4 ms·

I don't really know if this is a fair characterization of postmodernism or not, but I have to wonder about the circumstances under which a total lack of structu

I don't really know if this is a fair characterization of postmodernism or not, but I have to wonder about the circumstances under which a total lack of structure would actually be useful in a human life? It seems like to me an interesting but not very profound observation to make that our minds traffic in structure and patterns. What alternative, I wonder, is proposed to solving problems using logical constructs? For those that need an introduction to the finer points of POMO, don't miss this: http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/pomo/ http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/pomo/ (don't miss the footer!)

DenisM 12y ago
>I have to wonder about the circumstances under which a total lack of structure would actually be useful in a human life? I surmise it can serve as a contrasting backdrop to structure, to better the understanding of the latter. On the other hand, it could be simply a childish rebellion against the paternalistic oppression of structure and reason. Or... it can also be a method for newcomers to dislodge the old guard - by undermining their work, you might be able to undermine their social stance and gain some of it for yourself.
- mc32 12y ago
  Postmodernism is more insidious than rejection of authority/structure. Authority tends to be straightforward. Postmodernism says there is no authority, but you know very well there is authority but you have to find it out yourself and be sure you are correct in your conclusion of authority or structure. It's like when you ask someone for an appropriate gift for an occasion and they say, 'oh, you'll figure something out' instead of telling you what would work. I mean, it's not as though 'anything' would be accepted, but now they are putting the onus on you to get it right. So rather than being liberating, it can be debilitating.
  - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
    That 'It's all equally meaningless, so here's some cultural irony' shtick gets wearing after a while. It had its day in the late 80s and early 90s. Only academia is keeping it alive now. You pretty much have to be able to quote Derrida, Lacan, and Foucault to get a humanities professorship - which is, not nearly ironically enough, not a good thing, IMO. (See also: Postmodern Critical Theory.) But I think rest of world, including rest of art world, has moved on already.
    - conatus 12y ago
      Have you read any Derrida, Lacan or Foucault?
      - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
        Too much. Far, far, too much. :) I prefer Bourdieu, who seems to be tragically underrated in academia.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]

DenisM 12y ago

>I have to wonder about the circumstances under which a total lack of structure would actually be useful in a human life? I surmise it can serve as a contrasting backdrop to structure, to better the understanding of the latter. On the other hand, it could be simply a childish rebellion against the paternalistic oppression of structure and reason. Or... it can also be a method for newcomers to dislodge the old guard - by undermining their work, you might be able to undermine their social stance and gain some of it for yourself.

mc32 12y ago
Postmodernism is more insidious than rejection of authority/structure. Authority tends to be straightforward. Postmodernism says there is no authority, but you know very well there is authority but you have to find it out yourself and be sure you are correct in your conclusion of authority or structure. It's like when you ask someone for an appropriate gift for an occasion and they say, 'oh, you'll figure something out' instead of telling you what would work. I mean, it's not as though 'anything' would be accepted, but now they are putting the onus on you to get it right. So rather than being liberating, it can be debilitating.
- TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
  That 'It's all equally meaningless, so here's some cultural irony' shtick gets wearing after a while. It had its day in the late 80s and early 90s. Only academia is keeping it alive now. You pretty much have to be able to quote Derrida, Lacan, and Foucault to get a humanities professorship - which is, not nearly ironically enough, not a good thing, IMO. (See also: Postmodern Critical Theory.) But I think rest of world, including rest of art world, has moved on already.
  - conatus 12y ago
    Have you read any Derrida, Lacan or Foucault?
    - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
      Too much. Far, far, too much. :) I prefer Bourdieu, who seems to be tragically underrated in academia.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]