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Description
The triumphant realization of certain Feminist ideals.
======================================================
(The taming of man at the turn of the millennium)

It's become overly evident that we've stormed into an emotive/ feminine era here. Looking back over history, we find that artist have captured the spirit of the times through either; freeform emotive means or structured rational means. Also noticeable is the fact that a strict pattern has evolved, wherein each means of expression is followed by it's opposite. Moving out of the rational/ masculine dominance of Modernism, it can therefore be expected to find yourself facing an emotive period now. Post-Modernism however, has a reputation of "anything goes", which resists labeling it as either emotive or rational. Some the factors that have given rise to this contradiction are:

1) Unisex, sexual freedom and the equality of the sexes.
2) The transitional nature of the time.
3) Female freedom and the discovery of new possibilities.
4) Male emotions and the acceptance of new responsibilities.
5) The abstraction of reality.
6) Reactions to reaching the limits of science.

1) By Unisex, I'm revering to the current blurring of the lines between male and female. Through the breaking down of existing conventions concerning male and female roles in society, we've now reached a point where discerning between the sexes takes more than a casual glance.

Closely related to the above is the fact that sexual freedom is widely accepted or at least tolerated. More specifically the freedom for either sex to be openly homosexual. While male homosexuality was accepted in Ancient Greece and female homosexuality allowed during the Romantic era, this acceptance serves only as an affirmation of the dominating "zeitgeist". Today there is no such separation.

These statements all tie-in with the current move towards equality, not only between nations, races and classes, but also between the sexes. Another point of import is that this does not mean an exchange of domination, but rather a sharing on all levels. This sharing is characterized by a mutual exchange and exploration of experiences previously inaccessible due to social conventions.

2) Important to keep in mind is the fact that we are still in the transition between Modernism and Post-Modernism. Transitional phases of the past have shown a level of reactionary dismissal of the values of the preceding era. In this instance, the rejection of Modernist ideals. The Post-Modern sentiment of "anything goes" has largely curbed this outright dismissal and has lead to a mental environment where such blind dismissals aren't favored. When looking at specific situations however, it's still important to keep this transitional reaction in mind. Further more we find that because of the relative youth of Post-Modernism, it remains largely undefined. A situation encouraged by the air of "anything goes" and efforts to keep it so as to allow the greatest amount of freedom. A strict definition would cause the exclusion of too much. It's easy to see that, if anything does indeed go, contradictory trends and examples will and have developed, making it possible for Post-Modernism to have both rational and emotive elements.

3) Females suddenly find themselves faced with the opportunity to act without any major social constraints. This is quite a new and novel situation after years of repression and forced social conformity. As with any new found realm of possibility, it's application and limits are open for exploration. This has given rise to many woman taking on old male roles, sometimes in their extreme. When I say roles, I mean anything previously denied, thought patterns, function in society, means of expression, etc. From submission to domination, oversteering if you like.

4) Males, on the other hand, find the social pressures to be responsible and domineering are fading. They are also faced with more and more traditionally female situations to deal with. As woman enter previously exclusive male area's, gaps are created in traditional area's of female dominance that must now be dealt with by men.

This, and the previous, point can be applied to either of the sexes with proper inversion. These statements only being representative of the general flow of events and not a given norm. After all, anything goes and anyone is free to choose to still conform to old conventions.

5) Due to the increasingly abstract nature of everyday live, we find ourselves in new territory. New ways of communication have no clearly defined social conventions yet, leaving a lot of room for creativity. This abstraction has also made it possible to express much more complex and intricate concepts, including emotions, in a more effective way. The rationalization of nature through science now being applied to the non-physical aspects of life as well.

6) With the death of Modernism comes a loss of faith and enthusiasm for science and it's search for the one perfect solution to any problem. Science itself having reached the limits of it's definition, has begun to employ previously thought unusable techniques. The obvious and first alternative being the feminine qualities such as intuition, emotion, etc. This can turn out to be only a reactionary impulse though and it remains to be seen whether this is to last or again be replaced.

In closing, I hope that the current changes lead to a free blending of the two extremes to create an atmosphere offering the most freedom to choose a comfortable and suitable means of self-expression. And someday even, way of life.

Description
The triumphant realization of certain Feminist ideals.
======================================================
(The taming of man at the turn of the millennium)

It's become overly evident that we've stormed into an emotive/ feminine era here. Looking back over history, we find that artist have captured the spirit of the times through either; freeform emotive means or structured rational means. Also noticeable is the fact that a strict pattern has evolved, wherein each means of expression is followed by it's opposite. Moving out of the rational/ masculine dominance of Modernism, it can therefore be expected to find yourself facing an emotive period now. Post-Modernism however, has a reputation of "anything goes", which resists labeling it as either emotive or rational. Some the factors that have given rise to this contradiction are:

1) Unisex, sexual freedom and the equality of the sexes.
2) The transitional nature of the time.
3) Female freedom and the discovery of new possibilities.
4) Male emotions and the acceptance of new responsibilities.
5) The abstraction of reality.
6) Reactions to reaching the limits of science.

1) By Unisex, I'm revering to the current blurring of the lines between male and female. Through the breaking down of existing conventions concerning male and female roles in society, we've now reached a point where discerning between the sexes takes more than a casual glance.

Closely related to the above is the fact that sexual freedom is widely accepted or at least tolerated. More specifically the freedom for either sex to be openly homosexual. While male homosexuality was accepted in Ancient Greece and female homosexuality allowed during the Romantic era, this acceptance serves only as an affirmation of the dominating "zeitgeist". Today there is no such separation.

These statements all tie-in with the current move towards equality, not only between nations, races and classes, but also between the sexes. Another point of import is that this does not mean an exchange of domination, but rather a sharing on all levels. This sharing is characterized by a mutual exchange and exploration of experiences previously inaccessible due to social conventions.

2) Important to keep in mind is the fact that we are still in the transition between Modernism and Post-Modernism. Transitional phases of the past have shown a level of reactionary dismissal of the values of the preceding era. In this instance, the rejection of Modernist ideals. The Post-Modern sentiment of "anything goes" has largely curbed this outright dismissal and has lead to a mental environment where such blind dismissals aren't favored. When looking at specific situations however, it's still important to keep this transitional reaction in mind. Further more we find that because of the relative youth of Post-Modernism, it remains largely undefined. A situation encouraged by the air of "anything goes" and efforts to keep it so as to allow the greatest amount of freedom. A strict definition would cause the exclusion of too much. It's easy to see that, if anything does indeed go, contradictory trends and examples will and have developed, making it possible for Post-Modernism to have both rational and emotive elements.

3) Females suddenly find themselves faced with the opportunity to act without any major social constraints. This is quite a new and novel situation after years of repression and forced social conformity. As with any new found realm of possibility, it's application and limits are open for exploration. This has given rise to many woman taking on old male roles, sometimes in their extreme. When I say roles, I mean anything previously denied, thought patterns, function in society, means of expression, etc. From submission to domination, oversteering if you like.

4) Males, on the other hand, find the social pressures to be responsible and domineering are fading. They are also faced with more and more traditionally female situations to deal with. As woman enter previously exclusive male area's, gaps are created in traditional area's of female dominance that must now be dealt with by men.

This, and the previous, point can be applied to either of the sexes with proper inversion. These statements only being representative of the general flow of events and not a given norm. After all, anything goes and anyone is free to choose to still conform to old conventions.

5) Due to the increasingly abstract nature of everyday live, we find ourselves in new territory. New ways of communication have no clearly defined social conventions yet, leaving a lot of room for creativity. This abstraction has also made it possible to express much more complex and intricate concepts, including emotions, in a more effective way. The rationalization of nature through science now being applied to the non-physical aspects of life as well.

6) With the death of Modernism comes a loss of faith and enthusiasm for science and it's search for the one perfect solution to any problem. Science itself having reached the limits of it's definition, has begun to employ previously thought unusable techniques. The obvious and first alternative being the feminine qualities such as intuition, emotion, etc. This can turn out to be only a reactionary impulse though and it remains to be seen whether this is to last or again be replaced.

In closing, I hope that the current changes lead to a free blending of the two extremes to create an atmosphere offering the most freedom to choose a comfortable and suitable means of self-expression. And someday even, way of life.