Postmodernism. INsight. 3:1, 1993. Examining Postmodernism: Images/Premises, edited by Lynn Stern and Stephen Brigidi.

Last issue of INsight magazine with proceedings of a two-evening symposium sponsored by the Photographic INsight Foundation and hosted by New York University, March 5 and 7, 1991. Opening remarks by Lynn Stern. Opening statements by Donald Kuspit, A.D. Coleman, Max Kozloff, Shelley Rice, and Martin Bergmann. Illustrations: Sherrie Levine; Cindy Sherman; Laurie Simmons; Barbara Kruger; Richard Prince; and Allan McCollum. Wraps, 28 pages, fine. Summary:

Nsight (Vol. 3, No. 1, 1993), subtitled Examining Postmodernism: Images/Premises, is a focused thematic issue of the contemporary photography journal edited by fine art photographers and educators Lynn Stern and Stephen Brigidi. Published during a period of intense institutional debate over the direction of the medium, this volume serves as a critical sounding board, gathering diverse portfolios and text essays to evaluate how postmodern theory had altered the creation, teaching, and understanding of photography.

Core Themes & Critical Framework

1. The Postmodern Shift vs. Photographic Tradition

The central focus of the issue is an investigation into the friction between traditional modern photography—which championed craftsmanship, the original print, and individual authorship—and the rise of postmodern strategies like appropriation, simulation, and institutional critique. Through curated portfolios and editorials, Stern and Brigidi construct a dialogue examining whether these academic theories enriched the medium or detached it from its inherent formal and emotional qualities.

2. Analysis of Images and Underlying Premises

True to its subtitle, the volume breaks down the explicit relationship between a visual image and the intellectual "premise" that drives its creation. The editors challenge the contemporary trend where text and theory frequently overshadow the visual weight of the photograph itself. The issue features work by artists who navigate this boundary, utilizing conceptual frameworks without sacrificing technical execution or visual impact.

3. Dialogue and Educational Perspectives

As a publication helmed by working artists and educators, the journal emphasizes the practical impact of postmodernism on photography schools, galleries, and magazines. The essays critique how the language of critical theory was changing the way young photographers evaluated their work, offering a vital space for practitioners to speak directly about their craft during a highly polarized era in the art world.

Released in the early 1990s, INsight: Examining Postmodernism serves as a key primary document capturing the internal anxieties of the fine art photography community. Under the editorial guidance of Lynn Stern and Stephen Brigidi, the issue successfully captures a moment of deep artistic reflection, questioning the long-term impact of postmodern skepticism on the future of creative expression.