What's the difference between modernism and postmodernism?
- print Print
- list Cite
Expert Answers

calendarEducator since 2009
write454 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History
I know that the following answer is a cop-out, but I think it needs to be said.
"Modern" simply refers to what's going on now. Whatever trends there might be now in art, literature, philosophy, etc., are modern. It therefore follows that post-modern is a non-sequitir, a meaningless phrase. How can anything be later than now? In the absence of time machines, post-modern is meaningless.
Okay, I know that when people say modern they're referring to certain early-20th century trends, and when they say post-modern, they're referring to later trends.
When you think about it, though, it doesn't make a drop of sense.
Is that a relativistic, circular, fuzzy, post-modern way of approaching the question?
Related Questions
- What are the major themes and concerns about postmodernism?
- 2 Educator Answers
- Explain what Postmodernism means. How does it differ from Modernism and what are some of its...
- 1 Educator Answer
- What is the reason behind calling postmodernism, postmodernism? When there was a modern period...
- 2 Educator Answers

calendarEducator since 2009
write16,848 answers
starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences
If the question is seeking to examine the literary movement of modernism and post- modernism, I think that some distinction is needed to be made. The first would be that both movements reject the sense of totality. Modernists believed that the presence of human freedom and autonomy were forces that...
(The entire section contains 3 answers and 701 words.)
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.