Mapping Metamodernism from East to West

The aim of this paper is to undertake a diachronic analysis of the emerging notion of “metamodernism”. Beginning with comprehensive definitions of modernism and postmodernism, it then navigates through the historical trajectory of metamodernism, tracing its etymology and pre-2010 conceptualizations. Post 2010, the voices of Alexandra Dumitrescu, Thimotheus Vermeulen, Robin van den Akker, David James and Urmila Seshagiri advance the discussion, offering divergent perspectives on outlining this new “-ism”. Moving on from the Occident, this research questions the applicability of metamodernism within the Romanian post- communist cultural sphere. Having its roots in Western, capitalist societies, where it is yet to be a fully established and assimilated theory, metamodernism's suitability to diverse socio- cultural climates remains a point of contention.