Altermordernists

Altermordernists is a term used to describe artists, thinkers, and cultural practitioners who engage with modernity and its critiques in a way that is distinct from postmodernism. While postmodernism is often characterized by irony, deconstruction, and a skepticism towards grand narratives, altermordernism seeks to reclaim or reimagine certain aspects of modernity, such as progress, utopian ideals, and collective action, albeit with a critical awareness of their historical limitations and failures.

The term itself is a portmanteau, combining "alternative" and "modernism." This suggests a desire to find new paths forward from the perceived impasses of both naive modernist optimism and postmodernist nihilism. Altermordernists often emphasize a renewed sense of possibility and a belief in the potential for positive social and technological transformation, but without ignoring the complexities and dangers inherent in such pursuits. They might look to modernist aesthetics or ideas but reinterpret them through a contemporary lens, acknowledging the critiques leveled by postmodernism while seeking to move beyond them.

Key themes within altermordernism can include a focus on sustainability, ecological concerns, social justice, and the ethical implications of technology. There is often a constructive rather than purely deconstructive impulse, aiming to build or propose new frameworks and futures rather than solely dismantling existing ones. The movement is not a monolithic entity and encompasses a diverse range of approaches and perspectives, but a common thread is the attempt to forge a path that is neither a simple return to modernist idealism nor an embrace of postmodernist skepticism, but rather an informed and hopeful engagement with the challenges and opportunities of the present and future.