December, 22nd, 2004
last updated July, 4th, 2009

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Art Essays:

Reconstructivist Art

by Chris Sunami

Contents

1. Deconstructionism
2. Reconstructivism
3. Examples of Reconstructivist Art
4. Other Uses of the Term "Reconstructivist"
5. Artists and Musicians Influenced By This Article

1. Deconstructionism

   The deconstructionist trend in art was to question and to violate every convention and structure of classic art, to decontextualize meaning, and to discard or distort all the recognizable elements of classic art, such as form and perspective in the visual arts, melody and harmony in the auditory arts, plot and character in novels and plays, and rhyme and meter in poetry. Instead, these were replaced with irony and self-awareness, as novels referred to themselves as works of fiction, and paintings labeled themselves as works of art.
   
   Deconstructionism provided a much needed jolt of energy and creativity into an artworld that had become stagnant and lackluster. But audiences often found deconstructionist art to be distancing and unfriendly, heartless and confusing.
   
   As the twentieth century drew to a close, deconstructionist art mutated and became more audience-friendly, as the post-modernist sensibility entered popular culture in forms such as:
   
   
   
   1. collage, where photographs and preexisting artworks are taken out of context and reassembled in surprising ways
      
   2. rap music, where the samples function as a sonic collage and the lyrics often refer to themselves and to other songs in a self-aware fashion
      
   3. Postmodern_literature, where the lines between autobiography and fiction are deliberately blurred, and the narrator comments on his own existence as an unreliable narrator.
   
   

2. Reconstructivism

   A reconstructivist art work builds upon prior, deconstructionist artworks and techniques, but adapts them to classic themes and structures, with the goal of creating works of genuine emotion and significance. In this way, reconstructivism (when it works) combines the vitality and originality of deconstructionism with the comforts, pleasures and rewards of classicism. The overall purpose of reconstructivism is to reawaken a sense of the Real in a world where everything has been demonstrated to be an illusion.
   
   A reconstructivist artwork has four distinctive characteristics:
   
   A Nod to Artifice: As with deconstructionism, a reconstructivist artwork is aware of its own status as a creation, an illusion or a fiction. However, unlike a deconstructionist work, a reconstructivist is not ironic, or if so, it is not merely ironic. It compels you to believe in its own deeper reality, even as it acknowledges its superficial artificiality.
   
   A Classic Structure: Despite the inclusion of surprising or startling elements, a reconstructivist artwork is always based on a classic or conventional structure.
   
   Transcontextual and/or Iconic Elements: A reconstructivist artwork is literally a construct, generally made of decontextualized elements from many different sources. These elements are often exaggerated or made iconic and archetypal in a very conscious, self-aware fashion. Often an explicit reference is made to a prior work, which itself may be based on another yet-earlier work.
   
   Moments of Genuine Emotion or Significance: No matter how theatrical, cynical or shallow it might appear, a reconstructivist artwork must portray real emotions or inspire a genuine emotional response.

3. Examples of Reconstructivist Art

   None of the following artists would probably describe themselves as "reconstructivist", but they have all produced work that possesses the fundamental characteristics. (click below for details)
   (William Goldman's "Princess Bride"...Art Spiegelman's "Maus"...Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band...The Fugees' "The Score"...R. Stevens' "Diesel Sweeties"...George Lucas' "Star Wars"...Julie Taymor's "Lion King"... "Man of La Mancha" by Wasserman, Leigh and Darion..."The Warriors (Ultimate Director’s Cut)" by Walter Hill and David Shaber...Alfonso Cuarón's "Y Tu Mama Tambien"...Wyclef Jean's "Mona Lisa" (from The Carnival)...Jason Godeke's "Unstill Lives"...Michael Ende's "Neverending Story"...Tailsteak's "1/0"...Joss Whedons' "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"...Kutiman’s “Thru You”......)

4. Other Uses of the Term "Reconstructivist"

   The most influential use of the term "reconstructivist" was pioneered by the revolutionary educator Paulo Friere. Although the two terms (Friere’s, and the one in use here) were coined independently, they are related, in as much as reconstructivist education involves breaking down oppressive or obsolete beliefs and structures, and then rebuilding towards a new and better society.
   
   The use of the term "reconstructivist" here has no relationship, however, either to the art movement known as "Medieval Reconstructivism" or to the religious movement known as "Christian Reconstructionism".

5. Artists and Musicians Influenced By This Article

   Scott C. Clemens, filmmaker - The Scarlet Avenger
   W. David Ward, painter
   Suzanah Moorer, multimedia - Recasting the Real
   NEW! Daniel Foe, musician
   Brian Vissagio, writer
   Aux Mailles Godefroy, artifacteurs
   Charles Fox, musician
   The Pseudoverse, virtual reality

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