Post-modernism and Society

The Myth of Truth in the Post-modern

Society

Most people would agree that we live in a post-modern society,

replete with its features and pitfalls. If not the concept, which can be
disturbingly confusing to the layman, we can at least agree upon its likely
characteristics that we observe in the current social set-up. Through this
essay, I would like to focus on three characteristics prevalent in the postmodern society:
i.
ii.
iii.

Relativism
Social Constructivism
Lack of distinction between space and time
The last one is a predominant theme that finds a place in the central

theme point of surreal films. Say, something like a cult film like Pulp
Fiction. Or in Christopher Nolans films like Memento and Inception in
which the characters experience, along with the audience watching the
films, a complete breakdown of the distinction between space and time.
Its worthwhile to notice that Nolans next film, Interstellar is based on a
similar theme. In the contemporary period, we find that the theme of
postmodernism is taken up majorly by directors like Quentin Tarantino,
Christopher Nolan and the Coen brothers. Closer home, we have
postmodernism featuring mostly in independent cinema. The recently
released Bengali film Tasher Desh was perhaps one of the best surreal
films to come out of India. If there exists a distinction between space and
time, director Q Qaushik Mukherjee was in mood to show it through his
film.
Perhaps one of the best postmodern cinematic experiences can be
found in the 2004 feature film What the bleep do we know? described by

many as quantum mysticism. A documentary style film, it questions the

very essence of the traditional spiritual narrative and instead provides for
an alternate version of quantum physics and consciousness.
This brings forth the second feature of post-modernism.
Relativism as an idea signifies a crucial departure from the
moderns society ideals of rationality and positivism. While not denying
their significance, what it implies that they alone are not the sacred truths
and certainly not the last word on the subject. Beyond the narrow focus
and methodology of western science, a lot more can be found as well. The
existence of an idea outside the mainstream narrative and its acceptance,
if not approval altogether is the crux of relativism.
But then again, relativism as a theory can become like a black hole.
Of course it offers you wider perspectives and broader discussions but
then isnt the central idea supposed to be that you shouldnt stick to one
single fundamental truth? If that is the case, then shouldnt the same
yardstick apply to the acceptance of relativism as well?
The simple but painful truth of human society is that people do need
to stick to a grand narrative, a structure that they need to adhere to
preserve the stability and continuity of human race. More than anything
else, to prevent the outbreak of chaos in society and cause a large-scale
anomaly, people need to focus upon a standard framework that adds the
stability factor to their lives.
This brings forth my concluding point about Social Constructivism.
All reality is social reality. This may imply two things,
i.
ii.

Reality as we know is a social construct and not a physical one.

Our experiences and the elements were exposed to shape this
social construct.
Perhaps the best example of this can be found in the legendary

linguist and anti-war activist Noam Chomskys works. In his book

Manufacturing Consent as well as in the documentary of the same name,

he argues that reality and the modern day ideals of liberty and freedom
are but illusions constructed to keep the general populace happy. Reality
as we know is but a framework that allows for a limited discussion, with
any perspective differing from the leading few not finding its way into the
mainstream narrative. Through the illusion created by the postmodern
state, opinions and views of the general populaces is manufactured. The
primary tool for achieving this is the mass media.
In a postmodern state, the distinction between reality and the media
has also ceased to exist. The greatest pitfall of the postmodern state is
that people have learned to associate the media as the mirror of society.
Postmodern society began at the end of World War Two and it was then
that the mastermind of German propaganda Joseph Goebbels famously
remarked,
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually
believe you.
For example, take the current Syrian crisis and the involvement of
the American people. As the United States of America readies itself to
bomb Syria, in a repeat of Iraq and Libya, the American people are fed on
a staple diet of propaganda telling them why its necessary to attack the
country that doesnt affect them the least in their daily lives. The only
room for discussion on the mainstream news channels like Fox and CBS is
the scale of the so-called military intervention. An alternative to these
viewpoints would be abstaining from interfering in the affairs of another
sovereign country. Although this has many takers among the American
population, the mainstream media refuses to as much acknowledge its
existence, let alone give it coverage.
In view of its pitfalls, primarily the scenario in which the people have
been reduced to creatures akin to sheeps (sheeple as the ridicule goes),
its easy to bemoan the dawn of the postmodern society. Far easier is to
proclaim dark predictions about a negative utopia, reminiscent of Orwells
1984 that seems not so unlikely in the near future. However, what we

must remember is that society is a dynamic institution and prone to

changes. Even if its the case of taking one step forward and two steps
backward, society must keep moving for the simple reason that change
alone sparks off further change. The postmodern society was not created
by natural events nor constructed in its current form by some divine
powers. Man initiated this era and for the continuity of society, he needs
to see it off to its logical end as well.