Post-Modernism in Literature

Course Overview

• Type: 20-hour course
• Duration: 8 weeks
• Level: Post-graduate
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with English literary studies, literary genres, and historical periods

Course Objectives

1. Understanding Postmodernism
   • As a historical period
   • As a cultural tendency
   • As a dominant critical practice of the 20th century
2. Introduce Philosophical and Critical Frameworks
   • Genealogy of postmodernism
   • Intellectual trends of the 20th century
3. Postmodernism in 20th Century Literary Sites
   • Literary texts, genres, movements, and artistic trends
4. Enable Critical Engagement
   • Texts, ideas, debates, and paradigms in literary studies

Understanding Postmodernism

Definitions and Concepts

• Historical Period: Post-1945 (Post-World War II)
• Cultural Tendency: Evident in various disciplines and practices
• Critical Practice: Intellectual tendencies and phenomena describing 20th-century life

The Ambiguity and Diversity of the Term

• Widely used and ambiguous term
• Used to describe multiple aspects of 20th-century life

Philosophical and Critical Frameworks

• Intellectual Trends: Focus on the genealogy and survey of major literary works and theorists
• Multiple Disciplines and Sites: Though varied, focus on intellectual tendencies

Representation in 20th Century Literary Sites

• Literary Texts: Novels, poetry, drama
• Genres and Movements: Artistic trends of the 20th century
• Literary Theory and Criticism: Influenced by postmodern aspects
• Global Literature: Inclusion of literatures translated from various languages

Critical Engagement with Texts

• Training for Learners: Engage with texts, debates, and paradigms in literary studies
• Connecting Real-Life and Literature: How debates and paradigms relate to real life and specific literary contexts

Manifestations of Postmodernism

• Architecture: Transition from functional doctrines of modernism to decorative aesthetics
  • Example: Marcel Duchamp's conceptual art
• Arts: Painting, sculpture, and digital art
• Philosophy: Intellectual and philosophical engagement with postmodernity
• Cultural Production: 20th-century cinema, pop, and rock music
• Literary Texts: Unconventional storytelling and narrative techniques
  • Example: Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five (non-linear events and unreliable narrator)
  • Example: Italo Calvino's If on a winter's night a traveler (second-person narrative)
• Theory: Definitions and intellectual discourse
  • Example: Lyotard’s Postmodern Condition

Distinction between Postmodernity and Postmodernism

• Postmodernity: General post-20th-century culture (lifestyle, general changes)
• Postmodernism: Specific aesthetic realms within art, literature, and cultural production

Intellectual Frameworks and Schools of Thought

• Non-linear Presentation: No logical linear progression in postmodern narratives
• Radical Continuation of Modernism: Elements like reflexivity and irony
• Rupture from Modernist Tendencies: Opposition to modernist yearning for autonomy and closure

Identifying Sites of Postmodernism

• Difficult to define but spread across various disciplines (art, literature, architecture)
• No Single Perfect Site: Multiple forms reflect postmodern elements

Exemplary Works Highlighting Postmodernism

• Marcel Duchamp: Fountain, conceptual art challenging norms
• Bob Venturi: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture; rejection of modernist minimalism

Conclusion

• Journey through Postmodern Sites: Various texts, trends, and intellectual frameworks
• Challenges in Definition: Postmodernism defies simple definitions and classifications
• Upcoming Discussions: Detailed exploration of postmodernism in literature

Thank you for listening and see you in the next class!