Metamodernism is a cultural discourse and paradigm that has emerged after postmodernism. It refers to new forms of contemporary art and theory that respond to modernism and postmodernism and integrate aspects of both together.
Metamodernism reflects an oscillation between, or synthesis of, different cultural logics such as modern idealism and postmodern skepticism, modern sincerity and postmodern irony, and other seemingly opposed concepts.
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SubscribePhilosophically, metamodern advocates agree with many postmodern critiques of modernism, such as highlighting gender inequality, however, they often contend that postmodern deconstruction falls short in facilitating desired resolutions.
Metamodern scholarship initially focused on interpreting art in this vein and established a foundation for the field, particularly through observing the growing blend of irony and sincerity in society.
The Evolution and Key Theorists of Metamodernism
Cultural theorists Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker published their essay Notes on Metamodernism in 2010, which is often considered an attempt to explain post-postmodernism.
According to them, the metamodern sensibility can be conceived of as a kind of informed naivety or pragmatic idealism characteristic of cultural responses to recent global events.
Explicitly drawing upon the work of Vermeulen and van den Akker, Luke Turner published The Metamodernist Manifesto in 2011 as an exercise in simultaneously defining and embodying the metamodern spirit.
Other notable figures like Hanzi Freinacht and Jason Josephson Storm have further expanded the framework into sociology and the humanities, creating a new paradigm for scholarly research.