Postmodernism and Material Culture - Essay Example

Postmodernism and Material Culture By: Postmodernism and Material Culture Postmodernism may be defined as the tendency of the modern culture to be characterized by complication of the basic truth. It involves suspicion of meta- narratives and cultural narratives by the world. Supporters of postmodernism believe that most of the apparent realities arise from social constructs. They also believe that the apparent realities are subject to adjustment inherent to place and time. Alternatively, postmodernism addresses power relations, power of language as well as motivations. In detail, it refrains from victimizing definitions such as female versus male, straight versus gay, black versus white and colonial versus imperial. Therefore, postmodernism holds realities to be relative to the interested parties and their main concerns. Postmodernism influences numerous cultural fields which include sociology, literary criticism, visual arts, music, architecture and linguistics (Butler 2002, pg56). The wide range of terms in statements and assumptions in argument seem to complicate the study of postmodernism. We begin by differentiating the concepts and terms of postmodernism. The postmodern refers to a historical condition. Postmodernity assess the acknowledgment or lack of the same about postmodernism. Finally, postmodernism may be exhibited in various movements that exhibit self-awareness and intention of varying degrees (Jameson 2001, pg5). Postmodernism refers to an awareness of transition within the societal and cultural spectrums following the World-War II. It also associates with the upheavals associated with the mass-mediated populist consumer culture of the 1960s-1970s. In culture and art, postmodernism contributes towards the development of hybrid cultural forms. Often, individuals of the affected localities try to be against or in support of the hegemonic Western culture. In history, postmodernism alters progress of the goal oriented history. In addition, postmodernism disrupts myths that propagate ethnic and national identities and unity (Jencks 1996, pg12). In the political scenario, postmodernism emerged during the 1960s. In this era, student uprising and strikes in protest of political decisions paralyzed operations in both France and America. In France, the populists lost faith in the Marxist theory. This occurred due to the alleged association of the French Communist Party in neutralizing the revolutionary situation. Therefore, postmodernism portrays disillusionment of the people with the Marxist scheme of thought (Sim 2001, pg9). Post structuralism In linguistics, postmodernism contributes to post structuralism Post structuralism represents a theory of criticism of literature often associated with postmodernism. It also portrays a reaction against structuralism which associates language with a system of rules and procedures. Structuralism believes in a deeper comprehension of language. The first major supporter of structuralism, Ferdinand de Saussure, believed in a more complex distinction between langue and parole. Langue refers to deeper level of procedures and rules given within a natural language. On the other hand, parole refers to the superficial level of words generated by langue. Following this concept, believers of structuralism believe in an underlying structure within various aspects of social life. For instance, Levi Strauss believed that all myths exhibited an underlying structure. However, he believed that myths from diverse primitive communities had a deeper structure. On the contrary, post structuralism denies any existence of a possible underlying structure within social life or language (Sim 2001, pg9). Modernity and the Modern Consumer With modernity, domestic creativity seems to be overshadowed by commercial products. Historically performed domestic chores like cooking, gardening, weaving, knitting and baking no longer hold. Due to modernism, the realization of canned foods, packaged bread, frozen dinners and ready-made attires seem to replace traditional chores. In essence, creativity in the domestic setting seems to have succumbed to productivity within the public domain. Consumer revolution resulted in a distinction between consumption and production within the society. Through analysis of growth of consumerism, various concerns arise. Growth of consumerism relies on primary triggers. These triggers include, first, separation of the production in public domain from consumption in the private domain. Secondly, the initiative of the media and its practices on constructing a consumer community. Thirdly, the differentiation of men and women to domains of production and consumption respectively. Fourth, modernism maximizes on marketing strategies so as to convert consumers to shoppers (Slater 1997, pg12). The resultant transformation in the gender based roles as assigned by the society resulted in newer perspective of the women. Women were no longer assigned to domestic chores. In addition, marriage became less of a requirement. The freedom of women in the social setting resulted in the recognition of women as post suburban consumers. In addition, the society displayed a tolerance with homosexuality and out of wedlock settlements. Postmodernism strikes negative consequences on the society. These consequences include loss of communism, hedonism, loss of social compassion and endless commercialization (Sim 2001, pg19). Counterculture and fashion The counterculture experience in the 1960s created a generational gap. Never before in history was the rift between the adults and the young become so wide. The larger excitement of the 60s and early 70s arose from the rapidly changing trends in hairstyle and fashion. The readiness of the young people to embrace this trends met rejection from the adults who claimed they appeared ridiculous. These ridiculous looks included long hair worn by men, the Afro or natural hairdos sported by the Blacks and the non-conservative worn by women and young girls in public. Also, these trends involved the short lived culture of the hippies which promoted psychedelic regalia and clothing (Baugess 2012 pg16). Eventually, the T-shirts made way into the society as a more comfortable, casual as well as practical apparel. The T-shirts often displayed phrases which epitomized the historic events of the 60s. Also, the T-shirts sported tie dyed patterns. In addition, the branded denim jeans designed by Levi Strauss became the long lasting attire of the generation. However, the dominance of fashion during the counterculture era ended upon the evolution of Punk Rock music and Disco. Conversely, the T-shirts, casual clothing and blue denim jeans proliferated into other generations (Hill 2007, pg4) The counterculture era which took place in the 1960s roughly refers to the anti –establishment phenomenon. This cultural phenomenon occurred first in the United States and the United Kingdom before spreading throughout the Western world. This anti-establishment phenomenon gained impetus alongside the uprising African –American Civil Rights Movement. Eventually, the movements of the 1960s both cultural and political became revolutionary as the government of the United States launched more military and expanded its intervention in Vietnam (English 2013, pg44). Through the 1960s, social tension developed become widespread. The tensions revolved around other social matters and infiltrated down the generations. These social matters included women’s rights, human sexuality, contemporary forms of authority, varying analysis of the American dream and trialing with psychoactive drugs. In addition to the revolutionized trends in art, clothing, philosophy, music, anti-establishments and contradicting views of the Vietnam wars more rifts developed. The hippies turned away from the main community and resettled in communes or ranches. The initial communes in the United States included that Southern Colorado commune land of seven acres. This commune was referred to as the Drop City (English 2013, pg44). With aging of members of the hippie movement, the hippies gradually embraced civilization and modernized their views and lives. Also, the involvement of the United States government in Vietnam ended in the 1970s. Nevertheless, counterculture embed itself largely on the mainstream cultures in morality, art, music, lifestyle and fashion and philosophy (Hill 2007, pg55). Globalization Globalization represents a reorganization and expansion of the world to accommodate civilization, development and acknowledgment of international interaction in social and economic realms. In addition, globalization represents a contemporary means of communication. This communication leads to a literal mutation of the world whereby cultural practices undergo change and modification (Baudrillard 1997, pg45). The globalization phenomenon involves the diversification of manifestations arising from various social fields. It also describes the modifications in the contemporary society within the context of the media and the world economy. These theoretical concerns indicate that globalization only promotes uniformization, intoxication of knowledge through the television and internet, and standardization of culture. Consequently, this phenomenon contributes to the barbarization of humans (Charny 2011, pg23). Through globalization, social cultures result in commodities which eliminate humanity in support of pseudo-science and pseudo-culture. Without culture and no ancestral roots in tradition, man becomes susceptible to consumption of capitalism. Often, art represents this castor of globalization through various patterns (Trilling 2001, pg3). Postmodernism and anthropology  Postmodernism attacks ethnography on the basis of lack of honest objectivity. The critics believe that ethnography lack the capability to implement objectivity scientifically. For instance, one of the critics, Isaac Reed (2010) conceptualizes the challenge of postmodernism to objectivity within social research. He notes that this research appears as a skeptic of the anthropologic ability to accommodate the context of investigation and explanation. He further defines investigation as the investigator’s social and intellectual context. On the other hand, he defines explanation as the reality of that an investigator intends to investigate. Often, the investigator investigates particular social actions within immediate social context or environment which build up the explanation (Astfalck 2005 & 2006, pg4). Between 1970 and 1980, various anthropologists presented a disbelief in the validity of anthropological fieldwork. In his work, Isaac Reed refers to the change in engagement in writing culture as a postmodern turn. This postmodern turn occurred in the mid-1980s, whereby deep skepticisms arose within linguistic and cultural anthropology. The skepticism questioned whether anthropology would honestly and adequately integrate investigation and explanation contexts. This further created skepticism on whether postmodern anthropology would present the true social knowledge scientifically (Greenhalgh 2002 pg15). Modernism and Fragmentation In order to fully comprehend this aspect, one needs to analyze cultural spaces where the culture and symbolic modes analyze the basis of consumption. Additionally, cultural symbolism could only be understood through evaluating metanarratives in cultural practices of daily lives of a community. Great critics of modernism, Foucault (1977) and Lyotard (1984) dispute metanarratives as cumbersome approaches. On the other hand, feminists view modernism in the aspects of discrimination by gender (Sim 2001, pg13). Fragmentation refers to the removal of single realities and instigation of multiple realities each claiming legitimacy. As consumption increases, fragmentation pervades all the aspects of human activities. Fragmentation in communication poses great significance since it results in inconsistence in human acts. With the end of metanarratives as a result of fragmented subjects which seek neither unity nor conventionality but freedom of motion within the expansive space. This leads to the freedom of individuals to thrive within fluid spaces of the society. In addition, fragmentation regulates the expectations of the consumers which consequently represents a retaliation of the dominant culture. Through symbolisms of counter-culture fragmentation empties initial meanings of symbols within the commercial market (Jameson 2001, pg10). Dominance of Art Artistic modernism greatly determines how one visualizes art. The philosophies of art argue that art needs to be analyzed by place and time. Through art, formalism made way into the art scene. Cross cultural interpretation of art by place and time occur as a distraction for the aspects of formalism. Consequently, proper consideration of art necessitated that individuals use imagery, metaphor and language. Abstract expressionism on the other hand evolved through styles of enthusiasm. Painting in art work during the 1960s mainly functioned to erase aesthetic boundaries (Fariello 2004, pg6). Through modernism, newer aspects of art erupted. For instance, the design of skyscrapers with the motivation of utopian dreams. In addition, art seemed to be vanishing with the introduction of photography. With art, a moment would be captured with magical strokes of stencil or paint on canvas and would always be valuable. Art did not need to be perfect. Critics of such strides in art claim that modernism only serves to discard the innovations and creativity of the past. Over the centuries, creativity and innovation in craft and art enabled individuals to present items that could be analyzed regardless of time and place of creation (Fariello 2004, pg10). Conclusion: Post modernism versus modernism Over the traditional and archaic eras, man portrays himself through cosmic life cycles. Through cyclic regeneration of seasons of mythic times man represents strategies specific to the traditional societies despite the suspense of time. Therefore, culture only prevails over the evolution of cultures through relentless practice of cultural archetypes. In the twentieth century, contrast between the traditional and postmodern world seemed to be stronger compare to any era of human history. Striking transformations took place within the substance of culture as well as the social mechanisms of culture. These transformations take into consideration the cultural processes and technical infrastructure (Jameson 2001, pg8). References: Baudrillard, J., Simulacra and Simulation, University of Michigan, pp.75-78 Butler, C. (2002) Postmodernism: A very short introduction, Oxford Jameson, F., (2001) Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Duke University Press Jencks, C., (1996) What is Postmodernism?, UK, Academy Editions Sim, S., (2001) The Routledge companion to Postmodernism, UK, Routledge Slater, D., (1997) Consumer Culture & Modernity, UK, PolityRecommended Baudrillard J., (1997) The System of Objects, New York, Verso Bocock, R., (1997) Consumption,London, Routledge, pp.53-7 and pp.76-82 Charny, D.,(2011) Power of Making, London, V&A Publishing Harvey, D., (1989) The Condition of Postmodernity, Blackwell pp.211-215 Lyotard, J-F., (1993) Defining the Postmodern, in During, S. The Cultural Studies Reader, Routledge, pp.170-173 Trilling, J., (2001) The Language of Ornament, London, Thames and Hudson, pp.12-21 Woodham, J. M., (1997) Twentieth Century Design, Oxford, pp.183-203Recommended for Contemporary Design and Craft: Astfalck, J., (2005 & 2006) New Directions in Jewellery: 1 (&2) London, Black Dog Baugess, J.S, (2012) Encyclopedia of the Sixties a Decade of Culture and Counterculture. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood. Print. English, B, (2013). A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th and 21st Centuries: From Catwalk to Sidewalk. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Print Fariello, A. M., (2004) Objects and Meaning: A New Perspective on Art and Craft, Blandford Forum, Scarecrow. Greenhalgh, P., (2002) The Persistence of Craft, London, A&C Black Hill, D. D, (2007) As Seen in Vogue: A Century of American Fashion in Advertising. Lubbock, Tex: Texas Tech University Press. Print. Read More