The Role Played by Globalization in the Advent of Postmodernism

The Role Played by Globalization in the Advent of Postmodernism

 

            Postmodernism is on the lips of many people. Some people considered it as good and exciting and for others, its meaning is unclear. Postmodernism by its own definition is hard to define with simple sentence because it spans variety of components and directions. Postmodernism appears and reappears in philosophical, literary and other texts in what is at first glance; a bewildering array of guises arises. Indeed the ideas and theories of postmodern philosophers are vastly different from what the world has previously come across (Aidan, 2003:3). Theories of today’s world can no longer make assumptions based on the notion of an overlying, absolute truth as their predecessors did because postmodernism question the existence of a single, fixed reality. In today’s world people are beginning to accept a world wherein varieties of realities exist, a world where truth can no longer be assumed and be associated to the term “universal” (Hutcheon, 1992:2)

            Given the idea that people are beginning to faced major changes in thinking, one might ponder how postmodernism came to be and how it pops up. Or in simple terms one may ask just why such idea of absolute truth is no longer accepted? There is no exact definition of postmodernism due to the fact that it spans so many disciplines. In the diversity of definition, postmodernists are people who disagree with the notion that an absolute truth exists. They claim instead that the world is filled with a range of realities and that no one of them can be considered truer than any other. Thus, we exist in a world of multiple realities. In the same vein, there are no precise dates that mark the arrival of postmodern thought but instead it seems to have gradually emerged. Nevertheless, there are several societal trends that can definitely be associated with the advent of postmodern thought. Taking from Niall (2000: 12), postmodernism stems from the nature of the postindustrial societies from the Western influence. He pointed out the connection between this new form of thinking and recent changes in society. But still one must ponder what separates postindustrial societies from the previous ways of life. Catherine Lutz (2003: 3-4), argued that the solution to this dilemma lies in globalization. It is globalization especially of modern civilization that has forced people to reconsider the absoluteness of their beliefs. The ever-expanding mass communication culture and the historical events of the last few decades are the key components of this globalization. This globalization is not as many would claim forcing individuals to think the same but rather enhancing peoples differences.

            Few would disagree with the fact that the world of the last few decades is radically different from any that existed up to this point. Country borders have quickly begun to blur. Increasingly, humans have been forced to interact with each other and realize that everyone has distinct differences. Globalization has made it increasingly very difficult for humans to convince that only one truth and only one reality exists (Angus, 1989:23). Of course when one realizes that every person has its own way of viewing things up, how is one to decide which view is more accurate? In a sense, people have become less willing to claim their realities as the only correct one. But from where exactly is the term globalization spring? And what role does globalization plays in the advent of postmodernism? More significantly, how does globalization bring about the idea of multiple realities?

            In reading Crook (1992:3), he describes that one of the causes of societal globalization is the rise of mass communications culture. The discovery of the television and other forms of electronic communication has had significant effects in the rise of postmodern thought. Mass culture has helped the advent of postmodernism in two ways: first, mass culture has made it increasingly easy to be in touch with people from other cultures. Mass culture has made the distance between people in the whole world even shorter. Secondly, mass culture has broken down the barriers between realities and imagination. Overall mass culture has facilitated individual ability to correspond with each other and view the world as a text.

            The spread of broadcast television in the 1950, has allowed people to interact with each other on a much greater level than ever before (Angus, 1989:24). It has become even intensified when the development of computers arises, the risk of communications satellites have all enhanced the ability of the people to communicate with each other. With the increased ease of communication it is no wonder that people began to question their absolute reality. When one can easily access a completely different lifestyle, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify why it is that one manner of viewing at the world is superior to another. One manifestation of such is the youth of today’s era; it is practically been very easy for them to communicate with a friend in Hong Kong , New Jersey , United States and other countries, as if they were simply just walking with a friend from school. In this global community one begins to wonder if their truth can be “true” for everyone. Barry Smart (1993: 2-3) describes the effect of expansion of mass communications as a textualizing world. Most especially with the development of television and satellite communication reality has increasingly become intermingled with image. This can be manifested through the major events such as the Bali Bombing, the September 11 attack, the war in Iraq and most especially the Vietnam War (Barry, 1993:13). As it was being shown in the television, it had an immense impact on people’s perceptions of the world. Families could just as easily sit at home and watch men dying in Bali Bombings and other wars, as if they’re simply just watching a soap opera. The television screen increasingly blurred the distinctions between reality and imagination. This confusion quickly led to consider if reality did in fact exist. The notion that reality exists but only within the framework of one’s social historical situation seems like the natural answer to a world of text.

            Historical events on the past have aided globalization especially on societies and thus the advent of postmodernism. The classic models of the world have been destroyed by these historical situations and people have begun to question the absoluteness of the “truth” (Jencks, 1992:3). To name few, the domination of the West for a long time seemed to be an unquestionable truth. The realist model of war between great powers seemed also to be unshatterable (Saphiro, 1989:32). This absoluteness of domination could easily be interpreted as a universal truth. Particularly in the field of International Relations, people were assured that the realist model was absolute truth. But as time passes by, the world of the last few decades seems to break down the unquestionable truth of western domination. History no longer supports the model and it has become all but impossible to continue to view these models as being the only absolute reality. The disintegration of the traditional centers of power brought with the disillusionment with the idea of absolute truth (Natoli & Bertens, 2002:68). People began to wonder how true these models could be. Nothing seemed to be absolute anymore. Postmodern thought rose out of the ruins of these old models of absolute, universal truth. It seems fairly clear that people’s ability to communicate with other cultures and the deterioration of traditional locations of power has led to postmodern thought. It is slightly less obvious why this type of thinking did not occur earlier in history. Both the social-historical trends that have supposedly led to postmodern thought have appeared in slightly different forms before.

            When all these central locations of absolute truth began to deteriorate, postmodern thought began its development (Rengger, 1995:8). Without the emergence of mass culture and the subsequent ease of communication, the breakdown of central power could not lead to postmodern thought. Linda Hutcheon (2002:8) sums it up that the historical events of the last few decades, in combination with global mass communication lead to postmodernism.

            Recently, many people have questioned whether or not the trend towards globalization has forced humans to think alike rather then move them to view the world in postmodern terms. It is undoubtedly true that the rampant issues of “McDonaldization” of society is a definite and fixed trend in the world and would certainly be seen as the pattern for society to conform with uniformity. It is arguable perhaps to claim it into the direction society was moving towards for some time. More recently, however, it seems that rather than confronting into uniformity, the plethora of goods in the world market has been forcing consumers all the more to make choices. These choices in consumption enhance a person’s individuality and are inclined to increase the differences between him and another individual. The choices that the person made begin to define who he is. Ian Angus (1989:7) stated that the earlier cultural homogeneity due to uniformity of production methods has been displayed by a diversity of cultural identities focused on consumers’ choice. This too leads to postmodernism. Differences in expenditure and in their own way of consumption choices are yet another difference between individuals that can be further explored. Humans begin to consider why is that when one buy something, someone else buys something also totally different. Thus the globalization, which has lead to the “McDonaldization” of society, has not really forced people to think alike. Instead it has made consumers choose among a plethora of goods thus asserting their individual likes and dislikes. In fact, consumers in today’s day and age have become less like each other than before. As a result it makes sense that rather than forcing homogenization of thoughts, likes and wants, today’s market economy has created the idea of multiple realities.

            This essay has attempted to prove that globalization plays a very important role in the advent of postmodernism. Few would disagree that postmodernism is a significant trend among intellectuals, yet there are those who would claim that this postmodernism does not stem from social changes. It is possible that someone could advocate the belief that postmodernism is simply an invention of intellectuals. They could claim that this idea was formulated in the halls of academies, so far removed from the “real world” that it was not all influenced by “real” changes. As what Bauman (1992:7) stated,

            “In the vast realm of the academy there is ample room for all sorts of specialized pursuits, and the way such pursuits have been historically institutionalized renders them virtually immune to pressure untranslatable into the variables of their own inner system.”

            It is feasible to claim that postmodernism was simply the isolated idea of some eccentric academic which has little or no bearing on the workings of society. Perhaps this viewpoint is not unreasonable but history can not back up the claims. Even traditional forms of philosophy have risen from certain social historic situations. The necessity for a central location of meaning came from a basic human insecurity concerning the uncertain world. Moreover, although it is quite unreasonable to believe that the ideas of certain peculiar academics would have made it far in academia without some basis in social change. In the past there comes a point when a person who is proposing an idea slightly contrary to the traditional positivism was required to give the wide-ranging proof of their claims and was essentially grilled to the extreme. But in this day and age, the tables have turned and it is the positivist already who must initiate to defend themselves against charges of “ethnocentrism and intellectual imperialism” and other such accusations. Thus it is only reasonable to assume that some type of fundamental social change has occurred and brought with it postmodernism. It is unquestionable that postmodernism has made a significant impact on modern theorizing. The idea of multiple realities, which it advocates, is one that has only recently been fully developed. It is significant to keep on mind that this new form of thought did not become prominent at any other point in history. It become well-known only with the advent of mass communications and the disintegration of the traditional model of Western domination combined that this type of thought was able to take hold. But despite the fact that postmodernism has become a very important part of contemporary theorizing, it is yet unclear what the future will hold. In the same vein, it would also be very difficult for one to claim that postmodernism will entirely replace traditional methods of theorizing. Nevertheless, many postmodern theorists would like to believe that it will certainly become a significant form of theorizing in its own right. Thus postmodern thought perhaps is one in which it improves already existing theories in order to recognize opposition viewpoints and perhaps be more willing to listen. Hence postmodernism does not become a theory in its own right but rather a means of criticizing and improving already existing theories. Perhaps with that we will be able to create a better world for a better future.

References

Aidan, M. 2000, Postmodern Generation: An Introduction, March 04, 2007 , New York Routledge, London . Available: www.post-generation//2471756.

Angus, I. 1989, ‘Circumscribing Postmodern Culture’, March 07, 2007 , New York Routledge, London . Available: http://researchinstitutepostmodern//9835251.

Baylis, J. & Smith S. 2001, The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press, New York .

Bauman, Z. 1992, Intimations of Postmodernity, New York Routledge London.

Crook, S. 1992, Change in Advance Society, Sage Publications London .

Hutcheon, L. 2002, The Politics of Postmodernism, 2^nd Edition, New York Routledge London.

Jameson, F. 2000, ‘Defining Postmodernism’ Reprint Edition, Duke University Press. Available:http://www.postmoderngeneration-contemporary/dp/097387563.

Jencks, C. 1992, The Postmodern Reader, Academy Edition, St. Martin Press New York .

Lutz, C. 1993, “Social Context of Postmodern Cultural Analysis” Postmodern Contentions: Epochs, Politics, Space Edition. The Guliford Press , New York .

Natoli, J. & Bertens H. 2002, Postmodernism: The Key Figures, Malden Mass: Blackwell Publisher.

Niall, L. 2000, Postmodern Literary Theory: An Anthology, Malden Mass: Blackwell Publisher.

Rengger , N.J. 1995, Political Theory: Modernity: Beyond Enlightenment and Critique, Oxford , UK Mass, Blackwell Publisher.

Simmons, P. 1997, ‘Deep Surfaces’ December 23 2006 , The University of Georgia Press , Athens and London . Available: www.deepsurface.com

Steger, M. 2003, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, The Oxford University Press.

Smart, B. 1993, Postmodernity andGlobalization, New York Routledge London.

Saphiro, F. 1989, ‘Textualizing Global Politics’ International Relations Edition, March 08, 2007 , Washington D.C. Lexington Books. Available:http://www.globaltext-politis//19075485.