Postmodern literature information

Postmodern literature is a form of literature that is characterized by the use of metafiction, unreliable narration, self-reflexivity, intertextuality, and which often thematizes both historical and political issues. This style of experimental literature emerged strongly in the United States in the 1960s through the writings of authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Pynchon, William Gaddis, Philip K. Dick, Kathy Acker, and John Barth. Postmodernists often challenge authorities, which has been seen as a symptom of the fact that this style of literature first emerged in the context of political tendencies in the 1960s.^[1] This inspiration is, among other things, seen through how postmodern literature is highly self-reflexive about the political issues it speaks to.

Precursors to postmodern literature include Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605–1615), Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy (1760–1767), Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus (1833–1834),^[2] and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957),^[3] but postmodern literature was particularly prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 21st century, American literature still features a strong current of postmodern writing, like the postironic Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (2000),^[4] and Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad (2011).^[5] These works also further develop the postmodern form.^[6]

Sometimes the term "postmodernism" is used to discuss many different things ranging from architecture to historical theory to philosophy and film. Because of this fact, several people distinguish between several forms of postmodernism and thus suggest that there are three forms of postmodernism: (1) Postmodernity is understood as a historical period from the mid-1960s to the present, which is different from the (2) theoretical postmodernism, which encompasses the theories developed by thinkers such as Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault and others. The third category is the "cultural postmodernism", which includes film, literature, visual arts, etc. that feature postmodern elements. Postmodern literature is, in this sense, part of cultural postmodernism.^[7]

^ Linda Hutcheon (1988) A Poetics of Postmodernism. London: Routledge, pp. 202-203.
^ Campbell, Ian (2012-04-10). "Retroview: Our Hero?". The American Interest.
^ Johnson, Ronna C. (2000). ""You're Putting Me on": Jack Kerouac and the Postmodern Emergence". College Literature. 27 (1): 22–38. ISSN 0093-3139. JSTOR 25112494.
^ "Looking Back at 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' (Published 2019)". The New York Times. 2019-03-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
^ Leal, Carissa M. (2017-08-10). The Progression of Postmodern Irony: Jennifer Egan, David Foster Wallace and the Rise of Post-Postmodern Authenticity (Thesis).
^ Tore Rye Andersen (2001) "Ned med oprøret! - David Foster Wallace og det postironiske Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine" in Passage, 37, 13-25.[1] Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
^ Paula Geyh (2003) "Assembling Postmodernism: Experience, Meaning, and the Space In-Between". College Literature 30:2, 1-29.

[:2-1] Linda Hutcheon (1988) A Poetics of Postmodernism. London: Routledge, pp. 202-203.

[2] Campbell, Ian (2012-04-10). "Retroview: Our Hero?". The American Interest.

[3] Johnson, Ronna C. (2000). ""You're Putting Me on": Jack Kerouac and the Postmodern Emergence". College Literature. 27 (1): 22–38. ISSN 0093-3139. JSTOR 25112494.

[4] "Looking Back at 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' (Published 2019)". The New York Times. 2019-03-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-20.

[5] Leal, Carissa M. (2017-08-10). The Progression of Postmodern Irony: Jennifer Egan, David Foster Wallace and the Rise of Post-Postmodern Authenticity (Thesis).

[6] Tore Rye Andersen (2001) "Ned med oprøret! - David Foster Wallace og det postironiske Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine" in Passage, 37, 13-25.[1] Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine

[7] Paula Geyh (2003) "Assembling Postmodernism: Experience, Meaning, and the Space In-Between". College Literature 30:2, 1-29.

Postmodern literature information

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Postmodernism
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