Grand Narrative.pptx

The grand narrative is a theory proposed by Lyotard.

1. Grand Narrative Jyothis Cyriac LEC052026

2. Grand Narrative/Meta Narrative It is an important concept to post modern philosophy Espoused by Jean Francois Lyotard It has applied to a wide range of thoughts and subjects.

3. Lyotard (10 August 1924- 21 April 1998) French philosopher, sociologist, literary theorist Best known for his articulation of post modernism after the late 1970s. Co founder of the International College of Philosophy with Jacques Derrida, Francoise Chatelet, Gilles Deleuze His works are characterized by a persistent opposition to universals , metanarratives and generality. He is fiercely critical of many of the "universalist" claims of  the Enlightenment , and several of his works serve to undermine the fundamental principles that generate these broad claims.

4. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge (1979) He analyses the impact of postmodernism on human condition. Post modern period invokes skepticism about universalizing theories. It is in this work he makes the famous statement : "Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives".

5. What is a grand narrative or meta narrative? To mean a theory that tries to give a totalizing, comprehensive account to various historical events, experiences, and social, cultural phenomena based upon the appeal to universal truth or universal values. the narrative is a story that functions to legitimize power, authority, and social customs. A grand narrative or metanarrative is one that claims to explain various events in history, gives meaning by connecting disperse events and phenomena by appealing to some kind of universal knowledge or schema. The term grand narratives can be applied to a wide range of thoughts which includes Marxism, religious doctrines, belief in progress, universal reason, and others. Grand narratives are authoritative, establishing their political or cultural views as absolute truths beyond any means of criticism.

6. Examples of Grand Narrative Many Christians believe that human nature, since the Fall (Genesis 3), is characteristically sinful, but has the possibility of redemption and experiencing eternal life in heaven; thus representing a belief in a universal rule for humankind. The Enlightenment theorists believed that rational thought, allied to scientific reasoning, would lead inevitably toward moral, social and ethical progress. The Marxist-Leninists believe that in order to be emancipated, society must undergo a revolution. They believe that the present system of capitalism will fall and the proletariat (who live by selling their labor) will take over. This change will be driven by the unstable and cyclical nature of capitalism, and by the alienation felt by the laborers who keep the system working.

7. Big Story

8. According to John Stephens it " is a global or totalizing cultural narrative schema which orders and explains  knowledge  and experience." The prefix meta means "beyond" and is here used to mean "about," and a narrative is a story. Therefore, a metanarrative is a story  about  a story, encompassing and explaining other 'little stories' within totalizing a schema. Lyotard argues that  we (society) have ceased to believe that ‘narratives’ of this kind are adequate and are true for all of us. Lyotard believes knowledge has become a commodity. He sees knowledge as being communicated through Narratives, or different ways of interpreting the world.

9. Grand Narrative in postcolonial literature Colonizers liked to tell a certain story. In this story, Europeans were created to rule over other, lesser people. Europeans were the designated masters, the rulers of the earth. They told the story and repeated the story. “All ideas of ‘the truth’ are just competing claims (or discourses) and what we believe to be ‘the truth’ at any point is merely the ‘winning’ discourse… there is no such thing as any absolute universal truth  (or meta narratives)  on any subject  .”

10. Knowledge can be considered to be a type of commodity, because it empowers people. Knowledge is communicated through ‘narratives’. He was distrustful of any ‘grand narrative’ which claimed to have access to absolute truth, whether that is in the shape of: Culture (art); Religion; Politics (democracy); Economics (Capitalism); Fashion; Science

11. Religion - That there is a certain route to eternal life which involves leading a life which is defined by a scripture of some sort and that the followers of other faiths are wrong and are therefore unable to achieve eternal life. Democracy- That the majority are always right, and that people who believe in different things must give way to the majority view. Science - Science and scientific methodology is the best way of looking at the world and we should always give more weight to the words of scientist, because they have got the most rational / demonstrable view of the universe.

12. The Collapse of the Grand Narrative Post Modern society and Leotard see grand narratives or meta narratives as a quintessential feature of modernity. Leotard and Post Modernism criticizes this grand narrative and consider its death as a feature of this movement.

13. Replacing grand, universal narratives with small, local narratives Lyotard proposed that the meta narratives should give way to petis recits or more modest and “localized” narratives, which can “throw off” the grand narrative by bringing into focus the singular event. Post modernists attempt to replace metanarratives by focusing on specific local contexts as well as the diversity of human experience. They argue for the existence of a “multiplicity of theoretical standpoints” rather than grand, all- encompassing theories.

14. Mini - narratives This local narratives or mini narratives do not contain any universal truths but together they form a body of knowledge more apt at describing the contemporary condition than the generalizing ideologies of grand narrative.

15. Criticism Lyotard's analysis of the postmodern condition has been criticized as being internally inconsistent. For example, thinkers like Alex Callinicos and Habermas argue that Lyotard's description of the postmodern world as containing an "incredulity toward metanarratives" could be seen as a metanarrative in itself.  According to this view, post-structuralist thinkers like Lyotard criticize universal rules but postulate that postmodernity contains a universal skepticism toward metanarratives, and so this 'universal skepticism' is in itself a contemporary metanarrative. 

16. Works Consulted “Metanarrative.” Metanarrative - New World Encyclopedia , https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/metanarrative. “Lyotard's Postmodern Condition : Challenging ... - Youtube.com.” IITM , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWUuRX_QRkc.