Between Modernism and Postmodernism: Examining Epochal Markers

The term modern is associated with the twentieth century, especially in the first fifty years. However, by the century\u27s close a rise is seen in the term postmodern which, like modern, is also used to describe the overall social condition. There are many factors that contribute to the character of an epoch. The factors that shape this character begin with, but are not limited to, our cultural concept of time and how we respond to it. The characteristics that are associated with an epoch can be found in complex arrangements within a chronology, sometimes clustered, sometimes isolated, often with varying points of origin. These complex patterns can be as random and misleading as they are organized and defining. Using a cross-disciplinary approach this thesis will provide an analysis of characteristics of modernism and postmodernism as they are manifest in areas such as art, science, and politics. It will also locate points in time where the concentration of markers suggests that modernism is dwindling and the postmodern paradigm is taking hold. While some critics have advocated that single moments in time mark the end of modernism and the beginning of postmodernism, a series of events or moments in time may actually be more practical for the study of epochal convergence. The time period that may be most accurate in marking that shift is 1968-1973 when the frequency of postmodern markers increases to the point that they can no longer be considered incidental