Nomadization of real-subject interaction in postmodern culture

Abstract

The aim of this study to identify the changes in the interaction between things and humans that arise from the unique characteristics of postmodern (postmodernity) culture. The hypothesis posits that the postmodern tendency to "blur" human identity appears in things and ways they relate to the subject.

The author of this paper reveals that, in postmodern culture, the essence of a thing undergoes transformations and they led to a change in its form, material, and functions that align with the trend described by J. Baudrillard as a “struggle against nature.” The form of a thing becomes miniaturized, its material composition shifts from natural substances to plastics, and single-purpose functions give way to multifunctionality. It was found that a thing begin to transform into nomadic object motivating foster human mobility. It loses its essential content or "noumenality," causing the boundary between the internal and external to become blurred. A thing gains the potential for rhizomatic connections, displaying a tendency to form hybrids that combine elements from diverse origins (natural and artificial, material and ideal). Furthermore, life cycle and period of the "life" of a thing are significantly shortened, preventing its from obtaining own biography. An ad hoc approach governs its existence. This approach emphasizes impermanence and encourages replacement of a thing by newer things. As a result, a thing motivates human movement across physical, social, and spiritual spaces, transforming his identity into an "elusive one". The findings of this study may be beneficial for philosophers, culturologists, and educators in secondary and higher education who are investigating the manifestations of postmodern culture.