MSVC 102 Literature Review – Postmodernism
There has been some confusion associated with the theory of postmodernism when it comes to the subject of definition. It is a pluralistic concept of culture and some have even argued whether it exists at all (Foster 1985:vii). This is down to the vast range of ideas the concept brings to culture and the many different ways it is classified. Postmodernism was ‘first used as an aesthetic description to distinguish avant-garde literature and forms of pop art’ (Lewis 2002:215). However as time have progressed postmodernism has broadened and been applied to a larger range of subjects as new ideas have developed on the theory.
Post modern theory has also been seen by Strinati as ‘an attempt to understand a media saturated society’ (2004:206). With the extent of the growth of the mass media in the past few decades this idea is extremely relevant. The media is now seen to create a reflection of society and in someway distorted our idea of reality (2004:206). It has also been seen as an ‘attempt to dissolve boundaries between high and mass culture’ (Boyne/Rattansi 1990:11). To truly understand postmodernism we must define modernism. This describes a new flood of positive political, social, cultural and artistic ideas, which were first brought to light around the 1940’s. They all had the same aim which was to progress society into a new era. Post modern however, ‘concerns aspects of aesthetic reflection upon the nature of modernity’ (Giddens 1990:45) meaning a culmination of new ideas brought together, for example old and new, and unusual things being juxtaposed to create new meanings. It is debatable though that postmodernism has emerged from modernity. It clearly retains many features of high modernism yet Jameson writes that both remain different in their meaning and social function, due to a different positioning of postmodernism in the ‘economic classification of late capital’ (Homer 2002:184)
One of the main ideas associated with the theory has been outlined by the French philosopher Jean Francios Lyotard. He stresses that the theory refers to the ‘collapse of grand narratives’ for example Marxism, and that these have been replaced by smaller ‘little narratives’ due to the emergence of technologies which have changed our ideas on what constitutes knowledge (Edger / Sedgewick 1999:295). These ideas co-inside with the decline of the importance of metanarratives such as religion in a post modern society (Strinati 2004:209)
Another main writer on the theory of postmodernism is French theorist Jean Baudrillard. As discussed postmodernism hints at the decline of metanarratives, Baudrillard commented on this in much of his work, and played a part, through his radical critiques on Marxism. Post modern theory consistently challenges and undermines Marxism. Baudrillard argues firstly that Marxism ‘does not adequately illuminate pre modern societies which were organized around symbolic exchange and not production’ (Kellner 2002:50). He continues to argue modern societies are ‘characterized by differentiation’, whereas post-modern societies are ‘characterized by dedifferentiation, or implosion.’ This shows the culmination of different ideas within society a major theme of the post-modern, for example the growth of multicultural societies. Yet the post modern statement that metanarratives are in decline is problematic and an area of critique within post modern theory due to the fact it can be considered as a metanarrative itself. Strinati argues because it ‘presents a definite view of knowledge’ and ‘presumes to tell us something true about the world, and knows why it is able to do this’ how is not ‘thought of as a metanarrative’ (2004:222).
Lyotard believes postmodernism to be a positive development in our society whilst Baudrillard does not. Baudrillard's post-modern world is that of mass communication, mass media and the reproduction of signs. He believes individuals avoid realism in favour ‘for the ecstasies of hyper reality’ gained through computer and ‘technological experiences’ (Keller 2002:53). This is seen as negative by Baudrillard in due to the fact individuals are no longer concerned with reality as the mass media has blurred their vision of it. For example with the introduction and growth in popularity of computer games people are able to ‘experience various forms of reality second hand’. Yet these are only ‘Surface stimulations rather than real events’ (Strinati 2002:207).
The dominance of the mass media influences other aspects of post modern theory, such as the strand that can be identified as confusions over time and space articulated through post modern popular culture. Harvey for example believes the speed and scope of mass communication, and the rapid pace at which information can be sent and received makes time and space seem less stable and incoherent (Strinati 2004:208). Therefore it can be said postmodernism interrupted the abstract time and space of modernity. Additionally the media now has the ability to represent a place without actually being there. There does not have to be any truth, only representations which create a fake sense of reality.
Frederic Jameson is an American literary critic well known for his commentary on post modern theory. He also believes that ‘postmodernism ushers in a radically new experience of space and time’ (Homer 2002:182). One of Jameson’s pieces of work has been described by Homer as ‘one of the most influential articles to emerge from the debate of postmodernism’ (2002:181). He describes that post modern stances, positive or negative, can always be shown to project a particular vision of history (2002:181). This goes along with the idea that postmodernism simply combines elements of the past to create new meaning. Jameson also brought to light two of the most important characteristics in postmodernism today, pastiche and parody. Jameson described them to both contain the imitation and ‘mimicry of other styles’ and the ‘mannerisms and stylistic twitches of other styles’ (1995:113). Yet parody uses takes these other styles and mocks them for comic effect and ‘satiric impulse’, pastiche simply refers ‘stylistic diversity and heterogeneity’ and is ‘without laughter’ (Jameson 1995:113). Pastiche and parody are both heavily featured in modern society, whether it is in film, literature, music, or television.
Postmodernism can also be seen as a twisting of meaning or an attempt to ‘radicalise the modern’ (Edger / Sedgewick 1999:297) therefore creating new meaning. Modernism was seen to just replace the old with the new, contrasted with the post modern idea to take something and line it up alongside the unusual or impractical, to emphasise style, rather than focusing on use value or substance. This is a major theme of the post modern. As noted by Strinati ‘we increasingly consume images and signs for their own sake rather than their usefulness or the deeper values they may represent’ (2004:207). This is an area of critique for post modern theory, as it is argued that style has become so important that ‘qualities such as artistic merit, integrity, seriousness, authenticity’ and realism are more often than not diluted (2004:207).
Postmodernism has been applied to areas of production and consumption, clashing with certain strands of Marxist theory. Postmodernism draws up on ideas of popular consumption, with production being focused on creating items for sale to the masses. As stated by Strinati ‘the economic needs of capitalism have shifted from production to consumption’ (2004:216). This is relevant to Fordism which combines ‘semi-automatic assembly line production with the mass consumption of the products of these processes’ (Callinicos 1990:111). This hints at globalisation theory, and suggests that we are becoming a consumer driven society and we are all buying into the same items. An example of this would be that ‘the great majority of film and television texts which are consumed in the English speaking world are sourced in the United States’ (Lewis 2002:352). This is due to the mass production of these forms of text in the
The dominance of these institutions is another critique of postmodernism when thinking about popular consumption. With the introduction of institutions such as MTV across the globe and in general the large number of American texts spreading to other countries, is seen to categorizing the planet as a whole, and breaking down the diversity that lies between cultures. Also the emergence of multiculturalism, which creates a need for identity specific product, due to cultural and racial differences does not seem to fit with mass consumption or the concept of fordism. Because of a rise in the importance of consumerism this has allowed for new occupations to become available due to the need to create cultural symbols and media images that encourage and further consumerism (Strinati 2004:218).
In the many different debates raised by post modern theory, one important strand is a the sense of a loss of identity as society has progressed. This is due to a decline in more traditional ways of classifying people for example local communities or social class. Multiculturalism can also be seen to have played a part in this loss of identity along with Tran nationalisation and globalisation. This decline is has occurred, according to Strinati because ‘of tendencies in modern capitalism such as increasing rapid and wide scale rates of social change’ (2004:220). Others argue postmodernism has paved the way for people to gain new identities and that ‘an individual human being and his/her experience of life has not been the same throughout history’ (Lewis 2002:370). The idea concerning a change in the definition of identity contrasts with the view that ‘globalist processes’ have caused a ‘crisis of identity and instead that ‘identity is no longer considered… essential’ and ‘is opened by new discourses of change, freedom, interaction, instability, process and language’ (Lewis 2002:370). This is due to a larger realm of freedom in when defining oneself within society. This could be concerned with interests, sexuality, religion, ideologies and beliefs.
In conclusion I believe the subject of postmodernism to continuously shift in terms of definition when applying it to different areas of the media, or social and historical contexts. For example within cinema its seen as a film that is concerned with style and something which brings together different genres in order to create new ones, or sub-genres. With architecture it refers to a need to be different from buildings relevant to modernism. When it comes to social contexts postmodernism hints at globalisation as becoming a bigger part of modern society and leans toward the ideas of mass culture and mass consumption. Because it is such a vast theory relevant to many different areas of the modern world it becomes difficult to define, and because of this ‘many doubt whether the term can ever be dignified by conceptual coherence’ (Boyne / Rattansi 1990:9)
Bibliography
- Bertens, H. & Natoli, J. eds., 2002. Postmodernism the Key Figures. Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
- Edgar, A & Sedgwick, Peter. Eds., 1999. Key Concepts in Cultural Theory.
- Foster, H. eds., 1985. Postmodern Culture.
- Lewis, J. 2002. Cultural Studies: The Basics. London, SAGE Publications Ltd.
- Strinati, D. 2004. An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture (second edition). Oxen, Routlege
No comments:
Post a Comment