20P - Postmodern Music and Art Lesson

Postmodern Music and Art

Postmodernist Music

Music is poetry with a clear rhythm and sound. Defined as either music simply from the Postmodern time period or music that follows the trends of Postmodernism, Postmodern music started as a reaction against music from the Modernist time period. Although changes occurred in many musical genres, and many critics mark the emergence of Postmodernism based on different artists, the shift in pop music occurred during the 1960's. The shift in pop music revealed a radical change of styles aligning with the Postmodernist ideas of breaking free from the norm—which allowed artists and writers to embody the new ideals of the counterculture of the 1960's.

The Counterculture of the 1960's started in the United States and spread across England as the African-American Civil Rights Movement grew and the U.S. government became more involved in Vietnam. In England, the Counterculture of the 1960's was an underground scene that produced its own newspapers, bands, and clubs. Within the counterculture, individuals held a high disregard for institutions, authority, and previously held beliefs—they had their own ideas regarding morality and sexuality and praised alternative lifestyles such as Bohemianism and the hippie lifestyle. Less censorship occurred regarding all art forms, and many important musical groups who embodied the ideals of the time period, such as The Beatles, emerged.

Elements of Postmodern Music

Elements of Postmodern Music -CHALLENGES BARRIERS BETWEEN "HIGH" AND "LOW" STYLES -SHOWS DISDAIN FOR ESTABLISHED SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS - QUESTIONS THE EXCLUSIVITY OF ELITIST VALUES - CONSIDERS MUSIC AS RELEVANT TO SHAPING SOCIETY - INCLUDES REFERENCES TO MUSIC OF OTHER TRADITIONS OR CULTURES - PRESENTS MULTIPLE MEANINGS

The Beatles Lennon was fascinated by the power of slogans to unite people and never afraid to create art out of propaganda. When asked in 1971 whether songs like Give Peace a Chance' and "Power to the People" were propaganda songs, he answered: 'Sure. So was Al You need Is Love. I'm a revolutionary artist. My art is dedicated to change. - Jade Wright (a journalist)

Composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, the Beatles formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England. The group was an English rock band rooted in 1950's rock and roll, but typical of the Postmodern period, they incorporated various genres into their music in innovative ways. Elvis Presley, Buddy Holiday, and Little Richard among others served as important influences to the early music of The Beatles. As the group grew, they found inspiration from multiple types of music and combined styles in order to create their own sound. Their lyrics serve as poems embodying the ideals shared by the counterculture of the 1960's where society wanted peace and love for everyone.

"All You Need is Love"

The Beatles performed "All You Need is Love" on their first live global television debut. In the midst of war, civil rights concerns, and other social issues, the band wanted to give the world a message that everyone could understand: Love is everything.

Read the lyrics and listen to "All You Need is Love" Links to an external site.

"Give Peace a Chance"

"Give Peace a Chance", John Lennon's first solo single, was released when Lennon was still a member of The Beatles. The song became an anthem for the American anti-war movement during the 1970's.

Read the lyrics and listen to "Give Peace a Chance." Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.When reading the lyrics and listening to the songs of The Beatles, notice the underlying messages of peace and love. Similarly, note the innovative style (at the time) of their music

Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd, composed of Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright, formed in London in 1965. The rock band played in the Underground Scene in London as a group before they became popular. Also finding inspiration elsewhere for their music as most Postmodernists do, Pink Floyd's influence was the genre of Jazz—specifically Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The group was known for their progressive music and philosophical lyrics.
"Goodbye Blue Sky" (1979)

"Goodbye Blue Sky" has varying interpretations. Some critics believe the song is about the Blitzkrieg when Nazi Germany strategically bombed England during World War II. However, other critics believe the lyrics describing the fear of war and disillusionment from war serve as a metaphor paralleling Wright's life as his childhood ends, and he steps out into the lonely world as an adult. Regardless, the lyrics reveal the fear of wartime from during this time period.

Read the lyrics and listen to "Goodbye Blue Sky." Links to an external site.

"Another Brick in the Wall"

"Another Brick in the Wall" is a song appearing in three parts that questions educational institutions. Pink Floyd creates a song that entails a dream of students protesting against their abusive teachers. The group refers to education as a wall shielding students from experiencing the real world and preventing students from crafting their own ideas and opinions on certain issues. The song refers to each teacher as "just another brick in the wall" that prevent students from true knowledge.  

Read the lyrics Links to an external site. and listen to Links to an external site. "Another Brick in the Wall."

When reading the lyrics and listening to the music of Pink Floyd, note how the lyrics speak out against certain institutions and issues concerning war.

Art of the 20th Century

Many critics believe that the Victorian Era continued until the start of World War I, so many changes in art and literature did not occur until after the war. Instead of pastoral, realistic scenes or portraits, new art forms that pushed old artistic boundaries emerged as a reaction to the Victorian period. View the presentation below on Modernist art that lead to the emergence of Postmodernist art.

Modernist Art: Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art

Postmodern Art

Postmodern art includes various art movements that appeared as a reaction to Modernism or art movements considered Postmodernist. Postmodernist art contains a variety of art forms including Minimalism, New Classicism, Installation Art, Lowbrow Art, and Neo-expressionism. View the presentation below for a brief overview of various types of Postmodernist Art.

Art Movements During Postmodernism

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