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Postmodernism
"Postmodernism" is the name given to a range of philosophical positions and aesthetic styles that have developed since the 1950s. Underlying Postmodernism is the belief that all human knowledge is limited and culturally conditioned. In this new title in the Lion Access Guides series, Kevin O'Donnell takes us on an enlightening tour of postmodernist philosophy, discussing its origins and the main tenets of postmodernist ideas. His tour also takes in related subjects such as art, ethics, politics and theology.
- GenresNonfictionPhilosophy
160 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 6, 2021
The perks of teaching: I picked this up at my school faculty storage cupboard after it had been sitting there doing not very much for a few years. I wanted to clear up a lot of misconceptions about the broad topic of postmodern thought which I had picked up through third party thinkers and youtube videos. (Case in point: Jordan Peterson's attacks on the old 'Postmodern Neo-Marxists' strawmen is excruciatingly, obviously bullshit).
This is an enjoyable little introductory text to a sprawling, living, breathing movement in philosophy which still influences the world today. Explaining it all is an impossible task, but I thought the writer captured its essence through language and images in a way which bordered on the ethereal. It was really quite beautiful in parts.
Some might write the last chapters off as cheesy, and it definitely takes a diversion into religious territory which is, I'm sure, repugnant to the rational, empirical thinking on which the modern world relies. However, this is philosophy! It's in this sphere where we should be free to challenge pre-conceptions in the architecture of our belief systems. After all, isn't deconstruction at the heart of postmodernism...? Rather than a conservative reaction, I perceived the writer as taking on the spirit of Derrida and attempting to breathe new life into old institutions.
Not a life-changer, but an interesting, informative read on a somewhat dense topic.
This is an enjoyable little introductory text to a sprawling, living, breathing movement in philosophy which still influences the world today. Explaining it all is an impossible task, but I thought the writer captured its essence through language and images in a way which bordered on the ethereal. It was really quite beautiful in parts.
Some might write the last chapters off as cheesy, and it definitely takes a diversion into religious territory which is, I'm sure, repugnant to the rational, empirical thinking on which the modern world relies. However, this is philosophy! It's in this sphere where we should be free to challenge pre-conceptions in the architecture of our belief systems. After all, isn't deconstruction at the heart of postmodernism...? Rather than a conservative reaction, I perceived the writer as taking on the spirit of Derrida and attempting to breathe new life into old institutions.
Not a life-changer, but an interesting, informative read on a somewhat dense topic.
July 14, 2020
I know it's a little bit inappropriate to say it in a book review (especially a non-fiction one) , but the ending was cringe
May 23, 2014
The book makes me more curious about and wanting to read the very heart of postmo. It's a very light book to start learning postmodernism.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews