Postmodernism: Progressive or conservative?

Abstract

Postmodernism has been defined in different ways. One can however identify three dominant themes:
suspicion of metanarratives, the fictionalization of reality, and embrac­ ing mass culture.
Different approaches to understanding postmodernism are outlined. There is an internal explanation,
an external explanation and a view that postmodernism shows all on the surface and needs no
explanation at all. These determine the positions taken in the "progressive or conservative"
debate.
The argument that postmodernism is progressive holds that it liberates us from all metanarratives,
highlights the textual nature of reality, and challenges the institutions of high culture. Those
who see it as ultimately conservative argue that it tends to obscure the underlying social causes
of which it is merely the superficial symptom, thereby enhancing a false sense of freedom that
ultimately helps to maintain the status quo.
It is finally argued that a progressive approach to culture would not rely on that which is
typically postmodern, but go beyond it.

Opsomming
Die postmodernisme is reeds op verskillende maniere gedefinieer. Mens kan egter drie dominante
temas onderskei: suspisie jeens metanarratiewe, die fiksionalisering van die werklikheid, en
vereenselwiging met massakultuur.
Verskillende verklarings vir die postmodernisme word geskets. Daar is 'n interne en 'n eksterne
verklaring, sowel as 'n siening dat die postmodernisme alles op die oppervlak toon en dus geen
verklaring benodig nie. Hierdie verklarings bepaal die stellingnames in terme van die "progressief
of konserwatief"-debat.
Volgens die argument dat die postmodernisme progressief is, bevry dit mens van alle metanarratiewe,
werp dit lig op die tekstuele aard van die werklikheid en bied dit 'n teenvoeter vir die
eksklusiwiteit van hoe kultuur. Die wat dit as konserwatief beskou argumenteer weer dat dit die
onderliggende werklikheid waarvan dit maar die oppervlak­ simptoom is, versluier, en sodoende 'n
vals nosie van vryheid skep wat op die ou end die status quo help handhaaf.
Daar word uiteindelik geargumenteer dat 'n progressiewe benadering iets meer sal moet doen as om te
steun op dit wat tipies postmodernisties is.