Dystans - figura nowoczesności

Abstract

Distance is the category which appears to be one of the cultural universals in the modern reflection on the subjectivity and representation. Its position is connected with analytical approach to the subject, with cognition and being an observer not a participant. They are determinants of the critical philosophy and self−consciousness. But, on the other hand, this very catch−all word relates to alienation, separation, otherness, isolation, non−identity, strangeness, withdraw, which make the definition of distance difficult and non−evident. In the present article the proposal of defining distance requires to put it in the context of philosophical, esthetical and theoretical problems of modernity and postmodernity. It shows up, that distance is the term polysemous and non−obvious and this is what makes it one of key issues for contemporary culture.