1. Postmodernism
Present

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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”

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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