“The question of postmodernity is also the question of the expressions of thought: art, literature, philosophy, politics. You know that in the field of art for example, and more especially the plastic arts, the dominant idea is that the big movement of avant-gardism is over” (1468). The concept of postmodernism lies in expression, particularly finding forms of expression in response and even against modernism. It is to be understood as a progression from modernism, or as Jean-Francois Lyotard states “the term ‘postmodernist’ is in this case to be understood in the sense of a simple succession” (1466). This succession is naturally from modernism.
Within modernism, there are ideas of rationalism, science, hierarchy, and logic. There was more of a sense of black and white, of things are what they are and there is little room for chaos. In response to that came the state of mind of chaos, and that things are left up to chance. The movement emphasized the possibility of grey area. In response to being taught that we are men of science and precision, there was the thought that we are men of spirit (not necessarily religious). This thought spilled over into art, literature, and all forms of expression and thought. Lyotard says that “in this account there is no longer a horizon of universalization, of general emancipation before the eyes of postmodern man” (1466). The postmodern man is limitless and free to explore anything at all. The post modernist is subjective and has more emphasis on chaos rather than the objective strict views of the modernist.
Word Count: 270
Works Cited:
Leitch, Vincent B. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. Print.
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