Modernism and Post Modernism: Deeana Farag

         Late 19th century was a constantly evolving period that significantly paved the way for revolution not only in technology, but in society and its ideologies as whole. Older traditions began to collapse, eventually paving the way for 20th century modernism. Modernism significantly amounted to reinterpretation of religious, philosophical, and social norms. A few characteristics of this ideology ranging from self awareness, skepticism, and transparency. Modernism also provided artists, specifically female with a platform to propose new ideologies within their art, straying from previous norms and expectations. Through their work, female artists portrayed social issues of the time, shedding light on previously unaddressed problems. Impacting history through the work of art, allows room for the appreciation of modernism. The modernist point of view suggests that people should continuously adapt to change and accept the views of the 20th century, which is constantly progressing. Modernism rooted in the idea that the "traditional" forms of art had become outdated, and that it was therefore essential to move it aside and embrace and accept change. Modernism is significant in its rejection of traditional norms, proposing a return to the fundamentals of art that allows artists to have a freedom of expression.
          Ana Mendieta was one of the many significant women throughout this time, creating art during the American Women's Movement of Modernism. Her pieces mainly portray the struggles women face everyday. Mendieta's work also portrays the theme of spirituality with the earth. In Women, Art, and Society by Whitney Chadwick, she portrays that Mendieta's work allowed room for "powerful identifications between the female body and the land in ways that annihilated the conventions of surface on which the traditions of Western Art rest” (Chadwick 233). Ana Mendieta was also iconic for portraying her own self in her art. In her piece Rape Scene, she is shedding light on the gruesome rape and murder and a young college student from Iowa. Mendieta herself is seen with blood smeared across her nude figure, highlighting the violence women are prone too even in places of professionalism. 

Ana Mendieta Rape Scene 1973

         Frida Kahlo was also one of the many female artists who portrayed the correlation between the world and spirituality within her art. As Mendieta, Frieda as well created art portraying her own self. Her art is significant and unique in the fact that she portrays symbolism of physical pain, to truly understand how deeply she is suffering emotionally as well. Her art portrays the immense pain she suffered due to a tragic bus accident resulting in thirty two operations. Her emotional suffering rooted not only from her multiple miscarriages, but her husband's notorious affairs as well. A man took a devastating toll on her emotional stability, causing her depression to match the physical pain she was also in battle with. The difference is, spectators were only able to see her physical pain, thus why she was so adamant in expressing her emotions through her art. Her piece Roots portrays her connection to the Earth, the roots portraying her paralyzed spine opening up finally giving birth to a vine, the vine portraying a successful birth rather than her constant miscarriages. Guerrilla Girls quotes Kahlo saying, "the world just loves women artists who are dead and sad" (79) Kahlo's art significantly impacts viewers by allowing them to truly feel the psychical and emotional pain she suffered as such a young woman.

Frida Kahlo Roots 1942

         Late 20th century post modernist theories are beginning to be questioned, brining forth new characteristics of modernism. Postmodernism discouraged previous biases, rejecting past ideologies, as they were deemed to be irrational and unscientific. Chadwick believes that the feminist movement of the arts, “reflects women’s political and social consciousness profoundly influenced artistic practice in America” (344). Many modern artists were rebellious and filled with fragmentation. Instead of painting landscapes and portraits, modernist artists began to paint more abstract pictures and collages using symbolism. 20th century postmodernism, consisted of many, if not almost all, female artists expressing art that symbolizes the social obstacles of that time. Chadwick writes, “In the face of protests by blacks, students, and women, the fiction of an art world isolated from broader social and political issues by “objectively:, “quality” and “aesthetics” began to be exposed” (Chadwick 344). Female African American artists first gave visual form to the growing separation between the white American Dream and the Black American reality. These included Elizabeth Catlett’s sculptures and prints, Faith Ringgold’s and Betye Saar's paintings, along with many more. 

Faith Ringgold Die 1967

Betye Saar The Liberation of Aunt Jemima 1972

          Faith Ringgold’s paintings specifically focused attention on the distance between the black community and American Mainstream through their paintings. Her painted mural of a street riot was influenced by the 1930’s realism style. Betye Saar’s images and collages depicted stereotypical images of African Americans. Political and angry piece portraying white cultures stereotypical images of blacks. Catlett’s works focused on the theme of equal rights and her scriptures became icons for the struggle of social justice.

Elizabeth Catlett Black Unity 1968

Modernism and Post-moderism provided these expectational artists with a platform allowing them to voice issues that failed to be acknowledged in this time. Being very different from one another but similar in the ways the allowed society to not only progress, but to stray from social norms and traditions. Post modernism provides development in social, cultural and even economic aspects of life, while modernism encouraged the reinterpretation past ideologies. Post modernism was considered a fresh start, straying from every and any past biases, due to the unrealistic and irrational stigma that went hand in hand with modernism. Female artists were instrumental in the development of these main themes because they were able to portray the harsh realities of women from personal perspectives. Furthermore, modernism and post modernism were significant in their shaping of art, portraying the significance of change and the social obstacles of that time period. 

Works Cited:

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Thames and Hudson, 1990. Print.

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York: Penguin, 1998. Print.