Postmodernism

• Postmodernism is a theory stemming from Foucault who says there is no such thing as the truth
• Theories like marxism and functionalism are modern theories that followed on from industrialisation - postmodernism argues we have moved beyond this
• Globalisation is a huge driving cause of postmodern society
• Postmodernists say we have an increased amount of diversity and choice, and also tolerate differences more
• There is also increased hybridity, where cultures are combining
• Lyotard says people no longer believe there is one single truth
• Lyotard - technical language games - people try to develop their own perspectives
• Baudrillard saw collectivism in decline and individualism on the rise
• Baudrillard says we live in a media saturated society, and fictional things gain meaningless meaning - creating a hyperreality which we cannot distinguish from reality
• Signs no longer have real meaning - simulacra - we consume them despite them being illusions of reality
• We are bombarded with simulacra until we no longer know what is real
• People are now less likely to trust experts - anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, flat earthers
• As we are broken down into smaller narratives, there is more confusion and uncertainty
• Postmodernity ignores structural conflict and ignores the influence wider structures continue to have
• Most people still question the media they consume and can tell the difference between reality and fiction