Metanarrative

From Geography

Metanarrative

A metanarrative is like a grand theory, a totalizing narrative that explains our knowledge and our experiences. Small stories and explanations are connected and combined to form a grand story which produces a form of 'truth' or 'universal reason'. Examples of metanarratives are religions and science but there are also political metanarratives such as fascism and communism.

The term metanarrative was first used by Jean-François Lyotard in his book The postmodern condition: a report on knowledge. Lyotard criticizes metanarratives. In Post-modernism, metanarratives are seen as a method to justify authority, social customs and the power structures present in society. Lyotard argues metanarratives should be replaced with localized 'little' narratives.

But some argue postmodernisms incredulity towards metanarratives is a metanarrative itself, a grand theory of universal scepticism.

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Created by Judith Nijenhuis (s3009270)

References

Lyotard, J., F. (n.d.). Introduction to the postmodern condition: a report on knowledge. Vinddatum 17 september 2011, op http://www.idehist.uu.se/distans/ilmh/pm/lyotard-introd.htm

Metanarratives. (n.d.). Vinddatum 17 september 2011, op http://www.sociology.org.uk/ws1k5.htm

New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Metanarrative. Vinddatum 17 september 2011, op http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Metanarrative