Modern vs postmodern
Modernism
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Postmodernism
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Master Narratives and
metanarratives of history, culture and national identity as accepted before
WWII (American-European myths of progress). Myths of cultural and ethnic
origin accepted as received.
Progress accepted as driving force behind
history.
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Suspicion and rejection of
Master Narratives for history and culture; local narratives, ironic
deconstruction of master narratives: counter-myths of origin.
"Progress" seen as a
failed Master Narrative
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Faith in "Grand
Theory" (totalizing explanations in history, science and culture) to
represent all knowledge and explain everything.
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Rejection of totalizing
theories; pursuit of localizing and contingent theories.
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Faith in, and myths of, social
and cultural unity, hierarchies of social-class and ethnic/national values,
seemingly clear bases for unity.
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Social and cultural pluralism,
disunity, unclear bases for social/national/ ethnic unity.
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Master narrative of progress
through science and technology.
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Skepticism of idea of progress,
anti-technology reactions, neo-Luddism; new age religions.
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Sense of unified, centered
self; "individualism," unified identity.
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Sense of fragmentation and
decentered self; multiple, conflicting identities.
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