postmodernism
UK: /ˌpəʊstˈmɒdənɪzəm/ | US: /ˌpoʊstˈmɑːdərnɪzəm/
n. a late 20th-century movement in philosophy, art, and criticism that rejects modernism's rigid conventions and embraces irony, eclecticism, and self-referentiality.
n. a cultural or artistic style characterized by fragmentation, pastiche, and skepticism toward grand narratives.
The term combines "post-" (Latin post, meaning "after") + "modern" (Latin modernus, from modo, "just now") + "-ism" (Greek -ismos, denoting a practice or ideology). It emerged in the mid-20th century to describe reactions against modernist ideals in art and philosophy, emphasizing relativism and hybridity. The morphemes reflect a chronological ("post-") and ideological ("modernism") shift.
Postmodernism challenges the notion of absolute truth in literature.
The architect designed a postmodernism-inspired building with playful historical references.
Her thesis explores how postmodernism deconstructs traditional narratives.
Critics argue that postmodernism leads to cultural fragmentation.
The film uses postmodernism techniques like meta-humor and nonlinear storytelling.