Metamodernism

It seems to take a long time for general culture to catch up with the philosophical labels that shape our culture. The term metamodernism has been around since the 1970s and in more active use since the late 1990s, but not widely used in general cultural circles. It’s a reaction to the cynicism of the post-modern era(s). It feels more hopeful. If someone burned it all down, what might we want to build in its place? What treasures might be found in the rubble that are worth salvaging?

And so I watch Gen Z and the Alphas faced with building a new world without the benefit of building blocks that others made. We say “don’t reinvent the wheel,” but in some cases we’ve left them no wheels to work with. Maybe this is where the “grandparent” generation steps in and teaches lessons we learned decades ago.