Post-Post-Modernism and the like...

For public intellectuals in the early 1980s, onle little prefix was obligatory.
Post-modernism, post-feminism, post-Fordism and 'post-culture' (a term coined by
Professor Geore Steiner) all joined the lexicon of modsih dicourse. Within a few
years, however, even these concepts had been superseded. When the economist
Lester C. Thurrow said that the 'sun is about to set on the post-industrial
era', James Atlas of the New York Times posed the obvious question: 'What
follows post?'

Francis Wheen, 'How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered The World - A Short History of Modern Delusions)

The use of the prefix in the description of this site was intended as a humourous side-swipe at contemporary commentators over-intellectualising in their musings. The Wire magazine is particularly fond of such terms (post-Rock being one terrible usage). It gets to a stage, deconstructed brilliantly by Wheen, where there is complete nothingness in what anyone is saying. Do we now see the way forward as decribing occurrences as post-post modern. What is post-irony? Can anyone tell me?

Wheen discusses Structuralism (and, of course, post-Structuralism) and at certain stages the intellectual standard of his writing and the quotes of others started to go over my head. After reading the book I don't think I can confidently say that I possess enough intelligence to argue the case against (or for) the use of the 'post-' prefix. I'll leave it to those who can, and can do it with style and panache and pure derision i.e. Wheen. Therefore, when I can think of something a little more apt I will replace the site description.

Philosophy, Francis Wheen, books