What connects Marilyn Monroe, Disneyworld, The Satanic verses and cyber space? Answer: Postmodernism. But what exactly is this phenomenon? This graphic guide clearly explains this maddeningly enigmatic concept that has been used to define our cultural condition over the last twenty years.


Postmodernism seemed to promise an end to the grim Cold War era of nuclear confrontation and oppressive ideologies. Fukuyama's notoriously proclaimed 'end of history' and the triumph of liberal democracy over Communist tyranny have proved an illusion. We awoke in the anxious grip of globalisation, unpredictable terrorism and unforeseen war.


Introducing Postmodernism traces the genealogies of postmodernity in art, theory, science and history. Derrida, Baudrillard, Foucault and many other icons of postmodern complexity are brilliantly elucidated by Richard Appignanesi and enlivened by cartoonist, Chris Garratt.