Understanding The Philosophy of Post-modernism

The word post-modernism is composed of two parts, post and modernism. Post is a Latin word which means “after” and modernism refers to the modern period. So the word post modernism means the time period after modernism.

To understand post modernism first of all we need to understand what modernism is. Modernism is the era of late 18th century to World War II, which is known as the modern period in English literature and post-modernism is the era after World War II. Modernism basically was based on European and Western thoughts whereas the post-modernism was not just based on Western, European but it also includes multi-cultures.

The period after modernism or post modernism is basically the era after 18th century in which new inventions have been created and are transformed. The main reason why I am associating this philosophy with me is, because I also think like a post-modernist. As the philosophy of post-modernism states that everything created in the world is not perfect, it needs updation, or in simple words we can say that the policy to make and break should be implemented on each and everything. I myself is in the favour of this policy so that’s how I associate this policy with myself.

If we look at philosopher or the post-modernist, they state that “Nothing is Original” everything is fake, or we can say its an illusion. If we look deeply towards these philosophies, we come to know that these philosophies are saying everything about today’s world. The movies, the novels, web series, paintings everything out there in todays world is just what these philosophers or what post-modernist say. The philosophy ‘nothing is original’ states that, steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it.

In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.'

― Jim Jarmusch

If we relate these philosophies in today’s world, we would observe a clear difference between modernism and post-modernism, for example if we just take television, we would see a huge difference, first radios were the only source of entertainment for the people. Then as the time passed television was invented but was black and white, then as the time passed coloured TV came and now people could see the real world how it was in original. Now if we look at the TV’s they are no more TV’s, they are now LED’s, so with the passage of time all the world is moving towards the idea of creation or break and make, which is actually postmodernism. The games played today are not the same as in 18th century. The games that are played today are mainly on the desktops and LED’s using PS4 and Xbox and is still improving. If we look at the movies in the 18th century we would come to know that the taste of the people in that era was very much different than the taste of the people today, like in today’s world social issues, technology are discussed but in the 18th century moral values were discussed, for example, the movies today are like Iron man, Avengers, Endgame and much more, these kinds of movies that involves technology that may come in the future and social issues. But if we look in the 18th century we would see the movies that were based on history, like the Mohenjo-Daro which was based on the Indus valley civilization. Basically, if we look closely to everything, we would see that everything in the world is updating, the policy of make and break and then make and then break is implementing everywhere around the world. I agree to what post-modernist and their theory of post-modernism because in my opinion we are implementing the policy of post-modernism everywhere without knowing post-modernism.

This philosophy of post-modernism is not just a philosophy, but this philosophy is the way how everyone is looking at the world, As post-modernism states nothing is perfect, though it is human, machine, technology, food, architecture and each and everything in the wold needs to be improved or it needs to be recreated or reinvented. The buildings today are not just like the buddings in the 18th century the cars are not as they were in the 18th century and much more. So, this philosophy of post-modernism has given us idea of improving, reinventing and recreating.

Everything in the world is not perfect was the main moto or was the main goal of my life, which is what post-modernism say. So, focusing on this theory I realized that my ideas, my thoughts are similar with the ideas and the philosophy.

The main reason behind choosing this philosophy is that post-modernism is not just a philosophy to me but is what I think and is my way of looking at the world. If we summarize post-modernism, we would come to a point that this philosophy states everything in this word needs to be improved, it can be anything, it can be any invention, the designs of cars, clothes, buildings and much more. As post-modernism is similar to my thoughts and was clear to me, so I thought to choose this philosophy.