Retro style
The term retro wave featuring a fashion wave whose content is a backward - oriented fashion. The term retro (Latin retro backwards ) marks in many areas at older traditions or characteristics CONTINUED phenomena.
The term is a popular also in the clothing fashion concept for the aesthetic use of formal vocabulary of bygone eras or phases. He thus describes a cultural phenomenon that generally produces also works of art or cultural achievements neither based on currently prevailing style codes or current aesthetic concepts even as their creative developments or as original creations, but by recourse to concepts or styles of bygone eras.
The term retro is a currently popular buzzword. He is alone, or in combinations such as retro fashion, retro style, retro look or retro design use.
- 2.1 Retro as evidence: discussion of modernity and postmodernity 2.1.1 Today's retro phenomena and historicism
- 3.1 retro design in the automotive industry 3.1.1 Examples
Retro as a modern trend
Retro is a trend for some time. Retro fashions are currently to be found in almost all areas that can be recognized by fashion processes: from everyday object to clothing and architecture to literature and music. Nevertheless, the phenomenon is not new, but only a new fashionable name for an old phenomenon.
Phenomena of the retro wave
The term fashion has become is not very precise and includes this undifferentiated very different current phenomena in terms of the motivations and types of recourse, such as historicism, eclecticism, ironic Quote ( cf. postmodern architecture), nostalgia, camp style collage, sampling ( music), searching, finding, maintaining and restoring memorabilia (see, inter alia, historic preservation ) resuming of traditions, the further processing etc. Cultural memorabilia and historical form languages of past decades and centuries are recorded in different ways again and / or reprocessed.
Examples
Very obviously shows the phenomenon of " Retro" in the increasingly rapid resuscitation of the fashions of past decades, in all conceivable aspects of culture. For example, turned the 1950s into the 1980s ( with petticoat and pleated trousers ), the 1970s than in the 1990s revival ( with corduroy, pants and guitar rock ) again. But bonds in the 1920s to the 1960s were and are watching over and over again. Currently experiencing the 1980s and even the early 1990s in various forms a comeback.
Explanatory models
Explanatory models, there are several. A model that is sometimes used in the media to explain ( here based on the 1970 revival ): That the children of the 1970s, at that time recognized by the industry for the first time as an affluent target group, mid-1990, ie in the phase of growing up, the products of their youth, toys, food and television series ( Vicky, Fanta - JoJo, Playmobil, Lego, Tom Sawyer, Rubik's Cube, Barbapapa, TriTop, Brown Bear, Grünofant, Slime ) rediscovered, can be estimated as a phenomenon. Fiction was reflected in Florian Illies this ' book generation Golf. In Vienna in 1999 numerous exhibits an exhibition titled "Wickie, Slime & Paiper " were compiled.
" Retro" in Art and Art History
Looking at phenomena that are combined to meet with the key word " retro ", in the context of art history, then a more complete picture emerges. The phenomenon Retro - in the sense of cultural recourse - can therefore also be interpreted deeper. And as a new term for an old phenomenon that certain eras have postulated and implemented for many different reasons recourse to the past.
Especially in the area of the West since the Christianization of references to Greco-Roman culture (as well as to the Jewish roots of Christianity ) for one's own self- understanding and legitimation of power and culture an integral part of which is reflected for example in the name of the Holy Roman Empire German nation down. Part brings this back reference individual aesthetic and stylistic recourse with them (eg Carolingian Renaissance ), usually in a very free interpretation. Nevertheless, many culture techniques and achievements of antiquity in the Middle Ages lost. With the Gothic in the high and late Middle Ages created a unique form language, which is largely removed or emancipated from Roman or Greek roots bonds.
That changes with the beginning of the Renaissance. Since then, Europe's culture is based heavily on the ancient heritage of the West. The antiquity is being rediscovered as a kind of golden age and scourged the Middle Ages as barbaric ( gothic ). The Renaissance carries another word for retro even in the name.
In this Baroque heritage is further interpreted. Classicism discovered the end of the eighteenth century the Hellenistic architecture new and put their severity against the oriented on the ancient Roman Baroque.
The parallel to classicism being established romance trying to record medieval building traditions again, especially the Gothic Revival. While historicism and eclecticism it comes to style pluralism and style blend.
But already the Roman antiquity took over many elements of Greek antiquity.
Only with the huge emphasis on innovation through the Modern came mimicking, revisiting and rediscovering as part of the culture to the sidelines. Imitation - in the broader sense - previously considered an original concern of the pre-modern art ( mimesis ).
Comprehensive characterization of the individual "Retro " phenomena of past eras can be found in the articles, in particular in Articles historicism and eclecticism as well as nostalgia and revival.
In addition, retro - contemporary phenomena play a role in the context of modernism - postmodernism debate and as a counter- model to the belief in progress.
Retro as evidence: discussion of modernity and postmodernity
Since the 1970s, stylistic recourse to Historic particularly interpreted as evidence for the thesis of the dawn of postmodernism and the move away from modernity (at least by the representatives of this thesis ) taken or as an opportunity to criticize the shortcomings of modernity and the belief in progress.
However, there are very different positions on whether there is an actual postmodernism and how it is to interpret. The term itself is controversial and is defined very differently in different academic contexts.
According to these interpretations, the current phenomenon " Retro" is without the close relationship to modernity, the " hunt for the new " continuous innovation has taken up the cause, not to understand. Seen in this "retro" be located as a counterpoint to the (high ) cultural main trend. Has this been questioned, as in the Pop Art, also called " retro" trends were always to notice. In a world that is rapidly changing, becoming less fixed points provides and in which everything is in danger of disappearing old, beloved, " retro" trends seem to be a logical consequence to which in turn consequently the accusation must follow only the longing for a cozy security to use. A complaint which is formulated in a Germany whose modernity has always defined himself as a radical break with history, particularly fast.
Since the early seventies when it became obvious that there was a serious crisis in modern times, there was even within the ranks of the " believers in progress " first " retro" movement. For example, in the field of architecture. The " New York Five ", which included Richard Meier, Michael Graves, Peter Eisenman, set themselves the goal the path of modernism to Le Corbusier (1887-1965) to go back, which is why they were also called the " Whities ". Your opponent Robert Venturi, however, is considered the inventor of postmodernism, the first real " retro " movement, among whose protagonists also Philip Johnson, Moore, Ruble, Yudell and James Stirling. Even a seemingly modernist buildings such as the built in 1975-1979 ICC in West Berlin is attributed with its references to science fiction film and its objectivity rather a kind of retro - futurism.
The Stronger - Will of retro trends since the early 1970s is also associated with capitalism, consumption and cultural criticism of the '68 generation, the growing environmental awareness and the embrittlement of the belief in progress, the economic miracle years ( oil crisis). All this, as well as the ecological idea of recycling support ideological phenomena such as the spread of second- hand stores or flea markets, and this tendency was socio-politically well regarded as progressive, while the conservative circles much longer clung to the idea of progress.
Today's retro phenomena and historicism
Another approach is to not interpret phenomena of stylistic and conceptual reliance on history as a response to modernity, but exactly the opposite. This interpretation is based on parallels that arise in the comparison of post-modernism and historicism (including eclecticism ). In both cases, the recourse to the history. Here and there you will find the famous "anything goes " attitude, the simultaneity of different styles ( stylistic pluralism ). Here, as there were allegations that reprocessing of different eras will bring the loss of measure, control and scale with it.
In this regard, it is tempting to interpret today's " retro" trends as new historicism and the historicism of the 19th century as a " retro" appearance ( in the modern sense of the word).
This also gives rise views, represent the common ways of looking at the modern overall in question: For if modernity has only pushed between two historicism -phase, acting on a response to be detached from the others, you can put the question be whether the modern period, the time of the 20th ( and 21st century ) adequately characterized, or not yet historicism and " retro" phenomena are much more than temporarily ( and intellectually ) limited phases and time phenomena.
However, was also historicism - as described above - not the first art historical phenomenon, which was created by recourse to historical concepts and historical vocabulary. In the Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism and Romanticism orientation on the ancient and medieval heritage played a significant role. However, historicism, with its stylistic pluralism and its strict reconstruction of different age- styles, or the mixture thereof an entirely new form of recourse in the "box of history."
Mass media society and myth
The modern world is to be understood primarily as a mass media society in which everything happens at the same time, enter the vast quantities of information at light speed to any place, it looks at the after every imaginable need in order to satisfy it. One might expect in such a society there would be only by the sheer increase in information also to an overall increase of in-depth, differentiated knowledge. This assumption is not confirmed, on the contrary, the mass society tends, as the media theorist Marshall McLuhan observed, but a myth and that for very practical reasons - a myth is simply less time-consuming for mass society.
If we now ask ourselves, in what ratio a myth is the actual event, he seems to behave just like a photo to the depicted event. And when you look at the topics hotels of Las Vegas, the theme parks and fun fairs around the world it is found that the mass reproduction of myths, as well as a photograph, about the (in the case of the photos of the printing or Nyloprint - ) cliché works. What does that have to do with " Retro"? Let's go back to modernity, which often downright fanatical search for purity, truth and consistency of content and form, not least also due to her dislike of image and myth is - image and myth, which almost mandatory simplification, transformation and distortion to call their own. In this sense, a "retro" trend is inevitably linked to the revival and reproduction of past myths - indeed, inseparable. As with the New York Five, which revive a now a myth that has become Le Corbusier in a "retro" -Classic - Modern - trend - and unwittingly degrade itself, the modern trend to bare?
Retro everywhere?
If now we end this, before historicism of modernity, postmodernity thereafter, the mass society as a world of myths, not truths, and thus as a place of permanent " Retro" - does not mean: " Retro" everywhere? The Italian writer Roberto Calasso writes: " ... the world is inescapably wrapped in a toxic shell of parody. Nothing is what it claims to be. Everything is already at the moment of its appearance a quote. Man on the Moon "on" Hey Baby " like Elvis Presley seems to sing " A particularly instructive example for the use and fusion of different forms of the quote it when Michael Stipe is in ". In reality, however, his song is a tribute to the famous Elvis parody of American comedian Andy Kaufmann. This does not parodies Elvis Presley, but his imitators. Before us lies so the tribute to the parody of an imitation.
Especially modern forms of expression, such as the cinema and pop music that emerged in close relation to the mass society, are full of such overlapping citations. Outstanding representatives of this so-called post- modern cinema are the Coen Brothers, Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino.
Contemporary Retro Trends
In the 1990s, it was mainly related once again to Pop, aesthetics and ideas of the 1960s and 1970s ( Exotica, Lounge, Funk, Psychedelic, Rock, Beat, but also in retro style. Even in jazz, there was the late 90s a retro wave, the retro - swing, danced to the dance groups in proper style clothing 1930er/1940er-Jahre.
However, it was already the grunge wave in the early 1990s with its references to 1970s bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath afterPunk a recollection of Lost Gone. This can be traced back even further. In the later seventies, AC / DC, Ramones and Motörhead advocated a return to the raw origins of rock music as opposed to the bloated pomp of Pink Floyd, Yes and Queen. The British Invasion of the sixties, however, was fed by two sources. While The Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Cream and Free took up the large blue wave of the forties of Otis Rush and Muddy Waters, the Beatles was countered by their record company, guitar rock would not be more modern. What was true, had gone to the army since Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 - year-old cousin Myra.
Currently in 2005, can be found in the fashion still the retro trend in the 1980s club music, clothes and hairstyles. Trendy is as a slightly punky outfit, which many young people describe as an alternative subculture. That was followed by the repeat of the 1990s, was hardly surprising. In the winter of 2004, three pronounced retro films came with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Polar Express and The Incredibles go to the movies. In the rock and pop music was re ajar to the sixties guitar rock of bands like the Strokes, White Stripes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and International Noise Conspiracy for the first boom and hype of the new millennium.
Early 2008, the already heard especially in music. Singers such as Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele storm the charts. Both Soul, as well as swing and rock and roll have a revival.
Some airlines have now made at least one aircraft in a historic color scheme. In most cases, this regional aircraft are used. The Italian railway FS has painted in the past few years a number of current locomotives in historic color schemes.
In addition, the " retro look " also finds a place in the technology. Some of the forms that were used in the art from 1910 to 1960 are re-used by the designers of automobiles, boats and airplanes in whole or in part, but also on household appliances such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and toasters.
"Retro Style " also affects the visual arts. The artist Ralf Metzmacher describes his painting as " retro style ". This he sees as a combination of art and design as a further development of Pop Art.
Retro design in the automotive industry
Retro design is popular with certain classics of automotive engineering. It is characteristic of this style that the designer is particularly striking features of the old model interprets modern and united with completely new elements to create a futuristic and classical optics.
The American designer Virgil Exner already been used in 1961 for the new models of the Chrysler Imperial top brand elements classic automotive designs. The vehicles carried freestanding headlamps, and the flanks of the cars were given a chrome strip which imitated the line curved fenders. Later Exner transferred the concept to the newly established brand Stutz Motor Car of America, whose model Blackhawk is called III of 1973 in the USA Revival Car.
As probably the first retro design car of the modern age can apply the Mazda MX- 5, which until 1998 in its first form in 1989 represented almost a copy of the Lotus Elan of 1962. 1994 VW Beetle as a study "VW Concept 1 " was presented. Since the reactions turned out so positive, was based on the Gulf of the beetle ( in engl. " Beetle" ) marketed as " New Beetle " in 1998 on the market. This is true in Europe than in the early continues to this day wave, successful classic retro design hang up.
Examples
Stutz Blackhawk III from 1973
VW Beetle from 1946
VW New Beetle 2006
Lotus Elan 1974
Mazda MX- 5 of 1989