Post-Modernism?

Post-Modernism is a word that's used an awful lot but it's not a word that's easy to pin down to any one definition.

I was wondering what you think the main defining feature of Post-Modernism is and do you feel that it has been of any use to society?

I would say the main defining feature of Post-Modernism is its skeptical regard of, and general lack of confidence in, all the social institutions - read: memes - of Western Culture.

I would also say that it has been extremely useful, in fact I think the disillusionment at the base of Post-Modernity is what allowed the counter cultures of the 60's to flourish, it burgeoned the Civil Rights movement, and even though it produced some ugly design, in the realm or architecture it allowed for people like Buckminster Fuller to come tot eh fore, it also paved the way for Green, Environmentally friendly, design concepts.

I think the Environmentalist movement as whole is perhaps Post-Modernism's clearest offspring.

Good answer and I pretty much agree although I do like some Post-Modernist architects like Philip Johnson (ATT Headquarters, NY), Robert Venturi, and Michael Graves. I was never much of a fan of Brutalism or Deconstructivism however.