CCP113: On Metamodernism

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a relatively new term on the cultural scene - metamodernism. For decades, the term “postmodern” has been used to define the cultural mood of Western society. Well according to scholars, postmodernism has been dead for years. Taking its place is the new era of metamodernism.

Episode Links

Today's discussion was prompted by a recent article written by Benjamin Vincent for Christianity Today titled, “Goodbye Postmodernism, Hello Metamodernism.” As Vincent notes, this concept was primarily introduced to culture through the work of cultural analysts Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker who wrote an article titled, “Notes on Metamodernism.” They outlined how metamodernism is primarily a structure of feeling - a culture that empowers the individual to first determine right ethics for themselves and then to find a corresponding religion or group that fits.

It is within this culture of metamodernism that Generation Z has grown up, and it certainly marks them. Dr. White wrote extensively about this generation in his book Meet Generation Z: Understanding and reaching the New Post-Christian World. You can find that on Amazon HERE.

Finally, here are two additional articles that Dr. White referenced in today's episode that you may wish to read to further your understanding of metamodernism and its impact on culture:

Suzanne Blake, “Gen Z Wants Next President to 'Fundamentally Change' America,” Newsweek, May 13, 2024.

Greg Dember, “Metamodernism: A response to modernism and postmodernism,” IAI News, November 29, 2023.

For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.