Metamodernism, the dialectic at play, a story of four generations
God is dead, Friedrich Nietzsche, 1883
As your great-grandfather, I remember the excitement of modernism in the early 1900s. We were breaking away from the cold grip of old traditions and religion. The world was changing rapidly, and it felt like anything was possible. People were pushing the boundaries of art, architecture, and society, and it was truly exhilarating to be alive during this time. We even managed to take to the skies without burning our wings. Or so we thought.
My son, your grandfather, was a bit too young to fully appreciate the fervor of modernism, but he did experience the tumultuous events of the mid-1900s, including a world war. You see the modernist enthusiasm of linear progress didn’t just grip science and the arts. It also made us believe, in an ideological kind of way, that we could build new perfect societies. Hegelian dialectics in the form Marx’s communism on the one hand and fascism on the other. Postmodernism started to rise as it became clear that those modernist promises wouldn’t materialize and that while it lifted some boats spectacularly out of the water, the majority felt left behind.
My grandchild, your parent, was a teenager during the postmodern era, and she embraced the cynicism and skepticism that defined the times. She rejected the grand narratives of the past and embraced a more fragmented and individualized view of the world.
But now, as a great-grandfather, I am watching you, my great-grandson, navigate the complex world of metamodernism. As a millennial, born at the turn of the 21st century, you are growing up with your own unique perspective on the world.
You are a product of both modernism and postmodernism. You have inherited the idealism and optimism of the modernists, but also carry the skepticism and irony of the postmodernists. And as a true metamodernist, constantly oscillating between these two poles.
If you could come and visit me, we would have a long conversation about the world. You would likely tell me about your passion for sustainability, AI-driven progress, and your desire to make a positive impact on the planet. But at the same time, you would also express your frustration with the seemingly insurmountable problems facing the world today.
However, I hope that the metamodern pendulum will swing more towards the techno-optimist side inherited from modernism. In other words, pull us out of the postmodern cynicism that has spiraled out of control into a suicidal ideological war on the west.
You are the generation that gets the machine back on a path toward the beginning of infinity. The generation that synthesizes the big dreams of modernism while in a postmodernist way, making sure no one is left behind.
Thanks for the insights, Great-grandfather. As I understand it, you went through a period where the core focus was on growing the cake. Grandfather experienced a time where this optimism turned into perverse ideologies and broke the cake. Mom went through a period of repairing the cake and making sure the cake is evenly split. This however spun out of control to the extent that while the slices are more even, the overall cake isn’t growing, and almost shrinking.
Let’s change this! We need to move our focus away from the toxic infighting based on our smallest common denominators. This passionate energy should flow in a common goal of growing the cake again by leaning into universal techno-scientific progress. However, while making sure there is a minimum slice size. In other words, no one is to be left behind.
We are the inheritors of a complex and challenging world, but we are also filled with the passion and determination to make it a better place.
