Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Yoni Goldstein: Postmodernism is coming to a natural end

We're going from a truth-skeptical age to a truth-seeking one. Canada has a role to play in that

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

There is no specific date on which to pin the advent of the postmodern age. The term was coined in reference to painting in 1870, and first cited as a descriptor for contemporary social and cultural thought in 1939. In 1960, the sociologist Daniel Bell published “The End of Ideology,” heralding a “post-industrial society” and laying the groundwork for postmodern thought as a guiding light in academia. Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault followed from the mid-’60s, cementing the philosophical base for postmodernism and popular derivatives like Edward Said’s postcolonial theory.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

However you want to define its origins, it’s safe to say that by the 1990s postmodernism was the dominant school of thought on Western university campuses, and that by the 2000s, its students had made their way into all aspects of society, bringing postmodernism’s dogmas along with them. Between then and now, those ideas and ideologies have come to dominate our culture in virtually every aspect, from art and architecture to politics and popular culture.

Yoni Goldstein: Postmodernism is coming to a natural end Back to video

The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics........

© National Post