The phrase “postmodern communication” does not appear as a distinct, widely recognized concept in major academic or encyclopedic sources. Consequently, there is no comprehensive, verifiable definition or body of literature that can be cited as an authoritative entry.
Possible interpretation
The term combines “postmodern,” a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement that emerged in the mid‑20th century, with “communication,” the study and practice of transmitting information. In scholarly contexts, it is sometimes used informally to describe how communication practices and theories have been influenced by postmodern ideas such as relativism, fragmentation, hyperreality, and the critique of grand narratives. Authors in media studies, cultural studies, and communication theory occasionally employ the phrase to discuss:
- The impact of digital media and networked environments that blur boundaries between producer and audience, reflecting postmodern concerns with decentralization and intertextuality.
- The role of simulacra and hyperreal representations in contemporary advertising, news, and online discourse, echoing Jean Bourdieu’s and Jean Baudrillard’s postmodern analyses.
- The emphasis on multiple, competing meanings and the rejection of a single, authoritative perspective in messages, aligning with postmodern epistemology.
Etymology
Postmodern derives from the Greek prefix “post‑” (meaning “after”) and “modern,” indicating a period or set of ideas succeeding modernism.
Communication originates from the Latin “communicare,” meaning “to share” or “make common.”
Contextual usage
The phrase is most frequently encountered in:
- Academic article titles (e.g., “Postmodern Communication and the Construction of Identity in Social Media”).
- Conference sessions exploring the intersection of postmodern theory and communication technologies.
- Pedagogical discussions that critique traditional communication models in light of postmodern critiques.
Because the term lacks a standardized definition and is not catalogued in major reference works, any specific meaning attributed to “postmodern communication” should be understood as context‑dependent and not as an established scholarly construct.