Defining Post-Modernism Essay -- Definition post Modernism

Defining Post-Modernism In trying to fixate exactly what post-modernism is I shall firstly briefly consider some of the events and sentiment that led up to the development of this particular school of social theory. I shall then consider some of the common strands of thinking in postmodernism concentrating in general on the writings of Jean-Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard. I shall then consider the office of David Harvey, a Marxist many consider to be writing in the postmodern tradition, who argues that post-modernism is just another form of capitalism. Having analysed his argument I shall abstain by giving my own personal view of post-modernism and by demonstrate that by its very nature it is virtually impossible to come up with one single all encompassing definition.The term postmodernism was first employ in relation to architecture. Modern architecture, namely the high rise chromatography column blocks of the sixties, were becoming more and more unpopular. Charles Je ncks (1977) traces the death of modernist architecture to the demolition of the Pruitt-Igoe lodging project in St. Louis, and other writers (Lemert (1990)) have seen this as a symbolic representation of the end of modernity. Society was reacting against modern architectural ideas having lost faith in the modern ideals. Although modern architecture might have been scientifically groundbreaking using the latest and cheapest materials, people rejected it, preferring to return to a variety of styles from the past. Examples of this can be seen in the rejuvenation of the Albert Dock in Liverpool, and mock knightly squares.Similarly in Sociology postmodernism rejects the theories of the past, and represents a break from the modern way of thinking. For example, Marx envisaged society evolving finished social change into the perfect communist society, where there are no issues of variety or general inequality. Postmodernists would refer to his theory, and those of other sociologists, as a metanarrative and writers such(prenominal) as Lyotard (1984) have seen the rejection of such theories as central to postmodernismSimplifying to the extreme, I subtend postmodernism as incredulity to metanarrativesPeople have lost faith in the metanarratives of the past and Lyotard sees social life being organised around language games, which advert to justify peoples behaviour in society. In these games a person endeavours to swing others t... ...is impossible to apply one all encompassing theory. A epitome of theories must be considered and all viewpoints listened to. Only by adopting such an draw near and by welcoming different points of view can we further make the world in which we live.ReferencesHarvey, D. (1990) The Condition Of Postmodernity OxfordBlackwellKellner, D. (1990) Postmodernism Jameson Critique cited in Ritzer, G. (1992) Sociological Theory (third edition) sensitive York McGraw-Hill, Inc. Lyotard, J.F. (1984) The Postmodern Condition. Minneapolis Univer sity of atomic number 25 PressRitzer, G. (1992) Sociological Theory (third edition) New York McGraw-Hill, Inc. BibliographyAdams, D.J. Toward a Theological Understanding of Postmodernism http//aril.org/adams.htmTEXT20Cuff, E.C., Sharrock, W.W., and Francis, D.W. (1998) Perspectives in Sociology (fourth edition) capital of the United Kingdom Routledge.Mizrach, S. Talking pomo An analysis of the postmodern movement http//glidare.isp.his.se/isp/andreas/pomo.htmRitzer, G. (1992) Sociological Theory (third edition) New York McGraw-Hill, Inc. Ritzer, G. (1996) Classical Social Theory (second edition) New York McGraw-Hill, Inc.