LYOTARD, Jean-François (1924 – 98) was a French lecturer, philosopher, and professor at universities in Paris from the 1960s and in the United States. He was also a member of a Marxist group, Socialisme ou barbarie. He was the postmodernist as he is known for his book, La Condition postmoderne (1979, The Postmodern Condition) which contributed greatly in theorising the idea of postmodern(ity). He describes the occurrence of postmodernity as the change (from modernity) of the mood or the worldview of intellectual organisations after the 19th century. In La Condition post-moderne, Lyotard declares the decline of grand narratives (or grand-metanarratives)–the term which he used to describe the characteristics of modernity that states that everything can be explained through an ultimate universal eye whereas in the era of postmodernity, the more accepted method of understanding of things is understanding by little independent narratives.

His other works include Phenomenology (1954), The Libidinal Economy (1974), The Differend: Phrases in Dispute (1983), Peregrinations (1988), The Inhuman (1988), Political Writings (1993), and Lyotard Reader (1989)

Jean-Francois Lyotard on biography.com

(http://www.biography.com/people/jean-francois-lyotard-20702457)

HOBSBAWM, Eric John (1917 – 2012) was a British historian whose main subject is the history of the 19th century Europe, especially that of Britain and labour histories of Europe and Latin America. He was the member of the Communist Party Historians’ Group. He states that history is also narrative and that Marx’s materialism supports well to talk of the history of industrialisation.

He pointed out the paradox of the communist revolution suggesting that although the aim of Russian Revolution was to eliminate capitalism, in reality, it encouraged and enhanced capitalist world in the West by accidentally warning them about the fear of communism.

Eric J. Hobsbawm, Marxist Historian, Dies at 95 – The New York Times

(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/arts/eric-hobsbawm-british-historian-dies-at-95.html?smid=pl-share)

Professor Eric Hobsbawn: Historian acclaimed as one of the finest of the 20th century — The Independent

(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/professor-eric-hobsbawm-historian-acclaimed-as-one-of-the-finest-of-the-20th-century-8193057.html)

Viewing: Unser täglich Brot (Our Daily Bread) – Nikolaus Geyrhalter

Tall buildings: Considering the pros and cons of high-rise architecture by Bohdan Rewko

(http://www.helium.com/items/993846-tall-buildings-considering-the-pros-and-cons-of-high-rise-architecture)

The Strange and curious history of lobotomy by High Levinson

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15629160)

Mayes R, Bagwell C, Erkulwater J (2008). “ADHD and the rise in stimulant use among children”. Harvard Review of  Psychiatry

(https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~bmayes/Medicating_Children_HUP_MBE.pdf)

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Watching Unser täglich Brot,  the scene where they feed cattle reminded me the story of Manna in the Old Testament. And, I was wondering if Manna from that lord miracle to human beings and food from the feeding machine to cow mean different or the same.

Then soon after, the thought triggered me to gather Mahna Mahna.

I wouldn’t say that things shown in the film is the result of great consequence of Modernity, (whilst I guess I’m rather a Modernist) as I don’t know the way they feed cattle help human to achieve freedom, but I thought that this thinking process might explain the nature of paradigm shift in history–like modernity to postmodernity, since I had changed my mood instantly in observing modern concept from observing it carefully and pondering over the relating concerns attentively to thinking about and seeking for nonsensical absurdity which links to the original idea merely as an inspiration. Also, I wondered if this kind of nonsensical absurdity is theoretically the real human emancipation which the majority of people want to ignore.

Just a thought.

***

In-class notes:

Did ‘the collapse’ of Grand Narratives of Modern-era highlight crisis of Modernity?

Or was Modernity successful in showing the processes and practices toward the Enlightenment (Progress, Equality, Freedom)?

Modernity seemed to promise:

Progress, Liberation, Equality, Freedom, The new possibilities in Arts, Better reality, the Ultimate goal of Enlightenment, etc.

Postmodernism is the ‘rejection of modernist ideology (=modernisation)’

eg. laughing (seriously) at the failure of modernist architecture. denying the potential of utopia

Postmodernism can be comical:

pastiche, parody, irony, camp n kitsch

Failure of Modern architecture

practical problem with the height: the residents on higher levels can easily get harmed in case of accident such as fire/ elevator is not that good, normally/ those tall buildings block the view of the land and sky from sights/ et cetra et cetra