Gwatter06 8/27

Postmodernism: fact, fiction or surrealism? These are the daunting complexities that come to mind when I think of this fairly unprecedented neologism. I was introduced to the term in CMC100 and it seems there are similar questions upheld behind the term. In our previous class meeting I enjoyed our introduction to the term and it opened up a new light on understanding what postmodernism actually is and pertains to. The assumed time period in which the era began makes sense to me because I believe, like most conformed eras in history, it had to begin with one major change into another. In this sense, fear is that notable change. We noted that postmodernism is believed to be an era that began some time around the creation of nuclear weapons and the beginning of the Cold war. This was a time that people realized that man had the power to destroy and change everything in the world. I could only imagine the effect this had on society as a whole. Many people must have lost faith in their religions, changed lifestyles, and it may have even created more hate towards unfamiliar nationalities and ethnic groups. It is also very similar to the scare tactics used by current governments around the world. Keeping people in fear helps the government to keep control. One that most Americans should be familiar with is the color code introduced after the recent “terrorist” attacks on home soil, constantly stirring the emotions of the citizens. Another topic we covered that intrigued me and is very prominent throughout the CMC framework is the mass effect and explosion of media that helps constitute postmodernism. These areas of media consist of social networks such as facebook, myspace, and twitter in which has swept the world and enslaved our generation to an insufferable death of soul. They are not just everyday commodities, but they are more like every minute commodities. Used to stay connected and or express individuality, which to me is a new type of conformity within itself. I had an interesting first two days of class and look forward to the rest of the course semester.