Post-Modernist Mona?

Take a look at this picture, maggots. Take a good, hard look. It's Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." But at the same time, it isn't. It's been redrawn in the distinctive cartoon style of "The Simpsons." This show, full of popular cultural icons, has overthrown the original work of art and recreated it in a more stylized manner. What do we call this, maggots? We call this an example of "postmodernism." Fredric Jameson believes that postmodernism is a means of disregarding the classic laws of capitalism and creating a new social formation. This sort of thing has been done countless times before in terms of industrial production, architectural structure, and the countless struggles of various social classes. What do you reckon Jameson would say if he were to take a gander at this "Simpsonized" Mona Lisa? Quite a bit, I wager.

Jameson would say that this does not only represent stylistic change. Within this altered image, an element of altering history is also present. In our society today, we see such works as the "Mona Lisa" as classic works of art. Priceless. However, The Simpsons breaks that mold. How? By bringing this classic work of art down to the same level as a primetime television show. The Simpsons irreverently goes against the classic conventions of Renaissance art by not placing it on a higher pedestal. To the Simpsons, their view of art should be taken just as seriously as the Mona Lisa.

The Simpsons, through postmodernist conventions, are trying to bring a message to the social class. Namely, that this classical work of art should not be taken as seriously as it has been. The world changes everyday. New forms of art spring up everywhere. New perspectives. And these perspectives are all about tearing down the classic laws and universal truths that we are so accustomed to. It's meant to make us think, make us retrace our steps and analyze the very conventions we follow. This image is but one example of a postmodernist change. How many other images can alter our perceptions of foundation? How will postmodernism break our perceptions of normality? And what perspectives will replace them? For Jameson, postmodernism will have many changes in store for us.

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