Background of Metamodernism and Metaliteracy

This chapter introduces metamodernism and metaliteracy with a background in both philosophical and historical contexts. Setting the scene for understanding literacy in the early part of the 21st century may help educators and learners at any age balance communication in physical, virtual, and augmented spaces through an understanding of the constantly swinging pendulum of polar extremes in a rapidly changing cultural era. Metamodernism, as a philosophical movement, allows room to respect traditional knowledge and wisdom of the past alongside the excitement of innovation, creating optimism about learning in the future. Definitions of current nomenclature are introduced with the goal of examining literacy through an emerging cultural lens leading to a discussion of both theory and practice.