Post Modernsim

Post Modernism

Defining Post Modernism

Ø  Postmodernism is difficult to define, because to define it would violate the postmodernist's premise that no definite terms, boundaries, or absolute truths exist. In this article, the term “postmodernism” will remain vague, since those who claim to be postmodernists have varying beliefs and opinions on issues.

Ø  They challenge the core religious and capitalistic values of the Western world and seek change for a new age of liberty within a global community. Many prefer to live under a global, non-political government without tribal or national boundaries and one that is sensitive to the socioeconomic equality for all people.

Ø  Postmodernism is a philosophical movement away from the viewpoint of modernism.

Ø  Postmodernism rejects the modernist ideals of rationality, artistic genius, and individualism, in favour of being anti-capitalist.

Ø  Postmodernists do not attempt to refine their thoughts about what is right or wrong, true or false, good or evil. They believe that there isn’t such a thing as absolute truth. A postmodernist views the world outside of themselves as being in error, that is, other people’s truth becomes indistinguishable from error. Therefore, no one has the authority to define truth or impose upon others his idea of moral right and wrong. Their self-rationalization of the universe and world around them pits themselves against divine revelation versus moral relativism. Many choose to believe in naturalism and evolution rather than God and creationism.

Ø  Postmodern texts deliberately play with meaning. They are designed to be read by a literate audience.

Ø  Logically postmodernism literally means “after modernity. It refers to the incipient or actual dissolution of those social forms associated with modernity" (Sarup 1993).

Ø  Postmodernity concentrates on the tensions of difference and similarity erupting from processes of globalization: the accelerating circulation of people, the increasingly dense and frequent cross-cultural interactions, and the unavoidable intersections of local and global knowledge.

Ø  Postmodernism is highly debated even among postmodernists themselves. For an initial characterization of its basic premises, consider one of the founding postmodernists Anthropologists, Clifford Geertz: “anthropological writings are themselves interpretations and second and third ones to boot” (Geertz 1973).

Examples of postmodernism in the media

Kaplan says it is important for feminists to confront the postmodernist challenge in MTV because the reduction of the old notion of "self" to "image" could permanently reduce the female body to merely an "image." The new postmodern universe, "with its celebration of the look, the surfaces, the self-as-commodity, threatens to reduce everything to the image/representation/simulacrum" (Kaplan, 151).