I heard the phrase 'postmodern cynical irony' used to describe the rut that art has got itself into. That, and if government-funded, a sort of bland, inoffensive 'celebration of diversity' - which doesn't strike me as art but more of a public service announcement for social engineering.

But is postmodernism actually escapable? In an era of mass communication and easily accessible history and everything having been done before is it possible to stop riffing off of different elements of history and move on to genuinely new territory?

More questions then answers...

I know what you're saying but I guess my confusion is "has postmodernism and subsequent perspectives all been 'understood' and given value, however transient" by an underlying reliance on Modernist perspectives? ... Is having a postmodern style or technique the same as creating something postmodern? or is it all now just underpinned by Modernist values whatever the style?

this thread is like art
or like a broken record
going in circles

id be happy with less of a fixation with the word irony, which seems to be banded about to justify all sorts of 'postmodern' art-wank.

It's impossible to talk about postmodernism without sounding like a pretentious ass. I'd be perfectly happy with the death of postmodernism, but I just can't imagine it.

isnt that part of the issue? if postmodernism was 'Justified' or 'Legitimised' so that you dont feel like a 'pretentious ass' when you are talking aboout it, then the idea of postmodernism would be lost. You cant give value to no-value. That is what has been confusing me. that's why i thought maybe it's dead. It was given value, and then taken away.
"I'm a legitimate postmodernist,,, and I am unanimous in that"

Is SHOWstudio postmodern? do Nick and Penny intend to be postmodern? ...?

postmodernism is like porn - i don't know how to describe it exactly but I know it when I see it.

Showstudio's definately postmodern.

does anyone intend to be postmodern?