Postmodernism

1
Postmodernism

• Unit 10-
• American Studies
• Mr. Olsen

2
Who are We? Review

• Puritans- early 1600s- mid 1700s
• City on a Hill/
• We retain Puritan work ethic, prudishness
• We reject Theocracy, witch hunts
• Rationalists- late 1700s- early 1800s
• A New kind of nation- based on logic and science
• We retain Constitution, judicial system, ideal
  of equality
• We reject Slavery, Natural Law

3
Who are We? Review (cont.)

• Romantics- mid 1800s
• Harkening back to the European and traditional-
  the cultured, the beautiful, the emotional
• We retain- taste for sappy, emotional
  entertainment
• We reject- European traditionalism
• Realists- late 1800s
• America land of rugged individualists
• We retain- rugged individualism, Strenuous
  life
• We reject- Colonialism, Manifest Destiny
• Modernists- early 1900s
• America coming into its own- belief that we can
  achieve anything and become great nation.
• We retain- Unrestricted growth and belief in
  technology
• We reject- Parts of above that got us into 2
  world wars

4
Post Modernism- Pres.

• the postmodern conditionthe greatest anxiety
  here being the fear that our reality principle is
  in distress, that we lack moral and political
  truths on which to found a sense of identity.
• In order to unravel this identity crisis, it
  might be helpful to examine 4 schools of thought
  that are distinctly postmodern

5
14 Existentialism

• is a philosophical movement which claims that
  individual human beings have FULL RESPONSIBILITY
  for creating the MEANINGS of their own lives. It
  is a reaction against more traditional
  philosophies, such as rationalism and empiricism,
  which sought to discover an ultimate order in
  metaphysical principles or in the structure of
  the observed world.
• Thought up mainly by French intellectuals during
  WWII.

6
24 Multiculturalism

• the idea or belief that modern societies should
  embrace and include distinct cultural groups with
  equal cultural and political status
• Really took hold in U.S. during 1960s with civil
  rights movement

7
34 Feminism

• social, cultural and political movements,
  theories and moral philosophies that are
  concerned with cultural, political and economic
  practices and inequalities that discriminate
  against women.
• Actually has long history in U.S., but push for
  TOTAL equality happens in 1960s/ 70s.

8
44 Environmentalism

• concern for the preservation, restoration, or
  improvement of the natural environment, such as
  the conservation of natural resources, prevention
  of pollution, and certain land use actions.
• Also has a longer history, but was an obscure
  fringe movement until the 1960s

9
How to reconcile?

• Puritan work ethic, prudishness
• With Existentialist idea that we alone make
  meaning in our lives
• Constitution, judicial system, ideal of equality
• With.. Feminist points that ½ of our population
  is still treated distinctly less well, or
  multiculturalist points that we have huge racial
  problems still?
• taste for sappy, emotional entertainment
• When all of above scream for serious attention?
• rugged individualism, Strenuous life
• With multiculturalist and environmentalist views
  that we need to start all working and living
  together
• Unrestricted growth and belief in technology
• With environmentalist concerns that this is now
  killing us as a species?

10
Book Club

• Get Journal (for Tuesday)
• Binder will be fine
• Each Meeting-
• Assign roles- (facilitator/timekeeper, discussion
  leader, secretary)
• Plot summary- (in a Paragraph)
• Character glossary- put at end, and continue to
  add to it.
• 7-8 important quotes (for use later in paper)
  with explanation
• Special Meeting Task- Assigned that day and due
  at end of period