Clement Greenbergs Past Theories of Post-Modernism - Essay Example

The essay "Clement Greenberg’s Past Theories of Post-Modernism" gives a review of Clement Greenberg’s past theories of post-modernism. Within the context of the stated, the research aims to respond to the question of the applicability of Greenberg’s post-modernism theory to contemporary photographic art. In an attempt to satisfy the stated purposes, the research will first overview Greenberg’s writings, following from which it will define and discuss the concepts of modernism and postmodernism.

It will also look towards the works of female photographers and critically analyse the works of three photographers. Prior to proceeding, it is necessary to clarify that the essay focuses on female photographers and the feminist artistic movement. The said approach/focus was determined by the importance of establishing a clear and precise focus for this research and, secondly, by the fact that the feminist movement, especially in the arts, is often argued to have been enabled by both modernism and postmodernism, on the one hand, and to have promoted and popularised modernism and postmodernism, on the other.

In Greenberg's Early Criticism, there is an emphasis on the dominance of literature over other arts. As far as he was concerned, Klee's work is representative of the continual struggle which visual art has with literature. Within the context of the stated, in Greenberg's Early Criticism, the canvas is the product of a struggle and conflict. Harmony is important to Greenberg, but not at the expense of intensity.