Everything Becomes Commodity (Lyotard)

Since I am currently studying for exam two, I decided that I want to focus my blog post on Jean-Francois Lyotard’s piece “Answering the Question: What is Postmodernism?” I also want mention that I am still grappling with Lyotard’s critique and ideas, so stick with me through this post. 

Lyotard’s main argument is on how there should be an end to grand narratives and metanarratives. Our society should focus on more micronarratives, in order to to have more representative society. Sadly, metanarratives (i.e. the Enlightenment) diminish the existence of diversity in order to legitimize power structures. 

Lyotard says, “This is a period of slackening. . . “ (38). What he means by this is that our society today has been encouraged and urged to top experimenting due to these metanarratives. Lyotard wants us to wage war on totality (46) in order to restore triumph over identity. 

Unfortunately, since people are still following metanarratives, we now deal with the fantasies of realism. Realism can be problematic because it is subjective, thus meaning that it is too broad to be communicated.  Lyotard says, “Belief in the stability of the referent (as in photography and film) lead to ‘the fantasies of realism’”. Many people believe that art is perceived as stable, yet it really isnt. Media distorts our perception of reality and we see this in many films today (Matrix, Avatar, Truman Show, etc.)

Realism, “stands somewhere between academicism and kitsch” (41). As stated before, realism can be subjective. Realism proves a type of comfort for many people because realism conforms to metanarratives, appealing to the masses. Reality can be very upsetting sometimes, so realism in media can provide imagery that allows people to feel comforted. Lyotard describes how realism provides correct images, narratives and forms designed as the appropriate remedy for the anxiety and depression the public experiences (41). 

No one ever wants to go against metanarratives or the norm because everyone is content with realism’s rationality. Realism always pushes over experimental avant gardes. People demand unity, simplicity and don’t like to be different. When capital comes into the situation, then anything really goes because its focus is solely on money.  “Eclecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture” (42).

Since people don’t want to step outside of metanarratives, capital or anything, then this means that modernity has failed to show us the truth. Modernity has succeeded to show us the portrayal of the real is impossible. As Zizek would say, the image replaces reality. “So-called realistic representations can no longer evoke reality except as nostalgia of mockery” (40). 

As Benjamin would say, there has been a lost of authenticity. . . of aura due to capital (mechanical reproduction). Lyotard says, “Classicism seems to be ruled outing a world in which reality is so destabilized that it offers no occasion for experience but one for ratings and experimentation” (40).  Capital creates this feeling within a society that we have lost something, a type of aura. Capitalism takes away a sense of reality due to the mass production of photographic/cinematographic systems that whipped out the narrative/pictorial realism. Everything becomes commodification. At the end of the day, it is all about the big, fat green buckaroos.