What is Metamodernism?

Metamodernism is a cultural and aesthetic movement that emerged in the early 21st century as a response to the postmodernism that dominated art, literature, and culture in the late 20th century. The term was first introduced in 1975, but it gained wider recognition in the 2010s when it was adopted by a group of artists and intellectuals who sought to move beyond the nihilism and irony of postmodernism. Personally, I have learned most of what I know about metamodernism through books and talks by Hanzi Freinacht and Tomas Björkman.

Metamodernism is characterized by a synthesis of modernist and postmodernist elements, incorporating the former’s utopianism, sincerity, and optimism with the latter’s skepticism, irony, and self-reflexivity. It is often seen as a reaction against the cynicism and detachment of postmodernism, and a search for a new sense of authenticity, empathy, and engagement with the world.

Metamodernism can be seen in a range of cultural forms, including literature, visual arts, film, and architecture, and it is often associated with a sense of playfulness, humor, and experimentation. It is a complex and multifaceted movement that defies easy definition, but it represents an important shift in contemporary cultural discourse away from the postmodernism of the past and towards a new, more hopeful and engaged vision of the future.

Personally I enjoy the aspects of metamodernism that tries to create a better welfare society. A listening society focused on realizing human potential, meditation, therapy, and understanding. This would create more secure, confident, creative human beings — which we eventually need to address all the pressing changes and issues facing humanity today and tomorrow. Metamodernism also recognizes the need for meaning and purpose in our lives and suggests that we need to move beyond the nihilism and cynicism of postmodernism. It affirms the importance of sincerity and authenticity, and it advocates for a more engaged and hopeful approach to life.

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