Saturday, January 16, 2010
Defining Postmodernism
Truly a nigh impossible task as Postmodernism is partially about deconstructing definitions. If However we choose to define postmodernism as disbelief grand narratives, the use of multiple motifs from a variety of national cultures, and the entropic nature of literature then yes we are studying postmodernism as well as entering a puesdomodern era, which I think in a way is postmodern, existentialism shares a lot traits with realism namely a harsh and bleak tone in addition to denying the existence of a supreme being or show faith as irrational. in one sense puesdomodernism shares traits such as an interest in the supernatural/ fantastical IE Avatar, Star Trek, District 9, and Disney's The Pirates of the Caribbean. All four of these contain futuristic technology, magic, or some other saving throw The point being is that after the usual suspension of belief in metanarratives is followed by an intellectual withdrawal. However the use of science fiction and the use of simple moralistic tales that are earth centered and the message being one of tolerance, neither of which are bad things, but character depth would be a good thing, and deeper plot lines, (one of the above mentioned movies was visually impressive, but by way of plot was little more than Pocahontis IN SPACE). So we are seeing interesting literary times, sorta....
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Ted, I do like your definition of postmodernism as paritally the deconstruction of definitions-it's too true! I can't even really begin to define the numerous thoughts that flit through my head on some occations out loud... But yes. Now because western society is aware of all the other cultures out there, there is a lager fragmentation much like the cultures in Avatar, like you brought up. The clashes we see on screen is just the expression of the clash in the individual-many want to remain close with the hunter-gatherer roots, but love modern technology and the idea of money to reject the newest standards of society... Sadness. So puesdomodernism is the continuation of fragmentation in our global community and culture to the point where is begins to affect society on an individual level and the human soul and conscious is splintered into several different beliefs and ideals.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your analysis of the movies Ted. Like, seriously, sometime I want to go to the movies and actually see an original character. But NO...
ReplyDeleteI only get to see a blue Pocahontis anf an equally blue John Smith. Really? He had 10 years on that script and he ripped off a Disney movie? Really?????
Anyway, yes Postmodernism really does seem to redefine things in a way that strips them of any meaning outside ones self. I bet it could even strip down Avatar's script and make it unique if it really wanted to.
I definitely agree with your assumption that we're moving into a pseudomodern era--postmodernism, to me, doesn't work well with the society we're living in nowadays. I thought how you brought the movies into your argument was interesting too, plus that "intellectual withdrawl" that you were talking about. We were set with a pretty difficult task, trying to define something that by definition isn't definable at all (haha... what a weird sentence), but I really like your angle on the whole thing.
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