Deconstruction, Deconstruction, Post-Deconstruction, Post-Deconstruction, Post-Modernism and Post-Modernism and other lofty conceptsother lofty concepts

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DeconstructionDeconstruction

The deconstructionist trend (Modernism) The deconstructionist trend (Modernism) in art was to in art was to questionquestion and to and to violateviolate every every convention and structure of classic art, to convention and structure of classic art, to decontextualize meaning, and to decontextualize meaning, and to discarddiscard or or distortdistort all the recognizable elements of all the recognizable elements of classic art.classic art.

Instead, these were replaced with Instead, these were replaced with ironyirony and and self-awarenessself-awareness, as novels referred to , as novels referred to themselves as works of fiction, and themselves as works of fiction, and paintings labeled themselves as works of paintings labeled themselves as works of art. art.

Modern/Decontruction ArtModern/Decontruction Art

MusicMusic– Basic Convention include melody and Basic Convention include melody and

harmonyharmony– Deconstructivism includes discordant Deconstructivism includes discordant

and jarring musicand jarring music

PaintingPainting- Basic includes perspective and realismBasic includes perspective and realism- Deconstructvism includes skewed Deconstructvism includes skewed

perspective, and purposely unrealistic perspective, and purposely unrealistic depictionsdepictions

The OldThe Old

The NewThe New

The OldThe Old

The NewThe New

PoetryPoetry

- ‘Basic’ includes rhyme - ‘Basic’ includes rhyme and meterand meter

- Deconstruction may - Deconstruction may reject form altogether, reject form altogether, jettisoning meter, rhyme jettisoning meter, rhyme and inherent logicand inherent logic

‘‘Old’ PoetryOld’ Poetry

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightI love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday'sI love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

Elizabeth B. BrowningElizabeth B. Browning

Deconstructivist/Modernist Deconstructivist/Modernist PoetryPoetry

Buffalo Bill 's Buffalo Bill 's defunct defunct who used to who used to ride a watersmooth-silver ride a watersmooth-silver stallion stallion and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat

Jesus Jesus he was a handsome man he was a handsome man and what i want to know is and what i want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister DeathMister Death

by E. E. Cummings by E. E. Cummings

Deconstructivist works are very ironic Deconstructivist works are very ironic and self-aware. They examine their and self-aware. They examine their own existence as fabricated pieces of own existence as fabricated pieces of art. art.

Audiences originally did not like any Audiences originally did not like any deconstructivist art. deconstructivist art.

Ex. Stravinsky’s Rite of SpringEx. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring

Fun Quotes!Fun Quotes!

""Deconstructionist art Deconstructionist art stimulates the viewer to stimulates the viewer to take part in the analysis of the "between' and take part in the analysis of the "between' and explores the possibilities of the explores the possibilities of the frame."(Papadakis)frame."(Papadakis)

DeconstructionDeconstruction is 'not only the analysis of is 'not only the analysis of concepts in their most rigorous and internalised concepts in their most rigorous and internalised manner, but also their analysis from without, to manner, but also their analysis from without, to question what these concepts and their history question what these concepts and their history hide,as repression or dissimulation.'(Tschumi)hide,as repression or dissimulation.'(Tschumi)

The The DeconstructorDeconstructor scrutinises the paradoxes of scrutinises the paradoxes of 'parergonal logic'. He or she detects 'frame 'parergonal logic'. He or she detects 'frame slippage': those moments when aspects of the slippage': those moments when aspects of the signified move over to become parts of the signified move over to become parts of the signifier, when content fragments into form; signifier, when content fragments into form; and soon.(John Griffiths)and soon.(John Griffiths)

The Rite of SpringThe Rite of Spring

Premier, May 29, 1913, Paris France:Premier, May 29, 1913, Paris France:

The complex music and violent dance steps The complex music and violent dance steps depicting fertility rites first drew catcalls and depicting fertility rites first drew catcalls and whistles from the crowd. At the start with the whistles from the crowd. At the start with the opening bassoon solo, the audience began to boo opening bassoon solo, the audience began to boo loudly due to the slight discord in the background loudly due to the slight discord in the background notes behind the bassoon's opening melody. notes behind the bassoon's opening melody. There were loud arguments in the audience There were loud arguments in the audience between supporters and opponents of the work. between supporters and opponents of the work. These were soon followed by shouts and fistfights These were soon followed by shouts and fistfights in the aisles. The unrest in the audience in the aisles. The unrest in the audience eventually degenerated into a riot. eventually degenerated into a riot.

TodayToday

Deconstruction has mutated to be Deconstruction has mutated to be more audience friendlymore audience friendlyCollage Collage —other work is placed in —other work is placed in odd context for new meaningodd context for new meaningRap MusicRap Music —samples and self- —samples and self-awareness in lyrics are awareness in lyrics are deconstructivist conceptsdeconstructivist conceptsPost-Modern NovelsPost-Modern Novels — —Autobiography and fiction are blurred Autobiography and fiction are blurred

CollageCollage

Post-Deconstruction/ Post-Deconstruction/ ‘Reconstruction’ / ‘post modern’‘Reconstruction’ / ‘post modern’

Adapts the deconstructionist works to classic Adapts the deconstructionist works to classic themes to create works of genuine themes to create works of genuine emotion and significanceemotion and significance

Combines weirdness of decon. with comfort Combines weirdness of decon. with comfort and rewards of classic literature.and rewards of classic literature.

Its purpose was to reintroduce reality in an Its purpose was to reintroduce reality in an art form that had shown everything to be art form that had shown everything to be illusionillusion

Vonnegut: Postmodern MasterVonnegut: Postmodern Master

Post-Deconstruction: Post-Deconstruction: Four Key ElementsFour Key Elements

A Nod to Artifice:A Nod to Artifice: the artwork is aware the artwork is aware of its won status as a creation. However, of its won status as a creation. However, unlike deconst., it is not simply ironic. It unlike deconst., it is not simply ironic. It compels one to believe in its own deeper compels one to believe in its own deeper reality even as it relies on its superficialityreality even as it relies on its superficiality

Classic Structure:Classic Structure: Despite surprising Despite surprising elements, reconst. artwork is always based elements, reconst. artwork is always based on a classic or conventional structureon a classic or conventional structure

Post-Deconstruction Post-Deconstruction Four Key ElementsFour Key Elements

cont.cont. Iconic Elements:Iconic Elements: Post De. is literally a Post De. is literally a

construct, generally made of elements from many construct, generally made of elements from many different sources brought together. These different sources brought together. These elements are often exaggerated or made iconic in elements are often exaggerated or made iconic in a very conscious, self-aware fashion. Often an a very conscious, self-aware fashion. Often an explicit reference is made to a prior work, which explicit reference is made to a prior work, which itself may be based on another yet-earlier work itself may be based on another yet-earlier work (story within a story)(story within a story)

Moment of Genuine Emotion:Moment of Genuine Emotion: No matter how No matter how theatrical, cynical or shallow it might appear, theatrical, cynical or shallow it might appear, reconstr. artwork must portray real emotions or reconstr. artwork must portray real emotions or inspire a genuine emotional response.inspire a genuine emotional response.

The Lion KingThe Lion King

Nod to Artifice:Nod to Artifice: The show features fully visible The show features fully visible puppeteers, and actors whose faces show beneath their puppeteers, and actors whose faces show beneath their animal masks, as well as an unashamedly theatrical use of animal masks, as well as an unashamedly theatrical use of stage magic. stage magic.

Classic Structure:Classic Structure: The structure comes directly from the The structure comes directly from the conventional plot of the original children's movie (which conventional plot of the original children's movie (which itself was supposedly inspired by the Shakespeare play itself was supposedly inspired by the Shakespeare play "Hamlet"). "Hamlet").

Iconic ElementsIconic Elements:: Julie drew on many different sources to Julie drew on many different sources to create "Lion King" including the puppet and theater create "Lion King" including the puppet and theater traditions of several different countries, including Bali, traditions of several different countries, including Bali, Japan and Greece. Japan and Greece.

Moments of Genuine Emotion :Moments of Genuine Emotion : The Lion King is filled The Lion King is filled with such moments, including the courtship of Simba and with such moments, including the courtship of Simba and Nala, the death of the old king, and the climatic restoration Nala, the death of the old king, and the climatic restoration of Simba at the end. of Simba at the end.

Joss Whedons' "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"

Nod to ArtificeNod to Artifice: The movie is framed by the conceit that it is a series of : The movie is framed by the conceit that it is a series of video blog entries being posted by an aspiring super-villain, while the video blog entries being posted by an aspiring super-villain, while the tendency of the characters to burst into fully orchestrated songs in the tendency of the characters to burst into fully orchestrated songs in the

middle of mundane events instills a sense of artifice. middle of mundane events instills a sense of artifice.

Classic StructureClassic Structure: The compressed plot combines a textbook romantic : The compressed plot combines a textbook romantic storyline with the superhero genre's traditional "origin story" narrative. storyline with the superhero genre's traditional "origin story" narrative.

Transcontextual and Iconic ElementsTranscontextual and Iconic Elements: The main characters are all : The main characters are all parodies of standard comic book heroes and villains, the Mad Scientist, parodies of standard comic book heroes and villains, the Mad Scientist,

the Henchman, the Evil League of Evil, and so forth. the Henchman, the Evil League of Evil, and so forth.

Moments of Genuine Emotion or SignificanceMoments of Genuine Emotion or Significance: The movie's stark ending, : The movie's stark ending, still manages to carry the emotional weight of tragedy and the still manages to carry the emotional weight of tragedy and the

intellectual weight of an honest examination of what success looks likeintellectual weight of an honest examination of what success looks like

The Princess BrideThe Princess Bride

The Princess BrideThe Princess Bride is a Post-is a Post-

Deconstuction Deconstuction masterpiece!!masterpiece!!

The Frame TaleThe Frame Tale

A story within a story, in which the A story within a story, in which the  an introductory or main narrative is  an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second for a more emphasized second narrative (or for a set of shorter narrative (or for a set of shorter stories).stories).

Popular literary technique, made Popular literary technique, made particularly famous in gothic novels.particularly famous in gothic novels.

Frame Tale ExamplesFrame Tale Examples One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights)One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights)

– Sherherazade must tell tales to her “husband” Sherherazade must tell tales to her “husband” or die. She ends each night with a “cliffhanger” or die. She ends each night with a “cliffhanger” to avoid death the following morningto avoid death the following morning

Frankenstein: Frankenstein: Mary ShellyMary Shelly– Robert Walton hears story from Victor Robert Walton hears story from Victor

Frankenstein, writes letters to his sister telling Frankenstein, writes letters to his sister telling tale.tale.

Sketch Book: Sketch Book: Washington IrvingWashington IrvingSleepy HollowSleepy HollowRip Van WinkleRip Van Winkle