Jameson and a Postmodern Mona Lisa

Jameson would argue that this picture is a perfect example that reflects postmordern work. Postmodernism was created to act out against modernism and it would often target “traditional or classical elements of style” and rework it into a new image. In order to rework a new image one must start out with an old or original image or idea. This means that although the artist can be creative and use different methods to convey a certain message and meaning, it lacks originality since it is based off and in a way mocking the original picture. Here we see Matt Groening’s version of the Mona Lisa. Jameson would argue that this form of art has no depth- it lacks emotion and a narrative between the viewer and the creator which the original picture of the Mona Lisa (which is what this is obviously playing off of) has. This Simpsons character in place of the woman strips the aura and adds a new type of aura- a more bland one since it has taken out the history that was once written into the original painting. By doing this the meaning is more impersonal. Postmodernism is into popular culture and the cartoon character shown looks similar to those on the hit television show The Simpsons. The influence therefore is not high culture but it is instead a flashy pop culture look in which the subject’s depth and history is now striped from meaning. The picture was created with no sense of an individual, we do not see the presence of the creator in this replica and the picture is rather simple as far as the image’s aesthetic makeup however in the Mona Lisa we do see a relationship- there are very minute details and brushstrokes within the picture. The picture is clearly pastiche or a mixing of historical forms, periods, and a play with history. If it weren’t and the picture was just placed in this period without following da Vinci’s work, then there would be an even greater lack of meaning. Jameson would be very upset with this work and would think that we are moving into a world where we don’t have a value system because we have lost this history of the painting. People today look at both pictures with a different feel. The original Mona Lisa is very small and shows detailed work of an artist- it comes with a history and aura, this makes this piece or work exciting. Groening’s work is also exciting, it shows something that we are used to and are familiar with. It brings something foreign and out of date to become something recognizable. The picture is not as intense and gives off this relax, fun feel to it because of the random pop culture reference.