Should the phrase "postmodern era" be avoided?

Question

This answer (https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/a/117364) to a question on Graphic Design contains the phrase "postmodern era". I guessed that it meant "postmodernist era" and thought that therefore the latter phrase would have been more appropriate.

Googling the phrase "postmodern era" ,in quotes, mainly resulted in articles about postmodernism, as if Google thought that was what I really wanted.

One of the hits was from History.com (https://www.history.com/topics/art-history/history-of-modernism-and-post-modernism) but it didn't answer my question. I was taken aback when I read, in that article, the following: "Post-modern work in the 1970s was sometimes derided as “art for art’s sake,” but it gave rise to the acceptance of a host of new approaches." It seemed absurd.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernity seemed promising. I found it by searching in Wikipedia for "postmodern era" and it said at the top, "redirected from postmodern era". I found in it a passage that seemed useful, if confusing:

"Postmodernity is a condition or a state of being associated with changes to institutions and creations (Giddens, 1990) and with social and political results and innovations, globally but especially in the West since the 1950s, whereas postmodernism is an aesthetic, literary, political or social philosophy, the "cultural and intellectual phenomenon", especially since the 1920s' new movements in the arts. Both of these terms are used by philosophers, social scientists and social critics to refer to aspects of contemporary culture, economics and society that are the result of features of late 20th century and early 21st century life, including the fragmentation of authority and the commoditization of knowledge (see "Modernity").[citation needed]

The relationship between postmodernity and critical theory, sociology and philosophy is fiercely contested. The terms "postmodernity" and "postmodernism" are often hard to distinguish, the former being often the result of the latter. The period has had diverse political ramifications: its "anti-ideological ideas" appear to have been associated with the feminist movement, racial equality movements, gay rights movements, most forms of late 20th century anarchism and even the peace movement as well as various hybrids of these in the current anti-globalization movement. Though none of these institutions entirely embraces all aspects of the postmodern movement in its most concentrated definition they all reflect, or borrow from, some of its core ideas.[citation needed] "

So the terms "postmodernity", and "postmodern era" seem highly confusing, while "postmodernism" has a clear meaning.

So, my question is, should one avoid the phrase "postmodern era"?

Answer 1

I personally dislike the term. It initially comes from a good place, as most thing do, but gets distorted along the way, this time, by the type of person using the word. It has been over used (and incorrectly so) to the point of frustration in the same manner as "ironic" has been. And we all know about the fate of ironic. A certain subset of people have misused the word ironic until, upon hearing it, it creates a new distinct association between the word and its usage. For me, I associate the word with idiots. As such, being used by idiots, the word itself, concequently, becomes idiotic by association. Its an automatic, unconscious correlation that occurs naturally in a normal human brain. Usually, by the time this happens, its too late to take back under normal circumstances. I dread to see what will be next. Those words have been ruined for me and they're just words. I look out my window and ponder the state of society feel only dreadful emotions for what is to come and what has already come to be. Sadly, I'm young enough that I'll probably be around to see it all crash down. By then, it won't even be satisfying to say I told you so