Postmodernism

• Postmodernism can be defined as such:
  • Of or identifying with a intellectual position regularly set apart by eclecticism and irony and tending to dismiss the widespread acceptance of such standards as hierarchy, binary opposition, categorisation, and stable identity.

 

• It refers to a disassociation from modernism and is portrayed by the utilisation of prior styles and traditions, a blending of various creative styles and media, and a general distrust of past theories known as belief systems.

 

• It is not the end of modernity, but an era of post modernity.

 

• It is essentially a belief in not believing what has always been accepted by society. While this can be construed as hypocritical, it is an Idea of not conforming to a typical belief.

 

• An example of a postmodern idea within society would be a generational rejection of organised religion as opposed to the previous generations acceptance of the same.

 

• Another example, this time within the media industry, would be artist Andy Warhol. By indulging in capitalistic tendencies in order to sell his art, though hypocritical to the general definition of postmodernism, he rejected societies idea that a true artist works for self fulfilment as opposed to financial gain.

 

• Another area postmodernism is obvious is within the clothing that is popular within our current generation. The fact we buy clothes that are purposely made to look old and sometimes torn as opposed to the previous generations rejection of such articles, instead opting for ‘brand new’.

 

• Postmodernism is a construct that simply cannot exist without the generational differences and differing opinions within society as a whole.

 

• It is spread across a multitude of generations, meaning the actual understanding of postmodernism cannot be defined as one single strand of theory, but is open to interpretation from all sides.

 

• But just because it cannot be given a definitive definition with clear boundaries, does not mean it doesn’t exist.

 

• Irish society can be construed as postmodernist in the sense that Irish people tend to not express their disappointment in what goes wrong, instead deciding to use humour and jokes in order to make things appear a lot better than they are.

 

• It’s an idea that it will be OK no matter how bad things are, once we control how we react and display a sense of acceptance.

 

• Another example within society is people’s unwillingness to embrace relationships without directly ensuring they themselves are protected from the possibility of heartbreak.

 

• We have evolved, with the help of the internet and dating sites, to a point we must pre screen our prospective partners to ensure they are suitable in an attempt to control what happens to us.