Modernity and Postmodernism: Defining Cultural Eras
Modernity: An Era of Progress and Reason
Modernity is a period in European history dating from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It coincided with the end of the Old Regime and the liberal revolutions, implying significant societal change. Modernity effectively began with the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.
Key Tenets of Modernity
- Social Utopias: This period featured grand social visions and cultural movements like the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, a French cultural movement, expressed confidence in the power of reason to change the world and build a better future. Its aim was for individuals to think critically about reality. Key theorists include Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire, etc. Political and philosophical theories like Marxism also emerged, characterized by the idea of progress and the possibility of building a better world – a belief that improvement “if you can” was achievable. Humanity held strong faith in the future.
- Primacy of Public Interest: Collective well-being was prioritized over individual interests. The idea that “unity is strength” gained traction, leading to movements like the labor movement.
- Supremacy of Reason and Science: There was an absolute reliance on scientific criteria as the sole means to understand and explain reality. Belief was placed primarily in the provable. A shift occurred from theocentrism (where divine will explained everything) to anthropocentrism (where humanity is the center). Humans believed they created their own destiny and reality, controlling events.
Postmodernism: Culture After Modernity
Postmodernism signifies the entry into a new era, marked by the expansion of capitalist production, marketing, and consumption. The term began circulating in the early 1980s, becoming more prominent throughout the 80s and especially the 90s.
Characteristics of Postmodern Thought
- Lack of Utopian Horizon: The postmodern individual may be dissatisfied with the world but lacks hope for fundamental change. There’s a loss of confidence in grand projects for social transformation and disregard for striving towards a ‘better’ humanity.
- Lack of Solidarity: This is the time of the “I” and intimacy. The primary concern shifts to the self, personal satisfaction, and fulfillment, often neglecting broader societal concerns. Individual interest is prioritized over the general good.
- Emphasis on Physicality: An apparent “resurrection of the flesh” occurs, where liberation is often associated with physical pleasure, sometimes detached from deep emotional connection.
- Living Without Ideals: Characterized by a sense of “letting go,” living without fixed ideals, goals, or future projects.
- Relativism (“Anything Goes”): The mantra becomes “anything goes, nothing is forbidden.” There is a diminished sense of past and future, with an intense focus on the present: CARPE DIEM. Aesthetics often replace ethics, and success becomes linked to appearance.
- Decline of Reason’s Dominance: Individuals are often guided more by sentiment than by reason. Echoing Nietzsche’s sentiment, there’s a sense that “Man must not think” solely through rational frameworks.
- The Fragmented Self: The postmodern individual doesn’t cling rigidly to beliefs; opinions are subject to rapid change. There’s often inconsistency between words and actions (“What I think now, I have no reason to believe tomorrow,” “There is no consistency between what I say and what I do”).
- Waiver of Deep Commitment: The goal is often emotional independence. This manifests as “cold sex,” pleasure-oriented short-term encounters, with little ambition to establish exclusive or lasting relationships.
- Tolerance Bordering on Indifference: There’s a loss of social consensus about what constitutes ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Postmodern individuals often waive the need to debate their choices, adopting a “live and let live” attitude.
- Rise of Esotericism: A notable “boom” in interest towards esotericism and the occult occurs, attracting a significant public following, especially today.