Well, I would say modernism and postmodernism are opposing philosophies, much like capitalism, and socialism, and so they clash by default. I would also say RJ quite deliberately set out to create a work, that clashes with past perceptions in a great many ways. My interpretation of TLJ is, that it first rejects and deconstructs the concepts of legends, and heroism, as presented in the first 7 parts of the story, and then reframes it in a postmodern context by the end. I think this clashing of opposing views, is at the heart of the fan division, where many fans view the film as refreshing, and a necessary step in the future development of the franchise, whereas others view it as a betrayal of what came before. For this reason, even if I dislike the direction chosen by RJ, I still believe TLJ is one of the most interesting Star Wars films, and blockbusters in general to date.
I don’t have the time for a lengthy response right now but I don’t think modernism and postmodernism are exclusively opposing philosophies in general (both ideas can exist within a single work) and certainly not in the context of those two films, nor do I think the two films specifically align with those two movements (I actually don’t think TLJ is a very good example of a postmodern work). Even back to my comparison, I think one could easily make a similar argument about SW and TESB. Point ultimately being, such an analysis is subjective, and the idea that the two films objectively clash with each other is silly, as is the suggestion that anyone who disagrees is doing so in bad faith.
Who suggested the two films objectively clash with each other, or suggested that anyone who disagrees is doing so in bad faith?
ATMachine definitely seemed to suggest as much.
You may disagree, but consider this. A great many critics consider RJ’s latest film Knives Out to be a postmodern work:
https://zodiacvideos.com/rian-johnson-trades-in-lightsabers-for-postmodern-whodunnit-knives-out/
It seems RJ takes great interest in postmodernism, and I personally see a pattern.
Anyone who knows his work would know his interests (obviously I haven’t seen his newest film but I have seen all his others, and the fact that Knives Out would be considered postmodern isn’t surprising to me).
You may feel TLJ is not a good example of a postmodern work, but I would say it is not for lack of trying. I would classify it as being a flawed postmodern work, as RJ struggled to fit his postmodern concepts to the largely modern myth that is Star Wars. I would argue RJ spends too much time deconstructing the mythology, and ultimately does too little to reconstruct it by the end of the film.
I don’t think it’s a good example because I think there are better ones, and I hesitate to classify a work with postmodern elements as postmodern when it features many other elements that do no fit the bill (in my opinion). More germane to the current topic, I think you can find elements of postmodernism in a number of Star Wars films, including specifically TFA. Regardless, postmodernism by nature being a response to modernism, so even by your own definition (which I disagree with) if TLJ is the former and TFA the latter, there is not necessarily a clash created if a sequel (which are by nature responses to the prior film) features a philosophy that is in dialogue with another, different philosophy.
JEDIT: Seems like most of what I’m saying here has already been covered. Carry on.