Post Modernism
Tetractys
Nuke wrote in message ...
>
>Upon first stubbing my big toe on the term post modernism, I was
>immediately perplexed (well, weren't you?). Somewhat curious, I then began
>to notice it sticking its head out quite frequently in literary circles.
>Assuming it was a literary-specific locution, I read a few definitions
which
>then instantly proved otherwise.
>
>Later in the piece, I was nearly satisfied with a scratch-the-surface
>perception of what I thought post modernism meant. I proceeded to
>read a few articles (and I wish I hadnt have read them now) which
>instantly curtailed my so-called understanding of the expression.
>
>So off the cuff and in an attempt to keep down the frown wrinkles, I
>landed myself in here.
>
>Can anybody throw me a laymans definition?
Sorry for the incipient Alzheimer's or this reply would be more specific and
cogent. A few days ago during the rush of media which surrounds us these
days, I perked up as someone in the arts whose field and name have faded
into the blur of pixels and sound bytes made the statement, "I don't usually
use the term 'post-modern' because I've never been sure what it means, but
this [whatever they were discussing] is probably best described as
'post-modern.'"
What made me perk up was this artist who I admired (and can't remember now)
admitted that he didn't have a clue what the term means. (I think the first
paragraph of my reply is post-modern, but I'm not sure.)
I've heard it said that post-modernism is the soulless denial of the
romantic ideal -- that people can behave altruistically and heroically. This
definition would pretty much include all post-W.W.II literature. Other
definitions I've read start with "modern" and go from there. "Modern" may be
described as a group of named writers rather than a chronological period. So
you might say Sartre is modern, Foucault is post-modern.
Or you might define modern and post-modern in terms of ideas. Ethical
dependence upon laws and religious morality may be defined as "modern" if
they separate church and state. If ethics is separated from the state and
depends on existential situations, it might be "post-modern."
So... make up your own definition. How can you go wrong?
-Tetractys, a pre-ancient.
William R. Penrose
In article <Pine.SOL.3.95.980402...@student.canberra.edu.au> Nuke <u98...@student.canberra.edu.au> writes:
>Upon first stubbing my big toe on the term post modernism, I was
>immediately perplexed (well, weren't you?).
snippety snip
>Can anybody throw me a laymans definition?
The short answer: It is workfare for academics.
The long(er) answer. It is a way to inject partisan politics into formerly
objective academic pursuits. It holds, for example, that all former history
is invalid because it was written by white European males about white European
males.
In effect, it is a return to 18th century Rationalism, the belief that all
knowledge can come out of the head, without reference to the real world.
Bill
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Tetractys
William R. Penrose wrote:
>>Can anybody throw me a laymans definition?
>
>The short answer: It is workfare for academics.
>
>The long(er) answer. It is a way to inject partisan politics into formerly
>objective academic pursuits. It holds, for example, that all former
history
>is invalid because it was written by white European males about white
European
>males.
>
>In effect, it is a return to 18th century Rationalism, the belief that all
>knowledge can come out of the head, without reference to the real world.
Well spake. I think they call it "consilience" now -- wherein sociobiology
explains everything in terms of brain states, you know, like in the old
blues song:
"I woke up this morning
Feeling low and mean,
'T'weren't positive reinforcement
Jus' the ghost in the machine...
I'm inherently evil,
Evil as a man can be...."
--Tetractys.
Prospero
In <wpenrose.21...@interaccess.com>, wpen...@interaccess.com (William R. Penrose) writes:
>
>The long(er) answer. It is a way to inject partisan politics into formerly
>objective academic pursuits. It holds, for example, that all former history
>is invalid because it was written by white European males about white European
>males.
>
>In effect, it is a return to 18th century Rationalism, the belief that all
>knowledge can come out of the head, without reference to the real world.
Doesn't it also have to do with getting away from the norm in a way. Example:
"pulp fiction" would be a post modern work due to its non-linear plot development.
This is against what the white males started, but it is much deeper than that. I am
taking a modern fiction class where everything is the straight forward, template
novel. But when we read anything that was chaotic in a way, fractured, if you
will, we were told it was post modern. Help me if I'm wrong.
Myke
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Michael Czikk - God of his own world, and yours!
pros...@sympatico.ca http://members.theglobe.com/damocles1
Tred softly on the earth, or start paying me damage taxes
Hound of Cullen
In article <6ghqa6$n...@butler.ac.BrockU.CA>, pros...@sympatico.ca wrote:
>In <wpenrose.21...@interaccess.com>, wpen...@interaccess.com (William
> R. Penrose) writes:
>>
>>The long(er) answer. It is a way to inject partisan politics into formerly
>>objective academic pursuits. It holds, for example, that all former history
>>is invalid because it was written by white European males about white European
>
>>males.
>>
>>In effect, it is a return to 18th century Rationalism, the belief that all
>>knowledge can come out of the head, without reference to the real world.
>
>Doesn't it also have to do with getting away from the norm in a way. Example:
>"pulp fiction" would be a post modern work due to its non-linear plot
> development.
>This is against what the white males started, but it is much deeper than that.
> I am
>taking a modern fiction class where everything is the straight forward,
> template
>novel. But when we read anything that was chaotic in a way, fractured, if you
>will, we were told it was post modern. Help me if I'm wrong.
>Myke
This most closely resembles the definition that I've heard. A post modern
work is usually self-referential, ironic, and deliberately chaotic in
structure. Pulp Fiction and Babe are both post-modern films, Andy Warhol is a
post-modern artist, and Milorad Pavic is a post-modern author.
Hound
Kemnitzer,Trollman
Apparently the same people who brought you "Marx for Beginners,"
"Freud for Beginners," and "Erotica for Beginners," have also brought
out "Derrida for Beginnners." The rest of the series that I have seen
has been excellent -- and the person who told me about the Derrida
book says it's fantastic too.
Lucy Kemnitzer