[UA] Post-postmodern?

[Benn Beaton]

Post modernism does ironicly seem to have neccessary structural precursers
but this doesnt mean that its limited to the west.  People looking for a
pure postmodern example will be dissapointed so you have to take whatever
you can get.  Post modernism arrises during the conflict of neoliberalism
between its demand for moralistic social policies whilst removing
constraints from economic activity.

There has to be a stifled demand that is imposed by state control which is
entirely contradictory to state policy.  The classic example is pornography
and free speech.  As economic acters wish to profit from the taboo area
dereguilation of social constraints is neccessary.  Profits eventually
become so large that they threaten the political power of entrenched groups
and force action.  This will either be a clampdown and appropriation of the
profits (drugs) or a liberalisation and a social exclusion of the profiteer
(porn)  If there is a clampdown then usually the state liberalises once it
has a state friendly face for the profits to be assigned to (eg Valium
instead of Opium).  If the state liberalises then the activity promotes
individual economic freedom which leads to calls for other freedoms.  This
is the crux of the problem in China with the new capitalists and
corruption.

Now given that neoliberalism is actively being pushed in the third world
without the economic basis to engage in choice spending it becomes a
question of class.  In the west class still dominates the social viewpoint
of indiviuals.  Wealth determines education, access to property and ability
to escape from intial tier social groups.  It is here that I think the split
within the Anglican church exists.

Members of an economically mobile class are more likly to be liberal and
accepting and as such able to propagate their ideas.  However members of an
economically stagnant class are more likly to have the numbers to enforce an
idea.  The basic clash would be called a riot.  The stagnant class
(humanity) rejects the imposistion of change upon itself and reacts
violently to it.  Freaks are shunned and avoided.  Prices go up to keep
certain people at bay.  A good example would be the treatment of openly gay
couples in authoritarian areas during the 90s.

I think that the cults relationships would be based on essential
similarities of the moment.  Cult of the Naked goddess and the order of St
cecil aren't going to the prom any time soon but they'd respond to a demonic
incursion with the same unity that the westboro county church and the gay
liberation front would respond to a man with a machine gun on a roof top.
(after screaming its all your fault for 10 minutes or so)
They'd respond to the threat and then go back to hating each other as
normal.  In fact now they know where each other are at after the threat they
might get extra bloody after the threat is dealt with.


On 4/7/08, Sean Holland <knightofroses at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> And Post-Modernism has only really taken hold in the West it seems.  Some
> would argue that Modernism has barely made it into what was the Third World,
> let alone Post-Modernism.  Certainty and Meta-narrative seems to be on the
> rise worldwide to me.
>
> Look at the split in the Anglican church between the "progressive" and
> "traditionalist" wings.  The progressives are pretty post-modern "we are we
> to judge" types, while the traditionalist are all "we are".
>
> How would this conflict (you can call it a "clash of cultures" if you
> want) play out in the OU and the UA world in general?
>
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