O pós-moderno em questão: a sociedade dos media e a crítica contemporânea

Abstract

The problem related to "The postmodern concern: media-centered society and contemporary criticism" raises the reflection about the experience of communication at present, which is considered a fundamental assumption to understand the post-modern society as a media-centered society. The theoretical-philosophical framework focuses on the considerations of the Italian philosopher Gianni Vattimo and the position of thinkers such as Jameson and Eagleton, regarded as contemporary critics of postmodernism. Some events and changes, highlighted by Vattimo, point to the emancipatory character of the performance of mass media in post-modernity, namely: a) freedom and acknowledgement of particular cultures, thus breaking down Eurocentrism; b) the emergence of worldview diversity followed by specific properties and dialects. Thus, the media promote a new cultural meaning in post-modernity, influenced by the presence of particular cultures and their own dialects. However, post-modernity is not a novelty for contemporary criticism; it only represents the interests of the economic power holders of the present society: whether post-modernism is the cultural logic of late capitalism of Jameson or the world of business of Eagleton. Are we facing two distinct positions, namely, a strictly philosophical one and an economic-social-political one? This partially presents what shall be discussed in the article.