metanarative

Metanarrative, also known as grand narrative or master narrative, refers to an overarching story or framework that purports to explain a significant part of social and cultural life, or reality itself. These narratives provide a sense of order and meaning, often by offering universal truths or historical trajectories. Examples of metanarratives include religious doctrines, scientific progress, Marxist historical materialism, and Enlightenment ideals of reason and liberty.

The concept gained prominence in post-structuralist and postmodernist thought, particularly through the work of Jean-François Lyotard. Lyotard defined metanarratives as "legitimizing narratives" that justify knowledge and social practices. He argued that the postmodern condition is characterized by a "incredulity toward metanarratives," suggesting a decline in belief in these grand, all-encompassing stories. Instead, postmodernism often favors smaller, localized, and contingent narratives.

The critique of metanarratives suggests that they can be oppressive, simplifying complex realities and marginalizing alternative perspectives. By presenting a single, universal truth, metanarratives can silence dissenting voices and exclude those who do not fit within their framework. The rejection or questioning of metanarratives encourages a more pluralistic and critical engagement with knowledge, history, and identity.