Reading: Late 20th Century to Recent Developments: Meta-Modernism and Critique

Late 20th Century to Recent Developments: Meta-Modernism

Metamodernism is a cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic movement that emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a response to the dominance of postmodernism. While postmodernism is characterized by skepticism, irony, and the deconstruction of grand narratives, metamodernism seeks to move beyond these critical approaches, exploring a balance between the idealism of modernism and the irony of postmodernism. Metamodernism reflects a renewed interest in sincerity, hope, and authenticity, even as it remains aware of the complexities and contradictions of contemporary life.

Key Figures:

• Timotheus Vermeulen
• Robin van den Akker
• David Foster Wallace

Topics:

1. The Emergence of Metamodernism as a Response to Postmodernism

Metamodernism was introduced as a theoretical framework by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker in their 2010 essay "Notes on Metamodernism." According to them, metamodernism is a cultural movement that arose as a response to the perceived exhaustion of postmodernism. Postmodernism, with its focus on irony, skepticism, and the rejection of grand narratives, had come to dominate much of late 20th-century thought and art. However, by the early 21st century, a shift became evident—a desire to move beyond the ironic detachment and cynicism that had defined postmodern culture.

Metamodernism emerges in response to the limitations of postmodernism, which, while successful in deconstructing traditional systems of meaning and authority, left many artists, thinkers, and writers in a state of disenchantment. Metamodernism seeks to reintegrate elements of modernist idealism, including hope, sincerity, and the pursuit of meaning, while retaining postmodernism’s critical awareness of complexity, contradiction, and the instability of truth. It rejects the totalizing certainty of modernism, yet it also refuses to succumb to the nihilism of postmodernism.

In this way, metamodernism is often described as an oscillatory movement—one that continually shifts between modernist ideals (such as belief in progress, utopian aspirations, and sincerity) and postmodernist skepticism (irony, fragmentation, and critique). It embraces a dynamic tension between these seemingly contradictory impulses, holding them together in what Vermeulen and van den Akker call a "both/and" attitude, rather than the "either/or" of previous movements.

Key Concept:

• Metamodernism: A cultural and philosophical movement that oscillates between the idealism of modernism and the irony of postmodernism, seeking to balance hope, sincerity, and authenticity with a critical awareness of complexity and contradiction.

2. The Oscillation Between Modernist and Postmodernist Attitudes: "Both/And" Thinking

One of the defining characteristics of metamodernism is its oscillatory nature. Unlike modernism, which was marked by a belief in the power of human reason, progress, and grand narratives, and postmodernism, which deconstructed those narratives and promoted irony and relativism, metamodernism occupies a space in between. It acknowledges the cynicism and irony of postmodern thought but also returns to modernist values of hope, meaning, and possibility. However, it does not do so uncritically—it oscillates between these poles, embracing both the optimism of modernism and the skepticism of postmodernism simultaneously.

This "both/and" thinking allows for a complex, multi-layered approach to understanding contemporary culture. Metamodernism is not interested in resolving the contradictions between modernist and postmodernist sensibilities but rather in inhabiting the space between them. For example, it is possible to engage in irony and sincerity at the same time, to be self-aware of the limitations of grand narratives while still seeking authenticity and truth. This oscillation can be seen as a form of hopeful skepticism—a recognition that while absolute certainty may be impossible, the search for meaning is still worthwhile.

Metamodernism’s "both/and" thinking is evident in many forms of contemporary art, literature, and philosophy, where creators navigate between critique and construction, detachment and engagement, despair and hope. The metamodern mindset allows for a dynamic, shifting relationship with meaning, where individuals and cultures are constantly in the process of questioning and rebuilding their understanding of the world.

Key Concept:

• "Both/And" Thinking: The oscillation between modernist and postmodernist attitudes, where one can be both idealistic and skeptical, sincere and ironic, hopeful and critical at the same time.

3. The Interplay Between Irony, Sincerity, and Hope in Contemporary Culture and Philosophy

A key feature of metamodernism is its reworking of irony and sincerity. While postmodernism relied heavily on irony as a tool for deconstruction and critique, often leading to a sense of detachment and disillusionment, metamodernism seeks to reclaim sincerity without losing the self-awareness that irony provides. This interplay between irony and sincerity is crucial to understanding the metamodern mindset, which allows individuals to be sincere while acknowledging the inherent difficulties and contradictions of that sincerity.

In metamodernism, irony is not abandoned but is subverted and recontextualized. Rather than using irony to distance oneself from meaning or emotion, metamodern artists and thinkers use it to highlight the complexity of human experience. This enables them to hope and believe in meaning even when fully aware of the potential for failure, inconsistency, or absurdity.

The hope in metamodernism is a kind of post-ironic hope—an acknowledgment that, despite the uncertainty and fragmentation of contemporary life, there is still a desire for connection, authenticity, and emotional depth. This hope is not naïve but rather tempered by the lessons of postmodernism. It recognizes the provisional nature of meaning but insists that the search for meaning, community, and purpose is still essential to the human experience.

In contemporary culture, this interplay between irony, sincerity, and hope can be seen in various forms of media, from television and film to literature and visual arts. For example, TV shows like Parks and Recreation and BoJack Horseman balance irony with sincerity, exploring human flaws and contradictions while still celebrating moments of genuine connection and meaning.

Key Concept:

• Interplay Between Irony and Sincerity: The balancing act of being both ironic and sincere, recognizing the complexities of meaning while still striving for emotional depth and hope.

4. David Foster Wallace and Others as Literary Reflections of Metamodern Thought

One of the most significant literary figures associated with metamodernism is David Foster Wallace. Wallace, often considered a transitional figure between postmodernism and metamodernism, exemplified the oscillatory dynamic in his work, combining postmodern irony with a yearning for sincerity and authentic human connection. In essays such as E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction and novels like Infinite Jest, Wallace critiques the ironic detachment of contemporary media culture while expressing a desire for genuine emotional experience.

Wallace's work reflects metamodernism’s both/and approach. He recognized the pervasiveness of irony in postmodern culture, particularly in television and popular media, but he also called for a new sincerity—an effort to reconnect with feelings of empathy, care, and moral responsibility. Wallace’s characters often struggle with the tension between ironic detachment and the search for meaning, reflecting the metamodern oscillation between skepticism and belief.

Other literary figures and cultural producers who embody metamodernist sensibilities include Jonathan Franzen, Zadie Smith, and Miranda July, whose works explore similar themes of complexity, connection, and hope in the face of uncertainty. Their novels and essays reflect a movement away from the hyper-irony of the postmodern period toward a renewed interest in human vulnerability, relationships, and the search for meaning, even as they remain aware of the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in these pursuits.

In contemporary literature, metamodernism is reflected in the blending of emotional earnestness with ironic self-awareness—characters and narratives that wrestle with the question of how to live authentically in a world where authenticity itself is suspect.

Key Concept:

• David Foster Wallace and Metamodern Literature: Wallace's work exemplifies the metamodern balance between postmodern irony and a renewed commitment to sincerity, empathy, and human connection.

Conclusion: Metamodernism in Contemporary Culture and Thought

Metamodernism represents a significant cultural shift as it seeks to navigate the limitations of postmodernism while drawing from the optimism and sincerity of modernism. It is defined by its oscillatory nature, moving between irony and sincerity, skepticism and hope, idealism and realism. By embracing the complexities and contradictions of contemporary life, metamodernism allows for a both/and mindset that does not seek to resolve tensions but instead finds meaning in the dynamic interplay between opposing forces.

In literature, philosophy, and cultural production, metamodernism reflects a renewed desire for authenticity, emotional depth, and connection—all while acknowledging the postmodern insight that truth is provisional and subject to critique. Figures like David Foster Wallace exemplify this movement by demonstrating how irony and sincerity, critique and belief, can coexist in a world where certainty is elusive but hope remains possible.

The Religious Ground Motive Critique of Metamodernism

When evaluating metamodernism through the lens of Roy Clouser’s Religious Ground Motive (RGM), the focus is on identifying the ultimate commitments or underlying worldview that shape metamodern thought. Clouser’s RGM framework asserts that all forms of human thinking, whether explicitly religious or not, are motivated by fundamental religious-like commitments that answer basic questions about reality, meaning, and purpose. These commitments influence how we understand concepts like truth, identity, and morality. Metamodernism, while presenting itself as a cultural and philosophical movement oscillating between modernist and postmodernist ideas, can be critiqued as operating from a secular religious ground motive that places human experience and autonomy at the center.

Metamodernism’s Key Features and the RGM Critique:

1. Oscillation Between Modernism and Postmodernism

Metamodernism’s oscillation between modernist idealism and postmodern skepticism is a defining feature. It embraces both/and thinking, where it is possible to hold onto sincerity and irony, hope and doubt, without resolving the tension between them. This fluid movement reflects a deep uncertainty about truth and meaning, allowing for a flexible, ever-shifting stance that resists closure or finality.

From a religious ground motive perspective, this oscillation can be understood as a rejection of any transcendent, absolute source of truth. Rather than grounding reality in a divine source or an external moral order, metamodernism shifts its focus inward to human experience and subjectivity. By embracing both modernist idealism (which sought objective truth) and postmodern skepticism (which deconstructed it), metamodernism creates a paradox where meaning is constantly negotiated but never definitively anchored.

Clouser’s critique would argue that this oscillation reveals an underlying secular religious motive, in which human beings are placed at the center of determining truth and meaning, rather than acknowledging a divine source for these realities. In Christian philosophy, truth is not subject to human interpretation or negotiation; it is rooted in the nature of God, who is both the source and sustainer of all that exists. The oscillatory nature of metamodernism, by contrast, suggests a worldview that lacks grounding in any objective, transcendent standard, leaving humans to navigate meaning in an ultimately contingent and relative way.

2. The Interplay Between Irony, Sincerity, and Hope

Metamodernism’s distinctive feature of oscillating between irony and sincerity, particularly in its engagement with contemporary culture and art, reflects a desire to move beyond the postmodern suspicion of meaning while still retaining the critical awareness that postmodernism introduced. In the metamodern approach, one can be both ironic and sincere, acknowledging the limitations of truth while still hoping for meaning and connection.

From the religious ground motive critique, this tension between irony and sincerity reflects a human-centered belief system. In metamodernism, hope and sincerity are not derived from any transcendent source, such as God, but are instead the result of human creativity and resilience in the face of uncertainty. This approach elevates human subjectivityas the primary means of constructing meaning in a world where objective truths are viewed as unattainable or unstable.

Clouser would argue that this post-ironic hope is rooted in a secular faith in human potential, rather than in the divine promise of redemption and the ultimate resolution of human longing in God. In Christian philosophy, hope is grounded in the certainty of God’s character and the fulfillment of His purposes for creation. By contrast, metamodernism’s hope remains tentative and contingent, oscillating between sincerity and doubt because it does not acknowledge any higher source of meaning beyond human experience. This leaves individuals vulnerable to relativism, where hope and meaning are subjective, temporary constructions rather than grounded in the eternal truth of God.

3. "Both/And" Thinking and the Relativization of Truth

The "both/and" thinking of metamodernism, which seeks to hold modernist idealism and postmodern skepticism together, reflects a relativistic approach to truth. Metamodernism does not resolve the tension between competing ideas but instead embraces the ambiguity and multiplicity of perspectives. This allows for an open-ended, flexible stance toward knowledge and reality, where contradictions are not seen as problems to be solved but as features of the human condition to be navigated.

From a Christian perspective, this relativization of truth is problematic because it denies the existence of an objective, divine source of truth that transcends human understanding. Clouser’s RGM critique would assert that metamodernism’s willingness to oscillate between contradictory ideas without seeking resolution is indicative of a secular religious motivethat rejects the notion of absolute truth. In Christian philosophy, truth is rooted in the unchanging nature of God, and while human understanding may be limited, truth itself is not subject to change or contradiction.

The both/and approach of metamodernism reflects a deep commitment to human autonomy, where individuals are free to navigate their own paths to meaning without being bound by any external moral or metaphysical authority. This subjective orientation toward truth places human beings, rather than God, at the center of the search for meaning. Clouser’s critique would argue that this self-centered religious motive ultimately leads to moral and epistemological relativism, where no single truth claim can be considered more valid than another, undermining the possibility of objective moral standards.

4. David Foster Wallace and the Search for Authenticity

David Foster Wallace, as a literary figure often associated with metamodernism, embodied the tension between postmodern irony and the desire for authenticity. His works, such as Infinite Jest, explore the complexities of human existence in a world saturated with irony and detachment, yet they also express a yearning for genuine human connection and moral responsibility. Wallace’s call for a new sincerity reflects a desire to move beyond the nihilism of postmodernism, seeking meaning and truth while remaining aware of the challenges and contradictions inherent in this pursuit.

From a religious ground motive perspective, Wallace’s search for authenticity and sincerity is admirable but ultimately incomplete if it remains detached from a transcendent source of truth. While Wallace critiques the ironic detachmentof postmodern culture, his solution—a turn toward sincerity and emotional vulnerability—remains within a human-centered framework. Clouser would argue that true authenticity and genuine human connection are only fully realized in the context of a relationship with God, who provides the foundation for human identity and moral responsibility.

Wallace’s metamodern oscillation between irony and sincerity reflects the secular religious motive that seeks meaning within the limits of human experience, without reference to the divine purpose that Christian philosophy offers. The RGM critique would suggest that this leaves individuals in a state of existential uncertainty, where they long for authenticity and truth but lack the transcendent grounding needed to secure them.

Conclusion: The Religious Ground Motive’s Critique of Metamodernism

Metamodernism, with its oscillation between modernist hope and postmodern skepticism, reflects a secular religious motive that places human experience and autonomy at the center of meaning-making. From the perspective of Roy Clouser’s Religious Ground Motive (RGM), metamodernism’s rejection of a transcendent source of truth and its reliance on both/and thinking reveals a worldview that is ultimately rooted in human subjectivity rather than divine authority.

While metamodernism seeks to reclaim sincerity, hope, and meaning, it does so without acknowledging the objective truth and moral order provided by God. This leaves individuals in a state of relativism, where truth is contingent and fluid, and where the search for meaning is driven by human autonomy rather than a relationship with the divine. The RGM critique would argue that true hope, sincerity, and authenticity can only be found in the eternal truth of God, which provides the necessary grounding for human identity, purpose, and moral responsibility.

By oscillating between modernism and postmodernism without resolving the tension, metamodernism reflects a secular faith in human creativity and resilience but ultimately lacks the transcendent foundation needed to fully address the existential longings that drive it. For Christian philosophy, the solution to these longings is found not in oscillation but in reconciliation with God, who offers a stable and ultimate source of truth, meaning, and hope.