Postmodernism

[Maxam]

The other day, I read this post from someone (I believe he/she was
called Trinitine) who stated that postmodernism denied the legacies of
Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Kant etc.

I didn't understand it. Who (Trinitine?) explains?

[Jason]

Don't know. There is an excellent (from my humble experience) introduction
to postmodernism at:
http://www.colorado.edu/English/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html
(Dr. Mary Klages)

She explains why postmodernism critiques the "grand narratives" of modernism
(like Marx, Hegel, Kant) - and explains what a grand narrative is, which is
good. Not sure about Socrates, Plato & Descart though, I don't know enough.

And looks at one or two arguments against postmodernism as well.
(not sure if that is what you were asking (ref. "Who explains?"))

[Maxam]

>> I didn't understand it. Who (Trinitine?) explains?
>
>Don't know. There is an excellent (from my humble experience) introduction
>to postmodernism at:
>http://www.colorado.edu/English/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html
>(Dr. Mary Klages)
>
>She explains why postmodernism critiques the "grand narratives" of modernism
>(like Marx, Hegel, Kant) - and explains what a grand narrative is, which is
>good. Not sure about Socrates, Plato & Descart though, I don't know enough.
>
>And looks at one or two arguments against postmodernism as well.
>(not sure if that is what you were asking (ref. "Who explains?"))

Thanx Jason. I had a quick view on the URL and it seemed to be a clear
text.
With my question:"Who explains?" I meant that I had read several brief
definitions of postmodernism and they all seemed to tell a different
story. So, I wondered if there was a universal definition of the term.

Your reference has placed my one step further.

[Jason]

> Thanx Jason. I had a quick view on the URL and it seemed to be a clear
> text.
> With my question:"Who explains?" I meant that I had read several brief
> definitions of postmodernism and they all seemed to tell a different
> story. So, I wondered if there was a universal definition of the term.
>
> Your reference has placed my one step further.

No probs.
The quote below is from one of my Mum's essays on Post-modernism in
Education:

"
What is post-modernism?
Giroux [1988] states that "there is no agreed-upn meaning" for the term
post-modernism". Cross [1992] describes post-modernism as a "new mood
arising towards the end of the millennium" - "endism". It is a mood of
rejection of "so called modern discourses". Olsen [1992] adds that
post-modernism is a mode of consciousness and not a historical period. Kerka
[1997] sees post-modernism as a form of questioning, an attitude or
perspective.

Post-modernism by its very nature would be resistant to confining
definitions. "By definition, post-modernism resists definition" writes Kerka
[1997]. Yet...
"
(Give me a yell if you want the references)

This bit still leaves you scratching your head over the question, but its a
good intro to the "mood" of postmodernism, I suppose.