Post-postmodernism

One more thing about Kirby's article, and then I'll leave it alone.

Yes, I believe his idea of pseudo-modernism does not adequately describe our generation. But to be fair, I don't think he was trying to define our generation. As I see it, he was attempting to describe a cultural phenomenon that cannot be described by postmodernism and is therefore part of a newer movement. While the phenomenon does indeed exist -- I agree that there is a new importance being placed on the recipient of information, and with technology, the recipient interacts with that information in a way never done before -- it is only a small part of the new movement. Saying that pseudo-modernism is the new movement is like saying that postmodern art is the entirety of the postmodern movement. Pseudo-modernism can apply to the internet, and to certain TV shows, but it does not apply to all aspects of the new cultural movement. There are new approaches to music, art, belief, politics, public health, environmentalism, that are distinct from any past movement but cannot be defined by pseudo-modernism. While it may be a legitimate idea, pseudo-modernism does not encompass the same amount of cultural production that postmodernism encompassed. It is not post-postmodernism.

So... what is post-postmodernism? To subtly dodge that question and simultaneously promote the goal of this blog, I'll say that post-postmodernism is the philosophy and cultural influence of our generation... which we're currently attempting to define.

One idea: If postmodernism tried to tear down the dogmatic pillars that held up the worldviews of each and every individual, then post-postmodernism is the attempt to rebuild our beliefs with the acceptance that we can never fully avoid dogmatic assumptions, though we can and must question each and every one of them. This questioning process, this process of defining our beliefs, is an individual pursuit (as postmodernism would prescribe) but also the pursuit of groups, families, communities, nations, and the human race as a whole. Postmodernism says that we will only ever have our own beliefs, that there is no external or inherent truth. Post-postmodernism says that despite the subjectivity of belief, we can still agree on some issues. Some issues, some problems, transcend differences of belief, and these are problems that are the most pressing, and the ones we need to solve soon. Philosophy, and blogs, are for the those fortunate enough to have material and temporal wealth. Surely we can ignore the differences of philosophy and come together to give all humans their basic needs, and leave future generations with a healthy planet to inhabit. This is my take on post-postmodernism.

Word is born.

(I hope each and every one of you tried to figure out how the picture connects to the post)