What is Postmodernism? Andy Crouch from Christianity Today describes Postmodernism as anything, everything, and nothing, an academic Rorschach blot on which nervous modernists and others project all their fantasies, both benign and terrifying. Crouch goes on to explain how Postmodernism entails what an author is most afraid of while on the other hand promises that which they most secretly desire. This definition, in its twirling contradiction, actually doesn't define anything, all it does lead to a more confusing understanding of what Postmodernism actually is. Searching for a concrete definition of Postmodernism proved to be a near impossible task, the explanation that accurately fits the definition to me is one provided by Rainer Friedrich. Friedrich's definition implies that Postmodernism is undefinable, and today is applied to anything a Modern reader happens to like. This definition shows how Postmodernism is impossible to explain without Modernism. I believe the relationship between these two movements are so similar that Postmodernism is merely an extension of Modernism within a different time, with different values, and essentiall

The same dictionary defines Modernism as:

The early 20th century was a completely different time than today. Writers, architects, and artist were reforming their ways to break off from the norm of the Victorian era. In literature, this new 'Modern' movement, was headed by a Polish sailor born as Jozef Konrad, but known to the world as writer Joseph Conrad. Conrad was different from the Modern writers to come in the near future. He lived through the experiences he retold. Conrad lived his life at sea, experienced humanity first-hand, and redelivered it to a time that, ready or not, was receiving a depiction of real life. Conrad created stories that were told in ways that had never been told before, contradicting literary styles that he probably never even knew existed. Conrad was truly one of a kind, as was his work, his consciousness flowed into the story and we received all of it in exactly the same way he did.

Post-modernism can be defined in exactly the same way as Modernism, but the difference is the time frame. After WWII, the world's views changed, as did Modernism. Modernism, to me, challenges the contemporary beliefs of society, and as time moves forward, these beliefs change as well. Modernism is a way of writing more so than a style of writing. It is clearly evident that Eliot was very well educated in the writing of the past, while Conrad was not, but they both questioned society. They both wrote for society, they both challenged society. This is what makes them Modern. Michael Berube seems to share my personal outlooks in his article concerning Postmodernism and Modernism by stating

According to Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary Postmodern is described as:

Looking back at Modern works and trying to understand what makes them Modern is impossible. As 21st century readers, we must look back and try to understand what made them Modern. Times have changes, society has changed, our culture as a whole has changed. Look at the difference in the moral values between you and your grandmother, it's a wo

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Approximate Word count = 1382
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)