Posttruth as an instrument of political narrative of the postmodern era

Abstract

The article provides a multidimensional analysis of the post-truth phenomenon from the historical aspect, as well as an instrumental means of achieving an informational-communicational goal; a way of positioning in relation to significant aspects of socio-political reality; and a political technology aims at ensuring competitive advantages, etc. Post-truth is conceived in the form of a specific information and communication product of the postmodern era, which arose in response to certain megatrends including criterion relativism, devaluation of meanings and values, and the simulation imperative of socio-political life activity. Priority research efforts are focused on the meaningful demarcation of the post-truth regarding truth and lies, since this subject field determines the prospects for the conceptual expression of post-truth.The narrative form of representation is essential for the instrumental and functional effectiveness of post-truth. Not polemics and discourse with their requirement of convincing semantic reliefs and hierarchies, but the narrative as a certain order of words and storytelling, not burdened by the requirements of convincing argumentation, provides the most comfortable conditions for the expansion of post-truth in the informational and communicational environment.An important feature is a striking difference between reality and its portrayal by post-truth instruments. An analysis of the challenges and threats of post-truth, which requires a priority response from the professional community and the public consciousness in general — shows that the avalanche-like use of post-truth tools in the informational environment leads to the increase of a disinformation level aimed at creating and spreading false perceptions of reality to serve political interests and needs. It is the post-truth toolkit that is a specific experimental platform for double standards, bias, prejudice, manipulation, and propaganda.The devolution of truth into post-truth objectively and naturally leads to symmetrical degradation and involution of politics into politicking, which is never guided by public interests, but always only by its own, de facto parasitizing on the opportunities and powers it has gained.

Keywords

• post-truth
• political narrative
• postmodern era
• instrumental resources
• representation
• informational-communication field