Irony

^{-Irony is applied when there is a contradiction}

^{- Postmodernist believe that beauty and aesthetics is subjective to individuals, they are liberal, unlike modernist, which are conservative: has a set idea of what Art is.}

^{- If Beauty and truth doesn’t exist then what is art for postmodernists? if art can no longer be judged on culturally- constructed ideas of beauty, what is left?}

^{-Irony is the most valued thing in Art to postmodernists; they believe that it is a primary mode of expression.  Postmodernist want to shock and mock, go against the dominating culture.}

^{- Modernism has only one way of seeing art, which only speaks to the higher classes, the educated ones.  They understand the irony and find it attractive. But the majority of us can agree that a dot on a white canvas bores us to death}

^{- Postmodernism instead pushes the individual to question their assumptions about what art is. (Who, what, how its received). Irony in postmodernism erases the difference between high and low culture.}

^{-However:  Postmodernist critics have discussed that if}

Piss Christ by Serrano

- Crucifixes in urine and menstrual fluids in beakers nailed to a wall are passing as art

Fountain by Duchamp

- Urinal made as a fountain

Postmodernists believe that Piss Christ and Fountain is Art

They can only be considered art if you believe that irony and irony alone is “beautiful” otherwise it is merely social commentary in visual form