Postmodernism, culture of music videos

The deep differences between modernity and postmodernity are analysed from the viewpoint of a radical transformation in the perception of time. Modernity is associated with mechanical clock and a corresponding sense of linearity and continuity of time. The typical character of modern times, the pilgrim, views life as a continuous progress towards otherworldly salvation that has to be purchased at the price of asceticism and hard work in the present life. In contrast, postmodernity has an affinity to the electronic clock which mediates no feeling of continuity, but also the irreversibility of time. Time, and even space and society appear in postmodernity to be composed of isolated points, with none among them able to claim superiority over the others. The typical postmodern characters are the tourist and wanderer who, lost both in time and space, concentrate on obtaining as much amusement as possible. The loss of orientation in postmodern times is illustrated in the example of music videos, in which sound, texts and images are combined in an incidental and haphazard way.