The Distinction between Elite and Mass Culture - Essay Example

Running head: HAVE THE LAST FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY SEEN THE TRIUMPH OF A POSTMODERN SENSIBILITY THAT HAS OVERTURNED THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ELITE AND MASS CULTURE Have the last fifty years of American history seen the triumph of a postmodern sensibility that has overturned the distinction between elite and mass culture Name Have the last fifty years of American history seen the triumph of a postmodern sensibility that has overturned the distinction between elite and mass culture Introduction The last fifty years in America has really been influenced by the postmodern period. The scholars have come up with the idea that this period is a period that postmodernism was gaining a lot of fame and changing the entire understanding of elite and mass culture. Postmodern period saw the elite becoming the majority in decisions i.e. things were beginning to take a new dimension in the way they wee being handled. The scholars no longer regarded the issue of mass involvement as method of solving a problem but it considered it a means that individuals are not allowed to show their contributions. This is period when science and technology came into place. The elites believed that a country cannot run without putting in place new technologies that are meant to make work easier and assist to solve difficult problems and situations. As the term itself implies, the postmodern era is so much attributed to the ideas of the total end of the modern movement which had its establishment in the American society for about 100 years. The works which were very common in this time like the renaissance paintings, expressionism drawings, existentialism in philosophy, modern school of theory and the films which had its root cause during the era are now considered patterns of the past which are meant only for flowering and do not have any other important function. These movements are being replaced, however by the so called the new ear revolutions packed by chaotic, heterogeneous and empirical values. Issues in place in this particular period include the new expressionism, the existence of the pop art, classical arts and music, the new movements in the film making industry and new alarming literary criticisms which are based on texuality with some aesthetic value. There are however several other critics who have demonstrated that the list could be endless because this is a period that was packed by new changes in fashion and style and consequently the changes in the several areas that the individual in the society is attached to. Postmodern is associated with the introduction of newer knowledge in the society. The changes of knowledge occurred within the postindustrial age and extended into the postmodern age. These changes have been in place in the late 1960's in America where it terms the start of the period as the completion of its reconstruction. There are a lot of variations in the developments of this period depending on the pace that a state has and the general activity that the state is taking. The issue of postmodern concepts however could just be a world of fantasy because several people believe that it is unwise for one to have too much faith in the future. Generally the term postmodern is used to refer to the changes in the cultural or economic conditions of the society that occurred immediately after the period of modernism. Although there are several contradictions on the extent to which modernism went, others terming that it ended in the 20th century, while others saying that it encompasses the period up to postmodern and the present, there is a general conclusion that these periods are not the same because there have been several changes in the different fields. The area of scientific knowledge is worth noting during this time. Jean-Franois Lyotard argues that as far as the issues in fields like painting, architecture and music have so much been used to distinguish between the modern era and the postmodernism era, scientific knowledge is a kind of discourse that has its great developments rooted to the postmodernism era (Lyotard, 1994). The leading scientists in the modern era have been associated with science and technologies that have there connection with communication and cybernetics, theories of linguistics and phonology, theories of informatics and algebra, the variations and computer languages, the introduction of intelligent terminals and the problems associated with storage of information and data banks. Jean argues that although these are some of the major changes during this era, the list is unexhaustful since the introduction of a new problem caused the development of another. Jean further argues that the development of these issues in the postmodern era is simply rooted to the improvement of knowledge. Knowledge, therefore according to him is a very key element which distinguishes the postmodern era with the other periods. The changes all lie in the transferring of the acquired knowledge by individuals, the postmodern era said to be a period that research and constant transmission of knowledge had taken place. Jean says that the nature of knowledge cannot thrive without changing especially when there are a lot of transformations. The constant acquisition of information today through channels like media, the schooling institution are therefore some of the fundamental places that individuals gain this knowledge that they use to propel the world into the current postmodern era. Unlike the changes in other areas which shape the society, knowledge helps to predict what is to happen in the future in terms of the pertinent changes that are said to be the characteristics of a period in time (Lyotard, 1994). The events of the postmodern era vary so much to that of the modern era since in it there are several differences between the two terms. While modernity refers to the modern period of time, modernism is used to refer to the movements of the 1700 to 1950's which was packed by a lot of intellectual and cultural changes in the forms and the design of works of art. 'Modern' can be used to refer to many different things, others attributing the term to the late 20th century and others stating that it's the period which was in place in the years between 1500 and 1800. According to the later understanding, however this period is characterized by industrialization and its end in the 20th century saw the development of the new era of post modernity. The several changes that the technology brought in this era are said to have influenced the sensibility towards postmodernism in America. This was a time when America was rebuilding several of its states after the Second World War and indeed it was a time of preaching peace. The period involved use of technology to transmit information to people far away from the source of information and generally the period involved diversion from doing things in mass and concentrating in activities that were personal inspired. The postmodern period is a period in which many understood that horror and sadness are to be eliminated by the use of the brain and not mass involvement as is evident in several areas like riots in schools, the Christian movements and other public jobs. The concept of political correctness was already in place and people could no longer be deceived. There were a lot of peacemakers coming in place in the period. One good area that best explains the sensibility of postmodern era in America is the introduction of Christianity. This from of orientation was based on the fact that America was starting to understand the basics of having a different culture in pace, a culture that is self driven and not mass driven. The Christians explained that this was a time of the learned, the elites who are able to understand that the issue of being saved depends on an individual understanding salvation is God given and depends upon a personal decision. The new culture dubbed the postmodern culture was indeed the beginning of new things. Postmodernism people see themselves beyond the modern era. The assumption of the modern period about approving or disapproving the truth was simply fading away. Its not only an orientation of the Christians that truth should be practiced but any other person the society of America. Every elite person in this era believed that truth should be used in a universal sense. In this era truth was said to be created and not discovered. Postmodern elites argued that any attempt to force an individual to accept the truth is an insult, a total disgrace to the thinking of an individual. The issue of the people influencing others in a particular way to understand an issue in a particular manner was greatly disapproved. Indeed thinking and decision at this period was considered to be a personal issue that needs to be taken carefully lest one perform things erroneously in the mind. Unlike the assumptions and the theories that were in place during the modern period, the period of postmodernism is a distinct period that saw the introduction of concern fro fairness in dealing with the several racial groups in America. This was in place with the rise in Christianity which was against the several cases of unfairness that was done to the people in America. This period portrays a period of sensibility in that every individual was considered a person who has all the rights to live just like any other person in America. The many reforms that were put in place during this particular period saw the introduction of this issue and the change of the face of race discrimination. One major area that was improved so that the factor of racial discrimination was minimized is the issue of communication. At this point individual were slowly coming to understand their rights and bringing up theories and issues that were geared towards fighting for these rights. One example of such movements was the civic rights movement that was organized by Martin Luther king junior and it was a reaction towards oppression that other races were given in America. The government however considered the importance of such an issue later in the postmodern period and it considered it as a very important step that the leader in charge of fighting for the rights of the oppressed had taken. Indeed it became the best method to communicate and air the sentiments of the suffering. Considerations were therefore put in place and entire laws amended so that it catered for them. Postmodern period is significantly a period that there arose artistic creativity. Art was considered a vessel of communicating the reality to individuals in the society. Unlike the past mass movement era where the arts usually influenced by the mass, in this period, more sense was applied and art was regarded as conveying the truth of the matter in the society. Dynamism in the area of art and poetry in the postmodern period was considered with a lot of meaning as opposed to that of the period of modernism where the artists and poets were considered for understanding only. The advent of contemporary media like the televisions, the cinema and the musical lyrics are all attributed to the post modern era and they serve to give meaning to particular individuals and not just mere information that is empty in its meaning (Jameson, 1984). The postmodern Christians use such media to communicate to the individuals across the world and give meaning to the world of God to every individual. For many years several groups of people in America had been struggling to have a sense of being recognized and have freedom of both expression and worship. It however did not come until the postmodern period when for the first time the Congress amended several laws that saw the introduction of freedom of rights for every citizen of the US. This era sought to remove all the restrictions of personal autonomy and defending the issue with reality and reason. The elites of this particular period as opposed to the masses of the modern period proposed that the time for chaining individuals in their own thinking capacities had passed and it was time to let everybody express himself in his own ways. The issue of truth and opinion were slowly coming in place and everybody had a chance to contribute by giving their own side of views so that amendments could be made in the constitution and consequently address the people's rights. The rules of speech and expression were very limited during this particular period and several thinkers had brought up important changes that America needed to do so that it could achieve the goals that were in place. More sense had come into the nation, the government realizing that the citizens are equally important in making the rules that govern the country. A lot of emphasis in the era of postmodernism indicates that relationship is a factor that needs to be developed so much. Away from the hate and warlike culture of the modern period, a period that suggested that peoples were to live in fear and hate, this period implied the people having good relationships and focusing on issues that are not meant to divide or bring hate. The concept of the modern period of mass development, as much as people involved in a mass had strong relationship, the opposing groups particularly to the government were so many. These groups were rebellious on how they were being treated by the government and they caused a lot of revolts and movements that were meant to divide. The postmodern era changed the bigger part of these making individuals at this period to focus on building relationships that were permanent and important. Every leader was to act in way of uniting individuals in the society by preaching peace and lack of racial discrimination. Any issue that arose and did not follow the codes that are set aside for bringing unity in the people of America in the period of postmodernism was considered a breach of law and therefore anybody involving in such an act was prosecuted. Since the period encompasses the period of increase in knowledge and technology, there were a lot of understanding about the environment of the individual. Many started to view the environment as a place that needs to be taken care of and is as important even if one is not part of that particular environment. Postmodernist's elites argue that nature should be respected because it would not make any sense to treat the rest of the nature in an absurd way like we treat ourselves. Several movements came up including the rights of animals put in place during this particular period of the postmodernism in America. In every conservation centre and forests where animals were found strict rules were put in place to restrict the killing of animals. Animals were seen to have their own rights as nature too to live. This created a lot of sense in the world considering that the modern period consisted of several issues like the killing of animals for uses that were not beneficial. Conclusion The trends that postmodern America is taking are wanting especially with the continued rapid changes that are taking place in the technological field. Fredric argues that a risk society is a society in which there is a high technological change which nobody can predict the future changes and the implications cannot be easily understood. In order for one to be able to control the future, however he needs to be able to calculate several things. There is a need to understand that risks can be in two phase, those that are manufactured and those which their liabilities can be calculated (Jameson, 1984). The future seems to hold a lot of ignorance and disagreements on several issues and facts that individuals will be forced to harmonize before making a particular solution. It's therefore important that these factors should be put into considerations if the future events are to be determined. The changes that are taking place today are perhaps some of the major contributions of the postmodernism theories in America. The changes in aesthetics have become so much a factor that is of concern. The increased urgency of coming up with better goods and services are felt in the contemporary society today and the continued use of innovative skills and creativity has made the changes in the modern world to be the way it is. So many countries are adapting several ways of improving their economy, a condition that is characterizing the contemporary society while there are a lot of changes in the film and architectural industry. All these are the characteristics that postmodernism and postmodernists theories have contributed to the contemporary society. Reference: Fredric Jameson (1984). "Postmodernism and Consumer Society." In The Cultural Turn (pp.1-20). New York: Verso Lyotard, J.F. (1994). The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Manchester University Press Read More