“When power assumes the
name of a party, realism and its neoclassical compliment triumph over the
experimental avant-garde by slandering it and banning it – that is, provided
the ‘correct’ images, the ‘correct’ narratives, the ‘correct’ forms which the
party requests, selects, and propagates can find a public to desire them as the
appropriate remedy for the anxiety and depression that public experiences” (41)
According to Lyotard, if I’m
understanding this right I suppose this is a way of looking at how society is
right now and may provide a new perspective as to whether we may be in a
modernist or postmodern society. After reading this line, I was reminded of
politics, especially by using words like “power” and “party”. Political parties
rise up, assume their powers and provide what those involved perceive as the “correct”
images and narratives (their policies and campaign platforms) to the people in
place of a “reality”, just as Lyotard describes (I’m not sure yet what our real
“reality” is yet, but that may be for another post). Following the metaphor
these policies would serve as a remedy to people’s anxieties and depressions
stemming from the absence and desire of “the real” (41).
The metaphor is a bit
interesting however in that there are individuals who reject these ‘correct’
narratives and images and wait for their chance to disregard and banish them. Following
the political metaphor, I would say this is represented by the difference
between Democrats and Republicans. Even in our current political race the
tensions and rejections of these ‘correct’ narratives are now more apparent
than ever, especially when certain individuals will say “wrong”, the opposite
of “right” / “correct” in the midst of their opponent’s speeches in belief that
their messages are right. But as we discussed in class one can only be so
suspicious and question narratives before they ultimately lose credibility and
their following.
In an earlier post I said
modernity perhaps has the chance of a comeback as we have certain modernist
tendencies in our society now, and having given it a bit more thought, I’m sure
it will definitely have a second wind. I can’t say when, how or what form it
will take but I’m sure it will happen again. Lyotard might even agree with me
in saying “A work can become modern only if it is first postmodern.
Postmodernism thus understood is not modernism at its end but in the nascent
state [starting to show signs of future potential], and this state is constant." (44)
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