Postmodernism began in the late 1970s and 1980s as consumers began demanding more individuality and choice over standardized mass produced goods and media. This shift empowered consumers and reduced the dominance of large corporations. Technological advances also enabled greater individual expression and access to diverse information. While modernity was defined by standardized mass production and consumption, postmodernism is characterized by flexibility, diversity and a rejection of universal "grand narratives" in favor of many individual perspectives.