On the Postmodern Condition

1 Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Works Volume 7 December 2020 On the Postmodern Condition Sean Carroll Abstract University of Texas at San Antonio As a cultural movement, Postmodernism begun to solidify itself since the 1970s. Despite what some may say of its necessarily unstructured nature, coherent reflection about it is useful. While there is a growing literature on this topic, the present study, as suggested by David Harvey, seeks to use an historical, materialist framework, as developed by Karl Marx, to interpret postmodern culture. To do this, I began with the studies of the substructures of postmodern culture (political-economic and material conditions), and then sought to find reflective cohesion among its ‘aesthetic’ superstructures (social, philosophical, cinematic, literary, and musical) and their underlying conditions. As a result, from these studies, I found that the aesthetic sentiments of postmodern culture quite neatly map onto the material conditions, which inform its context. These sentiments imply a complicit disposition towards many aspects of late capitalism (such as consumerism and alienation). These findings are significant because it forces postmodernism to take a more honest look at itself, and become self-aware of its implications. My findings imply that if postmodern sentiments truly want to harbor an activism toward the status quo, it must first realign itself with more unifying attitudes. While a single resolution has yet to be concluded, the present study provides some general directions for positive change. Keywords Postmodern, postmodernism, aesthetics, political- economy, historical materialism, capitalism 2 Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Works Volume 7 December 2020 Introduction spheres—material substructures (economic systems and relations of production) and superstructures (ideology, cultural Naming a movement, or an era, can production, political realities, etc.)—and be a complicit thing, but it is also the first using the former as a way to understand the step required to take up the opportunity for latter in its concrete, material terms. I change. We say we live in a ‘postmodern believe this way, pioneered by Karl Marx condition’, and this seems to give us some and adapted by David Harvey in the project confidence: that we have seemingly of exploring postmodernism, will serve as intellectualized something that is dynamic. I an excellent reference point.2 keep in mind two aims with the present study. First, what I intend to do is to make The organization of the paper is as the reader aware of the postmodern follows: it has three primary sections with condition in all its ramifications. Second, my their respective sub-sections. The first optimism seizes me when I say that I hope section is concerning the economics and to inspire in him or her possibility for ideologies of Modernism and change. If David Harvey, Frederic Jameson, Postmodernism. This serves to give the or Jean Baudrillard have found no decisive cultural moment of Postmodernism some way for moving forward (even less, if they context. The next section explores socio- have, they have failed to inspire a people to political experience of the current condition. take action) in our current condition, far be Lastly, a section on culture, consumerism, it from me to claim “Eureka!” By and aesthetics is the most speculative section illustrating the more unpalatable aspects of of the paper, arguing that postmodern the state of affairs, one can at least make a aesthetics is largely a reflection of the conscious decision not to continue to culture of consumption. By dividing the perpetuate a certain way of life. This, I paper into these sections, I hope to approach believe, is the true value of critique. I the issue from three general points: material, encourage the reader continually to reflect political, and aesthetic. Through these on the way things are when reading this perspectives, we can take a more parallax study, as he or she may be in the midst of view of Postmodernity and its cultural what I am describing, and the picture might articulation. become clearer. How should one undergo such an Economics and Ideologies exploration of this ‘postmodern’ condition? I believe that a historical materialist1 A Definition of Postmodernism framework might be quite useful. Through The definition of any ‘-ism’ is this framework, we will see the relationship elusive—at best, it is reductive. With that between a culture’s ethos and its underlying said, the reach of a movement is determined economic conditions as a mechanism. By through the “irresistible force of its ‘historical materialism’, I mean dividing our influence” (Brann, 1992, p. 7). Thus, if we socio-political experience into two 1 This method of analysis was developed by Marx 2 However, the author recognizes the limitations in and Engels. It uses the development of material this approach, and may at times perhaps suggest a conditions as a way to ground the mechanism of flexible approach, as in the power of cultural movement (rather than ideals or social ‘superstructures’ to exert some influences in attitudes). changing material conditions. 3 Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Works Volume 7 December 2020 are to study Postmodernism, perhaps we postmodern culture within the movement should stray from static definitions, and look that preceded it. instead at its tendencies for particular cultural production (that is, the political- The two intellectual and cultural economic, social, and aesthetic moments immediately preceding th manifestations). As such, I do not intend to modernism, the 18 century Enlightenment th define a cultural era; rather, I intend to (the ‘age of reason’) and the 19 century locate the current cultural, productive forces Romanticism (in many ways, a revolt in the broader movement of Postmodernism. against the former), both exerted heavy Historically speaking, Postmodernism influential pressure on modernism. The goal follows the mid-19th to mid-20th century of the Enlightenment, to be unapologetically Modernism. It began truly to grip the reductive, was to study and pursue the Western consciousness after the recession of universality of mankind in order to construct 1973, but one can find traces of its roots societies predicated on these universalities further back in our cultural memory. Before for the productive development of well- we can begin to understand the tendencies being and emancipation for all. Alexander and aspects of Postmodernism, it is of Pope’s poem An Essay on Man: Epistle II utmost importance that we first articulates the entire movement in the conceptualize Modernism. opening lines, “Know then thyself, presume not God to scan;/ The proper study of man is man”. Progress and improvement was autotelic: the inherent reality of things Modernism tended towards their progress (from sociality in Rousseau to Spirit in Hegel)3. Time and In the term ‘postmodernism’, there space, rationally and geometrically ordered exists a prefix before its root, ‘modernism’: (from Spinoza’s God to Newton’s absolute namely, ‘post’. As such, it is understood, as space and time), was too static for the noted above, as the movement following modernists, however, and the Enlightenment Modernism. However, it does more than movement gave way under the pressures of simply follow, for it demands our economic mechanization to the reign of recognition of its own autonomy. To Modernism. Romanticism was the artistic understand how it demands identity apart and literary project centered on the irrational from its predecessor, let us first recognize aspects of reality, commanding movement, that the latter is a highly complex and emotion, and force (think of Rachmaninoff complicated era in human history: or Mahler). As we explore the nature of mechanization, automobiles, new economic Modernism, the reader will see how these systems, wars of unprecedented scale—there two movements play roles in its formation— is no conceivable way in which we could the dialectic of stasis and rationality against explore this era in its entirety of horizontal movement and irrationality. and lateral reach. However, it is vital that the reader understands at least the general If the mechanism for development in cultural and social atmospheres of Enlightenment thinkers was the underlying Modernism. I hope to illuminate the roots of reality inherent in the universe only to be 3 French philosopher Rousseau believed the reasonable agreement among individuals. Similarly, development of society involved the gradual German philosopher Hegel sees that human ‘Spirit’ movement from savagery to civilization through develops toward a more self-conscious and absolute being, moved along in a teleological manner. 4 Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Works Volume 7 December 2020 realized by human rationality, the Enlightenment. What lay beyond mere mechanism for the Modernists was “good” and “evil” was the law of reality: movement. What Harvey calls “creative movement, flux, will (Darwin, Nietzsche)4. destruction” (1989, p. 16) was the ideology Underneath superficial rationality lay the whose influence on Modernism defined the muddled and messy reality of human very essence of the era. Nietzsche conceived thought (Freud, Breton)5. of a universe whose structure was struggle and overcoming. In order to build more The Modernist era also saw the mechanized and efficient urban spaces, unprecedented movement from rural to Haussmann and Moses restructured entire

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