Postmodernism 1945 - Present

OBJECTIVES Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #1 (Literature and Culture) Important Themes in Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Essential Themes and Ideas) Stylistic Characteristics of Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Essential Themes and Ideas) Historical Characteristics of Postmodernism Competency Area #3 (Literature and History)

Literature and Culture Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #1 (Literature and Culture) A new movement in the arts, humanities, architecture and other fields Constant Change Form over function Blend different styles Resist definition

Historical Characteristics Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #3 (Literature and History) Aftermath of World War II Change in City Life Change in Identity Change in Family Life

Thematic Characteristics Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Resist definition (Harder to define) Borrow from the past (Less authentic) Blend different forms (Less authentic) Literary cannon expands

Thematic Characteristics (Blur lines between fact/fiction) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Gets fact and fiction all mixed up Fictional Crossover Fictional characters from different works into a single work Example: El Doctorow’s Ragtime (Houdini, Booker T. Washington, JP Morgan)

Thematic Characteristics (No distinction between high/low art Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) No distinction between high art and low art High Art (Opera, Literature, Ballet) Low Art (Pop fiction, Advertising, Commercialized Art) Example: Joyce Carol Oates’ Blond

Thematic Characteristics (Pastiche) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Pastiche Blend two or more different styles, genres, etc. Example: Sandra Cisneros blends Spanish and English into a single work (Literary Code-switching)

Thematic Characteristics (Nihilism) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Nihilism Belief that all values are baseless Meaningless World Example: Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”

Thematic Characteristics (Visual Art) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Higher preference for visual art Irony, playfulness, and humor Example: Pynchon’s The Crying Lot of 49 Humor in characters’ names: Mucho Maas, Dr. Hilarious, etc.

Modernism versus Postmodernism FUNCTION (ORDER OUT OF CHAOS) HIGH ART VERSUS LOW ART LOSS OF AUTHENTICITY DIFFERENT STYLES FORM (NO SET STRUCTURE) BLURS THE LINES NO AUTHENTICITY BLEND STYLES

Stylistic Characteristics (Literary Fragmentation) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Literary Fragmentation Setting More meaning to setting than where the story occurs Non-linear or fragmented plot In media res, foreshadowing, flashback, subplot, parallel structure, etc. No clear beginning or ending

Stylistic Characteristics (Fragmented Characters) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Literary Fragmentation Fragmented Characters Deeply flawed characters Insecurity, Hopelessness, Alienation, Isolation Meaningless or Nihilism Experience Cultural Breakdown Hard to discern reality from fiction Change is inevitable Breakdown in traditional family structure

Stylistic Characteristics (Other Characteristics) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Juxtaposition Place a character, theme, setting, and so on parallel to one another Point of View Various types Minimalism Fewer words (less is more) Less heightened poetic language like Poe or Hawthorne

Stylistic Characteristics (Popular Genres) Introduction to Postmodernism Competency Area #2 (Themes and Essential Ideas) Human Relationships Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction Graphic Novel