Death of Postmodernism?

I have spent the entire day alone. I think my only interaction was with a barista this morning. I have spent most of the time catching up on some reading. I was with the Italians today--Eco, Calvino, Vattimo--all of the interwoven by a series of explorations into signs, technology and theology. I am working through Eco's Infinity of Lists which is luscious and insightful--an introduction to some ancient writings that are so beautiful and dense. I wound up with Calvino because I discovered a book by Eco--Six Walks through Fictional Woods, which is a homage of sorts to Calvino's Six Notes for the Millenium, which I used in my doctoral dissertation and subsequent book, and from there I wound up on Vattimo's blog--not sure how or why--but that is the rabbit hole of books isn't it? One idea leads to another, one author points to another's thoughts. Vattimo referenced a recent article in Prospect magazine called Postmodernism is Dead by Edward Docx (there is a glitch linking to the Prospect site but the article is here). Here is a link to an Australian radio interview he recently did. Docx gives a brief eulogy/overview of postmodernism (it's highly subjective, haha!) and argues that we have shifted to a new era characterized not by irony but a desire for authenticity. I am not sure I totally agree--I have come to believe that old ages never die--that get eclipsed, become more  accepted and mainstreamed and their influence becomes more absorbed--but they don't 'die.' Not that I have any particular need to argue for it's continuing vitality, I just am conscious of the need to beware of calling time on something (bit like those who declare the end of rock or the recent emerging church comments that keep flitting around).I am not sure that the Age of Authenticity, which is the term Docx wishes to utilize for the new era unfolding around us, encompasses the scope of things, and I am not sure that I would want to argue that this is an element foreign to postmodernism--in fact, I might want to argue that it is perhaps a central tenet--but then again, it's all subjective innit?!

Comments

[John]

It is amusing that Docx was interviewed on Counterpoint which is the home of the completely inauthentic one-dimensional man.

Meanwhile please find a completely different Understanding of both modernism & postmodernism via these 3 references on the relation between Art & Culture

http://www.adidaupclose.org/FAQs/postmodernism2.html

http://www.adidamla.org/newsletters/toc-aprilmay2006.html

http://www.artandphysics.com

Plus 2 related references on politics & culture

http://www.dabase.org/not2p1.htm

http://www.beezone.com/AdiDa/reality-humanity.html

A thoroughly "postmodern" Understanding of the Spirit-Breathing Spiritual Way of Life taught and demonstrated by Saint Jesus of Galilee while he was alive.

http://www.beezone.com/up/secretsofkingdomofgod.html

And of God and religion

http://www.adidam.org/teaching/aletheon/truth-god.aspx

http://www.adidam.org/teaching/gnosticon/universal-scientism.aspx