Analyzing Postmodernism: Key Features and Relevance in the Modern Age

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of postmodernism, tracing its emergence as a departure from modernism in the late 20th century. It elaborates on key features such as fragmentation, hyperreality, anti-foundationalism, and pluralism, illustrating these concepts with examples from art, literature, and film. The analysis includes a discussion of postmodernism's skepticism towards grand narratives, its preference for the virtual over the real, and its impact on cultural and technological landscapes. The essay also examines the works of artists like Samuel Beckett and filmmakers like David Lynch, highlighting how their creations embody postmodernist traits by challenging traditional forms and inviting multiple interpretations. Ultimately, the essay argues that postmodernism's emphasis on ambiguity and deconstruction serves as a critique of systems of domination and oppression, while also reflecting the increasing influence of media and technology on contemporary life. Desklib offers this essay along with many others to aid students in their academic journey.

Running head: POST MODERNISM
Post Modernism
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Postmodernism refers to broad movement that emerged in the later part of the 20th
century in the fields of philosophy, arts along with architecture. Postmodernism marked
departure from that of modernism and it is generally used for talking about historical era that
followed modernity (Silverman, 2017). Postmodernism has attitude pertaining to scepticism
along with irony and it rejected meta-narratives along with ideologies of the modernism. This
essay elaborates on the features of post-modernism and how the post-modernism concepts are
of relevance in the present age.
The critical approaches in relation to post-modernism started in 1980 and in the 1990
and it has been adopted in various academic along with theoretical disciplines. Post
modernism is associated with the school of thought like deconstruction along with post-
structuralism. Postmodernism evolved after the Second World War as reaction to that of
modernism. According to Ruccio and Amariglio (2016), radical artistic projects in relation to
modernism was associated with the concept of totalitarianism and it had been assimilated
within mainstream culture. Basic feature in relation to post-modernism can be found in the
work of artists like Jorge Luis Borges in 1940. There are many scholars in the present age
who agree to the fact that postmodernism started competing with that of modernism in the
later half of 1950. Postmodernism has become a dominant force within art, music, film along
with drama.
Postmodernism includes ironic play with that of styles and there is a metaphysical
scepticism in relation to the post-modernist works. Postmodernism has traits of nihilism
towards the “grand narrative” of the Western culture. It has been stated by Shildrick (2015)
that postmodernism prefers virtual at expense of that of Real and postmodernism questions
about what ‘the real’ constitutes of. It can be stated that postmodernism is not natural kind
nor is it a material artefact. Postmodernism is not a theory and it bears signature of that of
intellectual’s movement. There have been many kinds of modernisms like theological,

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esthetic, literary, architectural and national. There were various literary Modernists like
Proust, Joyce along with Eliot and it avoided the linear temporality and progressive narrative
pertaining to Realist writers. According to Bergesen (2016), the postmodernist image is
completely different from the original and from any kind of supporting base. The infinite in
relation to post-modernist works does not express anything but it reflects each other. The
postmodernist works are devoid of any kind of “referential depth”. The seriograph of Andy
Warhol of that of twenty-five Marilyn Monroe can be said to be emblematic. The
postmodernist effect can be visible in the fact that this mechanical iteration was meant for
obliterating sitter. The works related to postmodernism can be said to be “radically eclectic”.
The eclecticism is instrumental in treating past like flea market in which one can easily get
the old functionless things.
According to Lash (2014), postmodernism can be stated to be universal human
disposition that knocks away all kinds of supports and it find compensation by raiding past.
The postmodern characteristics can be said to be mutually exclusive and it does not coalesce
with each other. An important characteristics in relation to post-modernism is fragmentation,
hyper reality, anti-foundationalism along with pluralism. Fragmentation is indicative of chaos
and dissolution of the established systems that occurred in the era of postmodernism. It has
been argued by Demand (2016) that post-modernism saw the relationship crumbling between
the various entities within a system. Another important feature in relation to postmodernism
is hyper reality that blurs the distinction that lie between reality and that of fantasy.
According to Baudrillard, hyper real can be said to be form of the reality which is constructed
on the basis of imagined plan. The most popular example in relation to hyper reality can be
stated to be Disneyland that integrates fantasy along with reality. According to Chrisman and
Williams (2015), anti-foundationalism can be said to be a deconstructive urge that has
antipathy towards the aspect of orthodoxy along with complacency. Deconstruction paves the

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path for the loss of meaning and in the process of deconstruction divided components does
not bear resemblance to original artefact. Deconstruction is indicative of a process that helps
in unravelling knowledge in relation to construction and how the constituents are related to
that of each other.
Skepticism within the Western philosophy refers to the doubting of knowledge in
different areas. It has been argued by Boyne and Rattansi (2017) that skepticism in the post-
modern era challenges adequacy of claims by asking about the principles on which the claims
are based on. It challenges purported rational ground in relation to the accepted assumptions.
Post-modernism was a reaction against that of intellectual assumptions in relation to history
of the Western philosophy. Reality according to postmodernism can be said to be conceptual
construct and it acts as artefact of that of scientific practice. According to Docherty (2016),
postmodernism believed in the use of logic and it states that by taking recourse to scientific
tools, the human beings can change themselves along with the societies for that of the better.
The Postmodernists denied the faith of the Enlightenment pertaining to science along with
technology. There were many postmodernists who held the notion that pursuit of the
technological knowledge will pave the way for killing on that of a massive scale in the
Second World War. It has been stated by Dickens and Fontana (2015) that postmodernism
constituted the concept of metaphysical or that of ethical relativism. The postmodernists deny
the fact that there are aspect in relation to reality which is objective. There are statements
regarding reality that can be objectively true or it can be false. Postmodernism believes in the
idea that reality along with knowledge can be constructed with the help of discourses. This
highlights the fact that discourse of that of the modern science should be considered separate
from evidential standard that is internal to it.
The works of Samuel Beckett like Molloy, Malone Dies and the Unnamable are the
examples of post modern works. Samuel Beckett views in a objective manner subjective

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world and the novels of Beckett bear traits of postmodernism. The modernists like Joyce
along with Proust remains closer to that of realist tradition and Beckett on the other hand
advances towards that of “pure textuality” where the traditional metaphysical categories stops
to function in a coherent manner. The innovation of Beckett surpasses that of Finnegan’s
Wake by Joyce and it does not stop at that of iterative combination. According to Stables
(2018), the postmodernist works are written and they are clear of the humanistic trends and it
brings about an end in relation to foundationalism. Beckett in his postmodernist works
develops referential system that is devoid of any kind of categorical opposition like the
narrator and the language in relation to postmodernist works has contradiction along with
equivocation. Beckett has relentlessly developed the language away from that of
representation and it is pushed in the direction of “unspeakable”.
Postmodernism rejected the depth model in relation to reality along with
metanarratives. Postmodernism is drawn to notion of play and the postmodernists does not
promote any kind of wholesale world reconstruction. The postmodernists fight against system
of domination along with oppression which is caught up with the big systems in relation to
knowledge which dominates the world. It has been stated by Demand (2016) that
postmodernist works takes advantage of the ambiguities which is instrumental in eroding the
system. The postmodernist works uses elements of system that is outside of intended use. In
the postmodernist works, language is the lens with the help of which one can see internal
thoughts of the other people. The language in the postmodernist works uses language for the
construction of reality that lies around us. The postmodernists believe in the fact that the
ultimate meaning of the author cannot be known and it presupposes existence of that of
internal truth of artist. The intention of the author was not discovered in the postmodernist
works even when there was possibility of it of being discovered.

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The postmodernist artists have taken insight regarding how the audience constructs
meaning of work which can help in exposing the process of meaning-making. The
postmodernist works allows the aspect of multitude of the interpretations and non-linear
elements are introduced into the film. This was evident in the film, “Pulp Fiction” where the
audience makes the own story that is made out of many elements. The films of David Lynch
bear testimony of post-modernist traits as it allows for various kinds of interpretations and it
does not prejudice audience for or against a particular idea.The distinction in between high
along with low culture disappears in post-modernism as there exist no ultimate source in
relation to truth. West has validated the high culture and it has denigrated the popular or the
mass culture. The division that exists between the cultures serves an important social purpose
and it justifies the bourgeois style. It helps in validating knowledge which is held by the
educated elites. There are many postmodernist artists who have validated artistic forms like
cartoons along with dance music.
According to Lash (2014), the audience in the present age lives the real lives with the
help of simulation of reality which is provided by the media. There are serials like X-Files
along with Star Trek which are televised around the world. Soccer players along with pop
singers are not only celebrities but they act as the commercial products who are involved in
promoting distribution. The players and the singers in the present age act as models of the
product along with people. Technology and the cyber world act as the new way of living in
our life. People cannot survive in the contemporary time without their cell phone or their
laptop. The postmodernist films helps in reflecting ideas in relation to postmodernism. The
post-modernist films have been able to break concept in relation to conventional cinema. The
post-modernist films uses techniques that are different from the traditional films like the use
of the pastiche in various styles.

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Postmodernism is indicative of movement that came up in later half of 20th century in
various fields like philosophy along with arts. Postmodernism was different from modernism
and the important characteristics of the age was fragmentation and that of anti-
foundationalism. Postmodernists are not involved in promoting the aspect of wholesale world
reconstruction. Postmodernists fought against the aspect of oppression that was taking place
in post-modern era. The post-modernists works have various interpretations and there are
non-linear elements in films. Players along with singers in post-modernist era serves as
models in relation to a product. Technology has helped the people in the present age in
having a new way of the life. Audience live real lives by simulation of that of reality that is
served by media in the post-modern era.

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References
Bergesen, A. (2016). Postmodernism: A World-System Explanation. In Strukturelle
Evolution und das Weltsystem (pp. 299-307). Springer VS, Wiesbaden.
Boyne, R., & Rattansi, A. (Eds.). (2017). Postmodernism and society. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Chrisman, L., & Williams, P. (2015). Colonial discourse and post-colonial theory: A reader.
Routledge.
Demand, A. (2016). 1□ Answering the Question: What Is Postmodernism?. Postmodernism:
a reader, 38.
Dickens, D. R., & Fontana, A. (2015). Postmodernism and social inquiry. Routledge.
Docherty, T. (2016). Postmodernism: A reader. Routledge.
Lash, S. (2014). Sociology of postmodernism. Routledge.
Ruccio, D. F., & Amariglio, J. (2016). Postmodern moments in modern economics. Princeton
University Press.
Shildrick, M. (2015). Leaky bodies and boundaries: Feminism, postmodernism and (bio)
ethics. Routledge.
Silverman, H. J. (2017). Postmodernism: Philosophy and the arts. Routledge.
Stables, A. (2018). After postmodernism in educational theory?.