The "gnutellafication" of the NYT, CBS and MSM < Experts and Gate-keepers Dethroned >

Emerging Church ^ | 11/12/03 | Editors

[Helms]

Postmodernism and the "gnutellafication" of the mainstream media.

what is postmodernism?

well, there are many answers to the question, coming from the vantage points of architecture, philosophy, music, sociology, literature, and theology, so the definitions are multi -phasic and nuanced.

"postmodernity" refers to a cultural stasis or "state of being," while "postmodernism" references cultural currents or streams circulating within the stasis.

in any case, the notion of postmodernity arose out of the matrix of western civilization and its attendent cultural and philosophical foundations, which presuppose the prior "pre-modern" and "modern" dispensations.

the cultural shift from the modern to the postmodern began in the 1960's. (* ) the famed political economist francis fukuyama described the shift from the modern to postmodern era as the great disruption.

anyone born after 1960 is "native" to this era. other generations are naturalized citizens. so, whether native or naturalized, we all are part of the postmodern world.

in a large nutshell, some key characteristics of postmodernity include:

skepticism about or outright rejection of enlightenment assumptions

the rise of globalization & pluralism

the "gnutellafication" of authority and knowledge

the customization and subjectification of truth

• the rejection of enlightment principles includes the loss of faith in the salvific powers of science and in the eternal hope for "progress."
• the rise of globalization & pluralism means (for example), that the literary contributions of "dead white males," are no longer deemed superior to the contributions of women, native peoples, and people of color.

in other words, "gone with the wind, meet "the wind done gone." in all fields of endeavor, previously closed canons are being opened up, and new gifts are being added to the mix.

• the gnutellafication of authority & knowledge references the brilliant digital music swaping platform called gnutella, which not only cut out the music industry middlemen (a la napster) but also cut out all "central servers."

in other words, in the postmodern culture,the roles and functions of all "experts" and "gate-keepers" are being reduced or re-directed.

the customization & subjectification of truth means that culturally supported meta-narratives and broad-cast notions of truth have been defacto de-constructed.

postmodern truths are concepts that are narrow-cast, self-discovered and authoritative only for the person seeking them.

the modern creedal orientation of "we believe, "has been subverted by the postmodern creedal orientation summed up by sheryl crow in her song which proclaims "if it makes you happy, it can't be half bad."

Cite: http://www.emergingchurch.org/postmodern.html

[risk]

There's been some mighty tough propaganda to crack. We don't always do enough about it here. I think especially the gnarly stuff is ignored because it just seems to irrelevant to us. Then I meet somebody on the street who repeats it to me in a half-believing way and I'm stunned. We should counter anything we find.

[Miss Marple]

I think that we are usiing the post-modern tools but not subscribing to the philosphy.

As I understand it, post-modern thinking is that there is no truth, no belief system better than another (or none), no real morality. Authority is in the hands of the individual.

I believe that the ultimate authority is God, there is a definite truth, and that traditional Western civilization is better than any other. This most definitely is NOT post-modern thinking.

However, I am happy to use whatever tools are available to promote my point of view.

[fire_eye]

summed up by sheryl crow in her song which proclaims "if it makes you happy, it can't be half bad."

Hey, all right!

Then she isn't upset at the results of the recent elections, considering how many of us are so ecstatically happy at not just the results, but at being able to listen to liberals wail like babies who lost their lollipop?

Downright generous of you, Sheryl...

[risk]

I think that we are usiing the post-modern tools but not subscribing to the philosphy.

Except to postmodernists themselves, there's nothing inherently "post-modern" about the Internet. Forget the fact that hyperlinks distract us, and no one seems to have the final authority on the facts. The story of Babylon suggests that we are forever doomed to argue, often in different languages about everything. That doesn't mean absolute truth doesn't exist, or that one way isn't the best way of doing something.

In other words, just because it has billions of textual web pages (text is a favorite word to postmodernists), and features as many opinions or more, does not mean that it necessarily leads in a direction of relativism in and of itself.

And cultural relativism and postmodernist thinking are indeed linked. In classrooms across the western world, there are swamis profuring the notion that notions of right and wrong emerge strictly from our external culture.

I did a quick search and found a Postmodern FAQ. There is discussion of "narrative," "modernity," and sundry other central ideas. The alt.postmodern FAQ looks even better, but it's more wordy. Get used to "wordy" around post-structuralists and post-modernists. Yes, modernism was structural. In other words it was all about power. Following rules is tedious, right?

In any case, I want to encourage a counter-movement to postmodernism. Just because the truth is sometimes hard to know, does not mean that it doesn't exist. Just because multiple cultures do things differently does not mean that one isn't better than the other.

Words like freedom, love, life, and property must mean something concrete. Chains and slavery await those who dispute their meaning. Isn't it time to purge our state universities of Marxist and post-structuralist malarkey by attrition? We're just confusing our children. It's costing us more and more money just to bewilder them. (I'm not saying that post-structuralism should be banned -- I'm saying that it shouldn't be taught like a de facto religion.)

[Miss Marple]

I agree. I have been exposed to post-modernism through my daughter's education at an art college. She is a very sincere Christian, and she had many bad days when confronted with some of the thinking there. She thankfully got her degree with her faith still intact.

Post-modernism in art is one of my pet peeves. It is simply NOT art, but rather any old piece of junk with a "story" to explain it. It is bunkum.

I agree there needs to be a counter to post-modernism. I don't quite know how it should be done, but I certainly support you in this endeavor.

[Grampa Dave]

The impact of the internet combined with the ability for the average American to own a pc and participate on sites like Free Republic is in its toddler stage.

Besides political "gnutellafication", we are seeing "gnutellafication" in our organized religions, the financial world, and expanding our buying power. There are other areas where the "gnutellafication" impact is or will be as big as the "gnutellafication" of the MSM.

[Grampa Dave]

"I think that we are usiing the post-modern tools but not subscribing to the philosphy."

Exactly! As usual the writer looked for a nice shoebox to label and put us into. So he chose post-modern.

You final part of your reply is a better summation of what is going on:

"I believe that the ultimate authority is God, there is a definite truth, and that traditional Western civilization is better than any other. This most definitely is NOT post-modern thinking.

"However, I am happy to use whatever tools are available to promote my point of view."

[King Prout]

but... one of the nice features of a messageboard format -especially one in which one cannot edit or delete comments- is that the record is clear and easily accessed by any user, and the pool of users includes practical experts in just about any field you can name.
FR is very good at self-policing for agitprop - from the Left AND the Right.
One of the big differences between this site and Kos or DU: FReepers work for a living across diverse fields; DUmmies seem to be professional students or folks working in fields in which perception is more important than practical function.

[Helms]

Grampa-

I could not agree more. Postmodernism is a bit different from the actual condition or environment of Postmodernity which involves the advanced use of technology, ie the Internet. Interesting that the MS part of MSNBC failed to monopolize.

Miss Marple was correct in saying that Postmodern philosophies have been undone or confronted by Postmodern tools, ie., the Internet

[Taliesan]

Well done.

In actual usage, "postmodern" is what pretentious gays at lunch in Manhatten say when they mean "fad".

[Helms]

"Except to postmodernists themselves, there's nothing inherently "post-modern" about the Internet"

Postmodernism is by definition altered by time and space. The Internet alters significantly time and space. Globalization such as India's prominence in software is a result of miles of fiber layed in the 90's and running under the Ocean.

Time and space are the main perspectives by which Postmodernism is defined.

[Helms]

summed up by sheryl crow in her song which proclaims "if it makes you happy, it can't be half bad."

HA! and James Taylor and Carly Simon at Kerry's Depression Election.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The End of the Modern World
Written by Romano Guardini
Foreword by Richard John Neuhaus
Introduction by Frederick D. Wilhelmsen

"An extended inquiry into the nature of the modern age, as well as an historical, philosophical, and theological analysis of modernity's prospects in the next millennium. This expanded edition includes the original text of The End of the Modern World, as well as the entirety of its explicit sequel, Power and Responsibility. Guardini analyzes modern man's conception of himself in the world, and examines the nature and use of power. It is the principle of individual responsibility that weaves both works into a seamless, comprehensive, and compelling moral statement. Guardini tirelessly argues that human beings are responsible moral agents, possessed of free will and answerable to God and their fellow man."

http://www.isi.org/books/bookdetail.aspx?id=27895ed1-7061-4fd3-ae71-87012087a92c

What They're Saying...

"Guardini's analysis...still has resonance, because many of the problems he diagnoses about modernity have not been overcome. Fears of nuclear destruction and totalitarianism may have abated, but fears about the destruction of the planet's ecology by the forces which the modern age unleashed, and anxiety about the direction of mass society, have grown."

— Times Literary Supplement

"Guardini's book is more than a harsh look at our diseased condition, and quite the opposite of a lament for times past. It is an urgent call to holiness, an inspiring challenge, and an exceptionally important book for a new millennium."

— First Things

"Guardini's book...stands as a fascinating portrait of the modern contradiction..."

— The Chesterton Review

"Much of Guardini's analysis, by now forty years old, is prophetic."

— New Oxford Review

[Helms]

Thanks- some say that the pinnacle of "modernism" was the Beatles first Madison Square Garden circa 1963. By 1968 I believe we were entering into the Postmodern period. So between 1963-1968 somethings happened to transition us.

[cornelis]

I like Wilhelmsen. Ever read his Metaphysics of Love?

[cornelis]

outright rejection of enlightenment assumptions

In this the postmodern is on track. Modernism was found to be a sham, because it rated reason to high. What, after all was so enlightening about the Enlightenment? That they held to keys to the golden grail of objectivity. It's too bad that those rejecting that assumption made the pendulum swing to rate reason too low.

You know there is one area where enlightenment assumptions still have a popular foothold: in science. On the other hand, the implications for law is profound.

[lewislynn]

I think these guys wrote an article to show off the new word they came up with.

They should have passed a grammar class first.

[Helms]

I do believe that the Will is over Reason and that explains the whacked world we live in. There are those whose will to believe is overruled by his/her reason.

[Helms]

What, after all was so enlightening about the Enlightenment? That they held to keys to the golden grail of objectivity. "

Then infection by the German virus:

Kant, then Schopenhauer and the neo-Kantians, especially Fitche turned to a subjectivity that bordered on solipsism. Then Nietzsche-Heidegger and that was all she wrote.

[BenLurkin]

Good stuff -- LOTS of calories though.