Post-modernism & Self-expression

Our class discussion on Tuesday still let me shaky on post-modernism. I comprehend it as a concept of barriers being broken between what is considered "high" culture and popular culture. A clash of sorts with those who follow and make trends with art (i.e. music, painting, cinema). To me this means an age of self-expression. Post-modernism has allowed individualistic ideas to flourish. In our reading this week one part of Fredric Jameson's argument stood out, " ...the modernist aesthetic is in some way organically linked to the conception of a unique self and private identity, a unique personality and individuality, which can be expected to generate its own unique vision of the world and to forge its own unique, unmistakable style"(114). Why is the age of post-modernism deemed negatively to some? To me it sounds like the opportunity to shed social norms and generate our ideas on expression. While the examples shown in class dealt with nostalgic concepts, it was the way in which Lady Gaga and Tarantino made those previously used styles their own. These two are widely known for their unmistakable and unique styles. I applaud this. While some of it can be considered outlandish, I still at the end of the day commend them for daring to go against the usual\, safe, styles that we see in the arts. Post-modernism broke the barriers and allowed the abnormal to come to light. Am I a post-modernist because I consider it an age where self-expression is the social norm? Where going against what people expect is interesting and needed in a society full of followers and less and less leaders. Unique ideas are fading more and more. Originality is slowly creeping into dark. I'm interested to see how the typical arts will be challenged in the coming years. Our generation is very expressive. If we continue to go against the social norms of our time, we could continue to break barriers.