About how the school of thought connects to anthropology. Useful for high school.

1. Postmodernism
and it’s relation to Anthropology.

2. Definition &
Key Theorist
01.
What is Postmodernism?
Who popularized it?
Anthropological
Connection
02.
An explanation of how the
SoT views Anthropology.
Branches &
Subfields
03. Examples &
Video + M/C
What are some parts of
postmodern thought?
04.
What is an example of the
SoT? A short explanation.
Table of contents

3. Definition &
Key Theorist
01
What is Postmodernism?
Who popularized it?

4. Postmodernism is generally described as a “skeptical” reaction
to progressive stances brought about by modernism.
● The world prior to postmodernism believed that there
was an objective truth, true always and unchanging.
Postmodernism believed the opposite, there is none.
While modernism, brought about around the enlightenment,
stipulated that there are explanations and theories valid for all
groups, postmodernism challenges that by focusing on the
direct person and requiring complete theories that are not
always applied to all.
A summary of
Postmodernism

5. A Key Postmodern
Theorist
Jean-François Lyotard, a French philosopher, is regarded as
one of the founding fathers; the most influential people for the
School of Thought.
● As a young person, he experienced failure and terrifying
conditions, with his personal novel flopping and his
death-defying work as a medic in WWII.
He completed his education specifically in aesthetics, seeking
to challenge the preconceived thought of the era. Throughout
his life, he was considered one of the most firm believers in the
opposition to “universals,” previously described as things that
generalize populations of individuals.

6. Anthropological
Connection
02
An explanation of how the
SoT views Anthropology.

7. Postmodernist anthropology is like a special way of
looking at the stories and writings about different
cultures. These experts think that when we write about
other cultures, our own beliefs and ideas can sneak into
the stories. They say it's tricky to be completely fair
because we all have our own way of thinking.
Clifford Geertz, one of the important people in this
field, believes that when we write about other cultures,
we're actually giving our own opinion or point of view.
In today's world, some anthropologists use what's
called "standpoint theory." It's like saying that when
we write about other cultures, our own background and
experiences shape how we see things.
Postmodernist anthropology also focuses on how
important language is in shaping a culture. They have
this cool idea called "polyvocality." It means that
what's real can be different for different people and
cultures. No one culture can say they have the one and
only right way of looking at something. Everyone's
point of view is important.

8. Branches &
Subfields
03
What are some parts of
postmodern thought?

9. Postmodern
Ironist
A postmodern ironist is
someone who uses irony,
humor, and satire to
critique and challenge
traditional beliefs and
societal norms, often
highlighting the ambiguity
and contradictions in
contemporary culture.
Literary
Postmodernism
In a postmodern literary
work, you might read a
story where characters
break the "fourth wall" and
acknowledge they're in a
book or interact with the
author.
Art and Visual
Culture
Postmodern art and visual
culture challenge
traditional notions of art
and aesthetics. They often
feature unconventional,
eclectic styles and question
established artistic norms,
embracing diversity and
sometimes blurring the
lines between art and
everyday objects.

10. Eclectic/Postmodern Artwork

11. An Example
and Video
04
What is an example of the SoT? A short
explanation.

12. Ethnographic Texts and
the Reflexive Turn
Traditional anthropology frequently portrayed ethnographic
materials as impartial, reliable views of foreign cultures. But
postmodernism gave anthropological writing a reflexive twist.
Anthropologists started to recognize the subjectivity of their work,
how the researcher shaped their narratives, and how the study
method itself was rife with biases and power dynamics.
An illustration of this might be found in the anthropological Clifford
Geertz's work. In "The Interpretation of Cultures," his seminal work,
Geertz departed from the detached, objective approach of traditional
ethnography. Instead, he acknowledged his own position as an
observer and interpreter of Balinese culture by writing about his
fieldwork in a more literary and interpretive way.

14. Multiple Choice Questions
What did the world believe
prior to postmodernism?
a) There is no objective truth.
b) There is objective truth.
c) God is not present.
d) God is sometimes present.
Which of the following best describes the impact
of postmodernism on traditional anthropology?
a) Postmodernism reinforced the idea that
ethnographic materials are always impartial and
reliable.
b) Postmodernism led to a more subjective and
reflexive approach in anthropological writing,
acknowledging the role of the researcher,
biases, and power dynamics.
c) Postmodernism emphasized the importance of
traditional anthropological methods.
d) Postmodernism introduced a single,
authoritative view of foreign cultures in
anthropological texts.
What is postmodernist
anthropology?
a) A unique insight on myths, stories
and writings of all types of cultures
b) Analyzing a specific culture and its
stores and languages
c) The evolution of cultures
d) Humans thoughts over the years on
different cultures

15. Thanks
for your
attention