On The "Uncertainty" Of Bauman’s Post-modern Cultural View

Zygmunt Bauman is one of the most prominent theorists concentrating on modernity and post-modernity in the West. One of his important theoretical contributions is the "uncertainty" of post-modern. Bauman named post-modernity as "liquid modernity", highlighted the uncertainty of post-modern, and insisted on it in his discussion about post-modern culture. The focus of this article, based on his cultural concept, analyses the "uncertainty" of post-modern. The post-modern society, which is dominated by consumption, is the real background of his theory of post-modern culture. The culture of consumer society has liquidity. It’s different from the past. Market pursues instantaneity, it has huge influence on culture, consumer culture tends to be open, variability and inconclusive, it also raises worries about culture. In addition, in Bauman’s study about multiple aspects of post-modern culture, we also can find the "uncertainty". Fixed cognition is avoided. Intellectuals lost their absolute authority, the central role of intellectuals transforms from legislators to interpreters; one feature of the post-modern art is the significance’s uncertainty, the significance exists between artists and audiences, another feature is the boundary of art and life is reduced; art presents diversified development, the inner contradictoriness of "multiculturalism" is very worrying. Bauman’s discussion about the uncertainty of post-modern was a keen insight to the post-modern society, deep concern about human condition, which has an important meaning. Observing the post-modern culture from the perspective of "uncertainty" can also enhance our understanding about development of culture.