The concept of postmodernism defines something that is not entirely defined and stable. Referred to our contemporary society, it indicates the overcoming of the modern era, dominated by grand ideologies, a profound faith in human reason and its primacy over nature, the centrality of Fordism and industry in economic and social progress, urbanization, and scientific discoveries. This has been replaced (not completely, but as a defining element) by a state of insecurity , indifference , the collapse of ideals and traditions , and, materially, a society in constant flux, governed by frenetic technological progress that constantly requires new adaptations and leaves behind those who fail to catch up. This is the result of a combination of various factors; sociologists are divided in their opinions: some consider it a completely new condition, others see it as a phase of modernism itself , and therefore disagree with the definition. In any case, the growing connection between humanity and technology, especially in recent decades, is what most characterizes the nature and forms of postmodernity in our society. and in this context, the role of communication has achieved fundamental importance.
Communication without limits
The advent of Internet In just a few years, it has completely revolutionized not only the ways we receive information and news, but our entire lives. Its incredible growth speed has destroyed all time and natural barriers, creating a new conception of space, which Manuel Castells defined as “space of flows“. This means that we can be present, in fact, in crowded public squares, where intimate or formal conversations, friendly or violent interactions, even business and games really take place: our society has moved beyond the real dimension, objectifying itself in social networksSince the dawn of the first media, a similar process was underway, as their use provided access to different types of information over the years and created an increasingly broad public opinion capable of having a decisive influence on individual consciences. The fundamental differences between communication after and before the Internet are fundamentally two: quantity and quality. First of all, communication no longer has limitsWhile we could once decide when to start and stop communicating with someone, reading, listening to, or watching the news, our daily reality is a constant shift from real to floating space, and in both we are immersed in images, news, and commercial messages at every moment. Even if we try to ignore them, their constant repetition and omnipresence draws our attention like a vortex.
Between use and abuse
While this has provided the opportunity to stay in touch at all times and obtain live information, its abuse has effectively chained people to themselves, resulting in a profound loss of individuality and critical capacity , the fundamental driving forces of our development. This irregular use has caused not only an inability to escape conformity, but a complete lack of defense against manipulation for political and economic interests. This is because normally a new invention, as was the case with radio and television, requires a certain period of time to be used regularly and definitively replace the function of the previous machine. However, we can see how in about ten years the Internet has completely taken control of our habits and needs, without giving us time to adequately understand the difference between its use and its abuse . By spreading the computer, the Internet has above all changed the concept and use of the telephone, which has changed its original function: it has become the most powerful medium, as well as being a new, truly basic necessity, even for those who initially distrusted and opposed it.
The influence of the media
Digital communication best represents the postmodern condition; new forms of discourse, new attempts to escape loneliness with more distractions, to be connected at all times or we're lost. We can affirm, with Herbert Marcuse , that the social dimension has assimilated our entire lives, creating a "one-dimensional man" incapable of cultivating his own passions and abilities, or of having personal opinions to assert against the dominant ones. This has been reinforced by the media's influence on individuals, which is stronger than ever due to the incredible increase in the area under their control, as we can never stop the news and opinions that constantly bombard us. In terms of quality, the message they send is often confusing, and news sources are increasingly unreliable , as anyone can hide their true identity or distort events without any control. In this type of situation, the boundary between news and entertainment, between what is real and what is not, has collapsed, and we can observe this chaos in the idealized and shifting definitions of cases of public interest: the language, the irony used on social networks , sets a standard of values and interests that no one is able to transcend, and this has led to a leveling of individual personalities and the consequent fear of expressing illegitimate thoughts and opinions.
Liquid modernity
On the other hand, there's a huge amount of information we never had before, so we have access to anything we need, about culture, places, references, or reviews. This is very important because it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of this progress. If we consider how easy it is today to communicate over long distances in a matter of seconds, we could never say that this isn't a significant facilitation of our lives. On the contrary, we still can't say whether the real effect of this continued increase in digital communication will have positive results in our lives. relations (also referring to those between nations, since the singularity of this process affects most Western countries in the same way) or whether the enthusiasm for it is hiding a simple illusion of being together. Zygmunt Bauman, in his analysis of postmodernity, which he preferred to call “liquid modernity"Due to the particular nature of uncertainty and fragility of its foundations, it has alerted us to the risks of this degeneration, which in his opinion is already underway and rapidly spreading among the new generations. In fact, the possibility of avoiding fears and limitations in these impersonal modes of communication without addressing them does not help a correct self-definition and personality and can have negative repercussions on relational skills, and it is wrong to believe that this problem concerns only young people. But beyond these risks and a critical view, we know that the progressOnce started, it's impossible to stop, and those who dream of a return to the past are mistaken. In conclusion, it's interesting to note how the different functions and roles of communication, as well as the forms in which it is expressed, on the one hand change in relation to culture and technological developments, and on the other, they themselves define and characterize societies and their habits, contributing to the maintenance of a shared definition of reality.
Ivan Lauro
