End of the 20th century has witnessed sudden emergence of “Identity Culture”. More and more people across the globe are thinking about their identity and origin. Collective identity is gaining more and more importance. Noted Scholar Samuel Huntington writes in his celebrated work „ Kampf der Kulturen“ : „Völker und Nationen versuchen heute, die elementarste Frage zu beantworten, vor der Menschen stehen können: Wer sind wir ?“ Identifying with others, in various different ways, can be extremely important for living in postmodern society.
In today’s postmodern times identities are ever changing, overlapping and they are also situation specific. This paper intends to explore the possibility of describing cultural identity emerging in contemporary postmodern world. I begin with conceptualization of the term “Culture”. The main purpose of this work is to deal with cultural identity in postmodern age and hence I have taken liberty to use the words postmodern, postmodernity and postmodernism synonymously.
The term postmodern consists of a whole plethora of interpretations and it derives its origin from modernism. Hence I start with description of modernism in chapter two. Thereafter comparative analysis of modernism and postmodernism is presented.
Postmodern age is an age of dilemmas. This era has given momentum to identity culture. As mentioned earlier more and more people are worried about their identities and various discourses at various levels are taking place. But simultaneously cultural identity in this era is getting fragmented. Hence discussion in divided two parts namely - identity culture and cultural identity - in postmodern times. I have deliberately restricted my sphere to philosophical and cultural fields.
Table of Contents
1 Conceptualization of Culture
1.1 Definitions of Culture
1.2 Clustered Image of Culture
1.3 Some Nuances of Culture
1.4 Some Pitfalls of Culture
2 Understanding Postmodernism
2.1 What is Modernism?
2.2 Ideas of Modernism
2.3 What is Postmodernism?
2.4 Postmodernism and Grand Narratives
2.5 Comparative Study of Modernism and Postmodernism
3 Postmodern World: Identity Culture and Cultural Identity
3.1 Identity Culture in a Postmodern World
3.2 Cultural Identity in a Postmodern World
3.3 A Photomontage depicting Postmodern Cultural Identity
Objectives and Core Themes
This work explores the emergence of "Identity Culture" and the fragmented nature of cultural identity within the contemporary postmodern era, examining the shift from the stable, collective narratives of modernism to the fluid, situation-specific identities of the present day.
- The conceptualization and definition of culture across different academic perspectives.
- A comparative analysis of modernist desire for order versus postmodern celebration of difference.
- The role of "grand narratives" in modernity versus the "small narratives" of the postmodern world.
- The impact of consumer culture on the formation of multiple, often conflicting, individual identities.
- The visualization of postmodern cultural hybridity through photomontage.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Cultural Identity in Postmodern World – Carnival of Cultures
Postmodern scholars say that there is direct relationship between the cultural system and subjective experience of individuals and groups. Postmodern experts are worried about the problem of individuals living in fragmented cultures. Very often homogeneous cultures are unable to keep up with social changes. Additionally “The decentering of the postmodern self produces general kind of emotional flatness or depthlessness.” Cultural identity in postmodern times is fragmented and dissolved and sometimes the subject (individual or group) even loses its consciousness about identity.
Postmodern culture moves at an incomprehensible speed. Space and time shrink almost to nothing. As borders become more fluid, the convention, custom and ways of life that once distinguished one place from another is now a matter of choice for an individual. “The locality is no longer the prime referent of our experiences. Rather, we can be immediately united with distant others with whom we can form a ‘psychological neighborhood’, or ‘personal community’ through telephone or the shared experience of the news of the ‘generalized elsewhere’ we get from watching television.” In the words of postmodern philosopher Lyotard, we now live in a world where “Eclecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture; you listen to reggae; you watch a western; you eat McDonald at midday and local cuisine at night; you wear Paris perfume in Tokyo and dress retro in Hong Kong: knowledge is the stuff of TV game shows…Together, artist, gallery owners, critic and public indulge one another in Anything Goes – it is time to relax.” Contemporary identity consists of “anything goes”
Summary of Chapters
1 Conceptualization of Culture: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation by defining culture as an abstract, man-made concept and exploring various scholarly interpretations and levels of cultural structure.
2 Understanding Postmodernism: This section provides a detailed comparative analysis between the order-seeking mindset of Modernism and the diverse, fragmented nature of Postmodernism, including the rejection of grand narratives.
3 Postmodern World: Identity Culture and Cultural Identity: This final chapter synthesizes the previous theories to examine how cultural identity functions in the postmodern age, emphasizing the fluidity and multiplicity of self-identity in a world of "anything goes."
Keywords
Postmodernism, Modernism, Identity Culture, Cultural Identity, Grand Narratives, Metanarratives, Fragmented Identity, Collective Identity, Cultural Hybridity, Rationality, Consumer Culture, Globalization, Sociological Theory, Philosophy, Subjectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The work examines the sudden emergence of "Identity Culture" at the end of the 20th century and how this phenomenon, alongside the philosophical shifts toward postmodernism, has transformed the nature of individual and cultural identity.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed in this work?
The text focuses on the transition from modernist "grand narratives" and homogeneity to postmodern "small narratives," fragmentation, and the celebration of difference in global culture.
What is the primary research goal of this document?
The author aims to explore the possibilities of describing and understanding the emerging nature of cultural identity within the contemporary, highly unstable postmodern world.
Which scientific or theoretical methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a philosophical and cultural analysis approach, drawing upon existing academic literature and scholarly definitions to contrast the historical structures of modernity with contemporary postmodern conditions.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers the definition of culture, a structured comparison between modernist and postmodernist thought, and the application of these concepts to the modern experience of multiple, shifting identities.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include postmodernism, cultural identity, identity culture, fragmentation, grand narratives, and consumer culture.
How does the author define the "cluttered image of culture"?
The author uses the metaphor of an onion with layers to describe how culture can be peeled to reveal invisible values, rituals, and visible symbols, citing Hofstede’s levels of culture.
What is the significance of the photomontage discussed in the final chapter?
The photomontage serves as a visual representation of postmodern cultural hybridity, featuring a composite figure that blends diverse global cultural elements, illustrating the fragmented yet amalgamated nature of identity.
- Quote paper
- Jitendra Jain (Author), 2007, “Identity Culture” and “Cultural Identity” in a Postmodern World, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163899
