The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

Mats Alvesson

Professor

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

The meaning and meaninglessness of postmodernism : Some Ironic Remarks

Author

  • Mats Alvesson

Summary, in English

This paper discusses the popularity of postmodernism in social and organizational studies. It is argued that the word conflates quite different social phenomena and lines of development, and theoretical and philosophical positions. Framing issues in terms of modernism/postmodernism easily leads to insensitive conceptualizations of the varied positions within what is dumped together as 'modernism'. 'Modernist' ideas about contemporary society and types of organizations encourage an oversensitivity for novelty. It is argued that many of the themes raised under the banner of postmodernism are worth taking seriously, but no effort should be taken to combine them under the same concept.

Department/s

  • Department of Business Administration

Publishing year

1995

Language

English

Pages

1047-1075

Publication/Series

Organization Studies

Volume

16

Issue

6

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Business Administration

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1741-3044