Postmodernism

As I was sitting in Dr. Casey's guest lecture the other day, I was thinking to myself how architecture was a great way to visually see what the postmodern movement is understood to be. Because there is no authoritative definition yet, there is only so much abstract ideas about what a movement is that I can only take, personally. 

As I was looking on the internet for some more ideas about what postmodernism is, I came across this notion of the "ultimate truth". How can something with no definition be described as the "ultimate truth"? Well, seeing how postmodernism influenced many architects to go to extremes and use all materials that are available to them. I understood what this meant. 

One specific building that I think illustrates this the best is one that Dr. Casey showed us, the Pompidou Centre in Paris. This museum is the modern art museum, which is ironic because it is a postmodern structure. What makes this a great illustration of the "ultimate truth" is how architect Renzo Paino exposed the skeleton of the building to the exterior and the main aspect of the building. As Dr. Casey pointed out, even the air conditioning units and water pipes are not hidden, but rather exposed for all to see. 

I think this is a great way to see how postmodernism is a reaction to modernism. Just like this building, nothing is hidden, and Piano used "variety over objective".