Thursday, January 18, 2007

ANYTHING GOES? IS THAT POSTMODERN?

Much talk about postmodern title-tattle or anything-goes nihilistic banality. Shame that much of that talk, when from those trapped into a tradition of correct reason, is, to say the least rather misinformed. I try to defend, a little, this indefensible pomo turn. One might forgive me if I refer to "obscure" literature in my attempt but at least i shall not pretend to be a correctly read "Philosopher King".

First a contentious point needs putting aside. This is the "anything-goes" theme which is commonly misrepresented as being just postmodern. Any fairly disciplined reading of political economy and philosophy will, without unnecessary expert positioning, help us to see that Capitalism is by far the main driving force behind this anything-goes thing where "all value is equalised". To keep this more down to earth let us consider a text from the Business and Society Review :- " Suppose that, as a result of using up all the world's resources, human life did come to an end. So what? " This has been the anything goes position of capitalism for some time has it not. Postmodern tribes have rallied against this for a very long time now.

Now with that centralising habit called reason and/or ordering we find our own Anticant claiming that we mix, all too often and badly, an "important" thread or theme with things like the price of fish. How to reply to that? Perhaps we move to the good works of the American black writer Du Bois when he writes about the death of working folk thus :- " My journey was done and behind me lay hill and dale and Life and Death. How shall man measure Progress there where the dark faced Josie lies? How many heartfuls of sorrow shall balance a bushel of wheat? "

Then a quote from another :- " Postmodernism is, in fact, the phantasmagoria of a prior, freakish world. Those that fear the beasts are not wrong. Their nostalgia for a kinder home than they have wells from the same unthinking place of insensate feeling that authors principled dreams of a better world. The freaks and the beasts are signs of a bad dream..." ( Charles Lemert )

What i have tried to say here may not satisfy but without due consideration from those that misrepresent postmodern texts and sensitivities ( without some respectful work) I would find it very difficult to avoid saying "J'Accuse......

18 comments:

anticant said...

Oh dear, Zola. Named and shamed! I scurried over here from the burrow at once, after you pointed me in this direction, and read your as usual delightfully phrased strictures with due humility.

I won't put in a formal defence plea, except to point out that I have repeatedly said I am a relativist, but not the sort of mindless relativist who maintains that nothing is better than anything else. Even if I misunderstand Postmodernism, I imagine you would agree with that.

Before coming over, I Googled for the lyrics of "Anything Goes", which in my prim old-fashioned [Cole Porter-ish?] way I thought referred to a glimpse of stocking no longer being considered shocking. But to my consternation I found that there are now many [post-modern?] versions about such matters as joy-sticks capable of going the extra inch. I'm still blushing.

Anonymous said...

I remember being in a nightclub in Rio together with a major Captain of Industry and two ladies who were 'working girls'. These girls were not actually 'with' us, but I enjoyed eavesdropping and what my friend was translating for me.
They were going from the most vivid descriptions of sex acts to child rearing to Brazilian politics in the one conversation. Seamlessly.
On reflection, perhaps we should have told them to stick to the subject.
Whatever that was.
They were poor in pocket but rich in spirit - they could have been forced though.

zola a social thing said...

Blush? I can do that.
Sometimes even a hot flush
Sometimes too often I hot flush.
All comes out in the wash anyway.
I can also do poor in pocket.

anticant said...

Ah, but can you do the extra inch? [That really was too tempting to miss....]

Anonymous said...

Give Anti some Viagra immediately.
Then, at least, he won't roll out of bed in the middle of the night.

zola a social thing said...

You see whenever i make a serious blog using terms like capitalism or postmodern all hell is let loose as if fear is behind it all. What is more is that I get covered in sexual metaphors enough to keep on on heat for a month. What is to be done.

But like it i do.

anticant said...

I am Mrs Bedonebyasyoudid.

Anonymous said...

Great stuff from the master. We can only read in wonder.

Now for some serious deconstruction of Zola's sauna habits...

Anonymous said...

I went into a sauna a couple of days ago. Thing is, though, it wasn't hot, the heater was broken. Yet I stayed in there, lying down for a bit, then doing my usual post gym/swim stretch. For I liked the smell, I found it very relaxing.

Still trying to work out whether I had a sauna; whether I thought the sauna into working.

zola a social thing said...

Never fart in the sauna.
Enjoy the smell do you

Anonymous said...

Mixed sauna, BWI ?
Everything hanging .....
dripping ?
I once took a few clients for a C/mas bash at a mixed sauna..........
took their breath away.

Anonymous said...

What kind of clients, can we ask?.

Anonymous said...

Why, Gentlemen, of course.

zola a social thing said...

Gentlemen?
Where did you find them?
Thought they were extinct.
never found in my sauna...

Anonymous said...

Too right, Zola, with all the sauna farting you report. Ladies perspire in the sauna, whilst gentlemen may sweat. Neither, though, ever bottom burp there.

You have to sign a health disclaimer at my municipal pool, LB, which I guess also covers them for any pool-side sauna heart attacks. I trust you got their signatures first, before stealing their breath.

zola a social thing said...

I blame Yellow Duck for this.
The Duck has "Ducked us" in the sauna.

Anonymous said...

Do you have good insurance?

Anonymous said...

I give only assurances.

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