Both the left and right of the political spectrum use the term “postmodernism” loosely and often derogatorily, yet “postmodernism” is better understood as an umbrella term that contains a whole host of various ideas under it. Postmodernism can be broken down into three related but distinct categories: postmodernism as an aesthetic movement, postmodernism as a linguistic challenge, and postmodernism as a societal critique of late capitalism. Clarifying what postmodernism actually means can help to clear up the confusion surrounding the term.