The following text discusses postmodern theory.
Lyotard characterized postmodernity as "incredulity toward metanarratives"—skepticism about grand explanatory frameworks like Marxism or Enlightenment progress. Such narratives, he argued, have lost credibility, yielding to localized, heterogeneous language games. Critics accuse postmodernism of performative contradiction: doesn't the claim that no comprehensive theories are valid itself constitute such a theory? The debate foregrounds tensions between critique and construction in contemporary thought.
What is the main purpose of the text?
To argue definitively that postmodernism is self-refuting
To explain postmodern skepticism and a critique of its self-consistency
To provide examples of successful metanarratives
To compare Lyotard's views with those of modernist thinkers
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The text explains Lyotard's incredulity toward metanarratives and presents the performative contradiction critique.
- Evidence: The text explains the view: "Lyotard characterized postmodernity as 'incredulity toward metanarratives'..." It presents the critique: "Critics accuse postmodernism of performative contradiction: doesn't the claim... constitute such a theory?"
- Reasoning: The passage defines a key concept of a movement and then asks a devastating logical question about it.
- Conclusion: The purpose is to explain skepticism and critique consistency.
💡 Strategy: Summarize: No big stories allowed! (Postmodernism) -> Isn't that a big story? (Critique).
Choice A is incorrect because the debate continues. Choice C is incorrect because metanarratives are critiqued. Choice D is incorrect because modernists aren't compared in detail.