I applaud that article writer for acknowledging the obviousness of Abrams & Johnson’s clashing ideas, rather than trying to rationalize it away (like fans sometimes do with both this and the obviousness of Vader not being Luke’s father before 1980).
Maybe some fans aren’t trying to “rationalize” and quite truthfully don’t understand how the two films are as clashing as many say.
Indeed, because these films clash on a more fundamental level, which drives the creative choices, and character development in these films. TFA attempts to emulate classic Star Wars, which is an exponent of modernism, whereas TLJ is a clear example of postmodern art.
Star Wars & modernism:
http://starwarsmodern.blogspot.com/2012/06/star-wars-modernism-introduction.html?m=1
TLJ & postmodernism: