Seems that I started a few people thinking over at Steve’s E~mergent Kiwi Blog the other day, with a comment about defining postmodernism with brevity…
My comment from Steve’s post:…I think the postmodernist who finally convinces us that he/she is right is the one that can tell us what postmodernism is in less than a book…preferrably less than a few hundred words…optimally in less than ten words…perfectly in three words (i.e., “Postmodernism is _____”). |
“I am not sure I am in the right place.” Postmodernity in a sentence… ? |
In my opinion, this may not be the final definition of postmodernity, but it sure seems like a valid definition for “Postmodern Christianity”…
But maybe I’d alter it just a bit:
“I know I am not in the right place.”
This is my new definition.
Posted by timsamoff at March 8, 2004 01:26 PM | TrackBack (0)to tell you the truth, i am actually very unconvincd about the notion of trying to define a global cultural shift in 1 sentence - it seems very reductionist, almost modernist.
that's why i told a story ... very postmodern. anyhow, thanx 4 the link and keep thinking.
Posted by: steve at March 8, 2004 01:37 PMYeah, I did catch your drift. But the notion struck a chord with me -- maybe my modernist chord, though I don't necessarily consider myself modern or postmodern. You are surely correct that a reductionist approach would be very modern, but so are books and theories and volumes about trying to figure it all out! :)
To me most people are approaching the "argument" much too scientifically. Couldn't it be that the reason we do this is because it is how we were formed? (Rational deduction -- or reduction for that matter -- didn't begin with the Age of Enlightenment!) What I mean is, what if we were stuck in a "questions-deserve-answers" mode because we were never meant to inhabit these bodies forever anyway.
This is why I feel like it is a good definition.
I like the definition. We are sojourners and postmodernism is just another way to keep us in this world. When our true reward is in Heaven.
Posted by: Patrick at March 8, 2004 09:29 PMI don't know if I completely agree with that, either, though... Postmodern is a lable for the place in history that we are in. Labels can't really "keep" us anywhere. In fact nothing in the world can "keep" us here. That is, in my opinion, the "true reward."