I do not consider myself an expect on post-modernism; and I most certainly do not spend most of my day thinking about the post-modern movement. In most ways, I view post-modernism as an enigma, something that most people don't understand (like me) and don't care about. However, I do occasionally have random thoughts pop into my head while reading about totally different subjects and I like to share those. This particular thought came about while reading about the altar call.
From what I've read about post-modernism, the movement as a whole lacks a name and focus. Most scholars, or thinkers, would agree that the world is shifting, transitioning, and changing. The world went through the Enlightenment and has been living in the Modern Age. Everything was founded upon science, reason, and intellect. But things are shifting; we have moved on from modernism. We are now post-modern.
But what is post-modernism? This is something that I'll leave to others to figure out, but I did have a random thought tonight about this. Here's how it goes. Modernism was about reason, freedom, and individuality. Many nations claimed their freedom during the modern age and democracy was the catchword throughout the world. "I am free to make my own choices! I don't care what others think!" are what most people operate with.
The modern age reached its peak and is now in decline. Reason is still important, but not in its traditional scientific sense. Freedom is also important, but the connotations are changing. And individuality, while important, is attaining a whole different meaning. While post-modernism has its very own specific characteristics, but there are a few trends I'd like to focus on.
Modernity focus on individual achievement and praise. Note how research papers must utilize heavy citation to give original authors and thinkers their due credit. This will change. Not in five years, ten years, or something like that, but it will change. Notice the heavy use of wikis, collaborative blogs, and other team-oriented motifs. The focus is no longer on "what can you, as an individual, produce" but on "what can we, as a society or group, produce." Prime example: Wikipedia. Although Wikipedia still requires citation of sources and discourages original research, it has taken the first step towards collaborative knowledge and away from individuality.
Continuing with this thought, we will see a decreased pressure on source citations. The focus on group collaboration will begin to fill the world with sources that cannot be easily cited. Also, as universities begin to fill their faculty positions with post-modern thinkers, citations will begin to matter less. Once again, this will not be immediate, but will take time. We will see a shift away from "this was the first person to ever think this idea." Ideas will become the property of the community.
This is where I believe that post-modernism may eventually take on the mantle of "Collectivism" or the "Collective Age." We will lose our focus of individual contributions and focus on community projects. Wikis will reign, with their focus on collaboration for success. Dissertations will be replaced by research projects with fellow candidates.
There will be a marked effect on education. The degree system will be called into question. The innovative thinkers without degrees will prove that collaboration may be more effective than a theoretical knowledge of a field. Instead of hiring Doctors into a position for their vast knowledge, young professionals will be hired because of their practical experience in the field. While the doctors spent their time learning, the others spent their time practicing.
The focus will not be on how can this one person contribute to the organization. The focus will shift to how can this one person work with the team. Will they cause too much drama, or will they produce constructive conflict? Do they fill in gaps of proficiency with other staff, or are they merely a replica of their colleagues? Innovation, collaboration, and shared communication will prove to be more important than scientific information and theory.
Most importantly, it's about the shared experience. Modernism focused on the individual experience which has left people feeling lonely and embittered. Collectivism brings people back together into a relationship to utilize the skills the gained from modernism to continue to do new things. Think of it as synergy. The sum of what we did individually will never equal the combined effort of what we will do together.
Again, I'm not an expert and I'm sure smarter people are saying better things about the world. But I thought these ideas were worth sharing. If nothing else, maybe they'll spark a sense of curiosity and creativity in your mind to try bold and new things. The world is changing (as it always has). Don't be afraid to try something new.
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