Postmodernism Flashcards

1
Q

Knowledge

What does PM argue about knowledge?

A

There is no sure foundation to knowledge - no objective criteria to prove whether a theory is true or false

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2
Q

Knowledge

What are two consequences of this?

A
  1. EP is dead - if we cant guarantee kn is correct how can we improve society
  2. Any all embracing theory such as marxism is a meta narrative
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3
Q

Knowledge

What position does PM take?

A
  • A relativist position
  • They argue that all views are true for those that hold them
  • We should celebrate the diversity of views rather to seek one
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4
Q

Knowledge

Jean Francois Lyotard?

A
  • Language games - better to have many versions than one dominant meta narrative
  • Knowledge is just a series of different ‘language games’ or ways of seeing the world
  • Postmodern society, with its many competing views of the truth, is preferable to modern society with meta-narratives claiming monopoly of the truth
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5
Q

Knowledge

Baudrillard?

A
  • Knowledge - Buying and selling it in the form of simulacra
  • Aruges that knowledge is central to pomo society
  • Society is no longer based on the production of material goods, but on buying and selling KNOWLEDGE in the form of image and signs - these bear no relation to physical reality
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6
Q

Culture, identity and politics

What do pomos argue about culture and identity?

A
  • Differs to modern society, especially the ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN CREATING A HYPER-REALITY
  • The media are all prevading and produce an endless stream of images and truth
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7
Q

Culture, identity and politics

What happens to culture?

A
  • Becomes fragmented and unstable
  • No longer a coherent set of fixed values shared by society, all the different messages and idea undermine peoples faith in meta narratives
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8
Q

Culture, identity and politics

What happens to identity?

A
  • Becomes destablised
  • We can now construct our own identity
  • Picking and mixing cultural goods and media produced images to define ourselves
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9
Q

Evaluation

Evaluation of postmodernism

A
  • Ignores power and inequality - i.e. the idea that media is unconnected with reality ignores the ruiling class’s use of media to perpetuate domination
  • If we construct our identites using consumerism, people in poverty have restricted ability
  • By assuming all views are equally true, it becomes equally valid to deny the holocaust
  • Its self defeating, Lyotard claims that ‘no thoery has the truth’
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