Postmodernist theory states that no truth is possible- there are no “true” realities, relationships, or ideas, no real knowledge at all. In our society, it’s true- we are blinded by images, fed to us by the media and enforced by the people around us, that declare themselves to be the truth but in actuality represent meaningless ideals or unrealistic stereotypes.
The movies I watch tell me that as a woman, I can grow up to be a mother or a cold-hearted, career obsessed ice-queen. The TV shows recorded on my television tell me that as a high schooler, my life must be dominated by gossip, quests for popularity, and boys (but only if I’m pretty and skinny-but-curvy enough). Facebook tells me that I’m not worthwhile until I have 1000 “friends” or “likes.”
These messages are all representations of truth, according to postmodernism, but are not really true. Nor are our images of ourselves- our Instagram profiles cannot reflect our entire selves, but we continue to try, adding one more filtered photo that we hope will tell everyone that we are exactly who we want to be. This is a postmodernist world.
However, there is a positive side to living in a postmodernist world. Although we are surrounded by contradicting “truths” and false images, we are able to question our environment. In school, we are taught to be cynics rather than passive consumers. According to postmodernism, we will never find a universal human truth, but we continue to search for something more than our superficial, false-fronted world. People speak up for the change they believe in. Others search for what answers they might find. This is also a postmodernist world.
But ultimately, we don’t know what living in a post-modern world is like. Postmodernism says that we can’t accurately view others or ourselves. We can’t understand any truth, and although we may try to represent reality through art or literature, we will never succeed. So in the end, there is no choice but to continue searching for a greater truth that, in a postmodernist world, will not be found.
However, there is a positive side to living in a postmodernist world. Although we are surrounded by contradicting “truths” and false images, we are able to question our environment. In school, we are taught to be cynics rather than passive consumers. According to postmodernism, we will never find a universal human truth, but we continue to search for something more than our superficial, false-fronted world. People speak up for the change they believe in. Others search for what answers they might find. This is also a postmodernist world.
But ultimately, we don’t know what living in a post-modern world is like. Postmodernism says that we can’t accurately view others or ourselves. We can’t understand any truth, and although we may try to represent reality through art or literature, we will never succeed. So in the end, there is no choice but to continue searching for a greater truth that, in a postmodernist world, will not be found.
i agree with the idea that we create an image of ourselves online for the public to see that is different from who we are.
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