From “Baudrillard in the 21st Century (and after)” by Dr. Gerry Coulter:
IV. Is Poststructuralism Forever?
One thing that is likely to advance Baudrillard’s writings further into the future is the seeming permanence in theory of what we might term a post structural condition. While some will continue to ignore the loss of faith in capital “T” Truth”, capital “M” Meaning, and a capital “R” Real, most theorists have come to accept that truth, meaning, and the real (and here we are especially indebted to Baudrillard), exist only as restricted (non universal) concepts which each of us encounter along our local and restricted horizons. In this, Baudrillard has contributed a series of concepts, as have other poststructuralist thinkers, which may well assure the permanence of their own relevance. From the most radical contemporary perspective it seems unlikely that we are to pass out of our post structural condition anytime soon. If we ever do pass beyond it then thinkers like Baudrillard will most likely lose a good deal of relevance. Still, the likes of Barthes and Baudrillard will probably be remembered for their place in advancing a position in response to 1) the intolerable state of affairs in their own time and, 2) a universe which is completely indifferent to humans and their thoughts.
I love every version of “Is X forever?” or “Are we going to be Y-ing forever?” These questions always get me, always force me to pause and think. (No, of course not; Cthulhu/et al will come to destroy us, or we will destroy ourselves, or the oil will rise up and finally consume our food–water base, long before. Universe = indifferent. Still, fun to ask.)
Questions of forever, esp. as re great thinkers, only highlight the problems of becoming-thinker. You can’t force yourself, despite craft and care, into the position of transdiscursivity, discourse-genesis, paradigm-shift. You can only do what you do, and do it well, and (key point) have fun! I honestly think Baudrillard had fun. But then, I’m a big fan of his, as well as Dr. Coulter’s. Good article.
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