Lyotard, Pre Class 2/10, meg143

Lyotard’s reading on the question of “What is Postmodernism” was pretty difficult to understand. He begins by discussing Realism and how it’s “only definition is that it intends to avoid the question of reality implicated in that of art, always stands somewhere between academicism and kitsch” (41). Lyotard describes how Realism does not look to define what is real and what is not, that there is no correct form of art or narrative. Realism is an important part of postmodernism. In the next section Lyotad describes his definition of what postmodern means and how it relates to realism. “It is clear that it is not our business to supply reality but to invent allusions to the conceivable which can be presented.” (46). This explains that reality is not a very important or necessary aspect to postmodernism. Lyotard also continues to explain how postmodern architecture is much like a bricolage of ideas where rational and reality do not come into play. This definitely rings true postmodern architecture has such a different style and tone without nearly as many rules as other styles. Postmodern architecture represents more of a feeling of innovation and creativity than a set of rigid rules and tradition. I also found it very interesting how Lyotard chose to describe the difference and similarity between the postmodern and the modern. “A work can become modern only if it is first postmodern. Postmodernism thus understood is not modernism at its end but in the nascent state, and this is constant” (44). I felt this was a very good description and recognizes that the word “post” modern doesn’t necessarily fit the term or era because modern work did not necessarily come before postmodern work; they have an interconnected relationship, where technically postmodern work comes first.