras which are known as premodern, modern and postmodern. This article will help to explain the difference between the last two terms called modern and postmodern. To define these terms a look at the different eras in which they have been divided will be helpful. The modern era was known as the time during the year 1450 to 1960 while the postmodern era is the one which follows it from 1960 onward. There were many differences between these two times, mostly related to the type of work that was being done in these times. The age of renascence and the industrial revolutions took place in the modern era which was also influenced by the world wars. The postmodern era was the one when more developments place and the times were peaceful. Therefore, it reflected in the type of work that was being done. It is the period of information and change. The art was also influenced by the political structure in those times, capitalism was in abundance during the modern era while the world has become a global village now. In technical terms, modern art can be defined as the work which was done in the during the times when modernization was taking place. While postmodern art can be said to the work which was done to express the times after the developments took place. Art was considered the work of men only while in postmodern times people from all sexes, classes and ethnicity are participating towards it. There was a specific theme being followed in the time of modern art while there is no particular topic being developed in recent times. People in the contemporary era believed that real art is learned by following different basics while individuals in the recent times feel that anything that is a creation of mind can be termed as art. A brief description of both these eras and their differences are given in the paragraphs which will follow.

Comparison Chart

Modern Art	Postmodern Art
From 1450 to 1960	From 1960-current
Gender Spread
Most of the artists in the modern times were male.	Artists in the postmodern times have been a mixture of both.
Mindset
Go with the ideas in every way.	Question the changes and moving towards new ones quickly
Influence
Influenced by political and society pressure	Free of any pressures

Definition of Modern Art

The best way to define modern ear will be to look at it as a time where people were bound by a different set of rules which they had to follow to be termed as artists. Since it was influenced by the difficult periods in Europe which was on the brink of bankruptcy, with all the wars in the 18th and 19th centuries, the revolutions that took place all over the world and several other factors. People had the impression that art is just restricted to men. Therefore, most of the famous artists in this era were all men. It was also driven by the notion that art is goal oriented, and people tend to forget the main aim. There were distinct styles which were being used by artists to express themselves. It was the new beginning where people started to see different changes in the way of lives, which were very different from the premodern era.

Definition of Postmodern Art

It is the free art where people are allowed to express their ideas in the way they want without any political pressure and other factors. This era was started when the Americans introduced different varieties in the existing modern art, by bringing in the types such as pop art to change the mindset of people from enjoying the recent times to move into a new era and creating a mindset of their own. Due to the age of technology and advancements when the world has become a global village it is hard to contain art in its previous form and radical changes were required to bring in this new form. It brought a new trend where people felt free to ask questions about Chronicles of the previous times. It also brought changes such as people started taking art as a source of expressing themselves instead of taking it as a goal oriented field. It also helped to change the notion that art is only restricted to the men. Feminist art and the work of minorities started to be credited.

Differences in a Nutshell

The main difference between these two types of arts was that modern art was from 1450 to 1960 while postmodern art started from 1960’s and still going on.

Most of the artists in the modern times were male while artists in the postmodern times have been a mixture of both.

In modern era people tended to enjoy the modernism but in the postmodern era, people are questioning the changes and moving towards new ones quickly.

Arts in the modern times was influenced by political and society pressure while the postmodern art is free from all those factors.

In the contemporary work whatever the meaning was given by the writer was considered to be the only meaning but in postmodern times, people tend to make their own mind and deduce the idea according to their will.

Conclusion

Art is a sensitive matter in which people can connect with the things they haven’t before. This article looks at the two stages of art which have been influencing the artists of their time and now have created separate categories and importance for themselves. Overall, this article explains the two eras and gives a clear understanding about the differences.

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