Final answer:
The postmodern critique challenges the objectivity of values and the existence of a single reality, advocating for a world view where multiple realities and relative truths exist, influenced by social constructs and power relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The postmodern critique of value-laden phenomena questions the objectivity of values and the belief in a single, shared reality. This school of thought suggests that realities are socially constructed, subjective, and influenced by power structures and language. Postmodernism differentiates itself from traditional philosophies by refusing to prescribe a definitive reality or truth, instead of embracing relativism and skepticism. Technological, societal, and cultural changes in the post-World War II era have influenced postmodern perspectives, which are reflected in different domains including literature, art, and philosophy.
Distinguished figures like Jacques Derrida and Jean Baudrillard have been central to the development of postmodern thought. Derrida's deconstruction posits that we interpret the world through signs rather than direct representations of reality. Baudrillard's concept of simulacra and simulation suggests that reality has been replaced by simulations that society now perceives as real. This critique extends to various aspects of life, including the art world, where postmodernism introduces a sense of fragmentation and rejects the idea of a unified artistic narrative.