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Modernism and Postmodernism Parallelisms and Differences

Modernism and Postmodernism Parallelisms and Differences. Critical Studies Series for PG English Shalini Rachel Varghese Asst. Professor, Christian College, Chengannur. Introduction. Modernism and Postmodernism -two movements in lit and art Distinction between the two, hazy

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Modernism and Postmodernism Parallelisms and Differences

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  1. Modernism and PostmodernismParallelisms and Differences Critical Studies Series for PG English Shalini Rachel Varghese Asst. Professor, Christian College, Chengannur

  2. Introduction • Modernism and Postmodernism -two movements in lit and art • Distinction between the two, hazy • No well defined boundary b/w them in chronological, aesthetic or political terms

  3. Modernism • Flourished as a literary movement in Europe and America in the 1920’s & 30’s • Modernist writers experimented with forms devices and styles. • They made use of the psychoanalytical theories of Freud and Jung • Works reflected sense of loss, disillusionment, even despair; T.S Eliot and James Joyce saw a fragmented world, but hoped to counter it through their works.

  4. …Modernists T S Eliot James Joyce

  5. Modernism.. • Modernism experimented with a number of lit. endeavours and styles. Modernist works often called Avant-garde(advance guard) • Regarded themselves as alienated from the established order • Purpose in writing was to shock the sensibilities of the conventional reader, so as to lead them in the march ahead • Modern and Modernist not synonymous:former broadly refers to contemporary, latter an experiment

  6. Modernist • ‘Modernist’ refers to the complex of characteristics shared by those who participate in the modernist movement • Involves a radical break with some of the traditional modes of lit, particularly, realism.

  7. Postmodernism • Refers to certain radically experimental works in lit and art from the 1960s to 1989 (approx) • Distinct from Modernism as a term applied to works after WW-II, esp. in the wake of the experience of Nazi totalitarianism, mass extermination of Jews

  8. Postmodernists • Like Modernists, they experiment with new devices, forms , styles. Themes similar • Do not view art and lit as potentially integrating, restorative forces • Seen to define itself against Modernism

  9. Postmodernism • Peter Brookner , ”a mood or condition of radical indeterminacy” • Difficult to classify postmodernist works: they combine aspects of diverse genres • Include genres as the Absurd, the Antinovel, Parody,Pastiche: all challenge ideological assumptions of contemporary society

  10. Prominent PM Theorists • Francois Lyotard • Jean Baudrillard • Both cross boundaries of high and pop culture, fact and fiction

  11. Francois Lyotard • Main work “The Postmodern Condition” • To him Postmodernism undoubtedly part of Modern • Definition “incredulity towards metanarratives( super-narratives)” like Christianity, Marxism, Myth of scientific progress

  12. Theory and Practice • Lyotard- Meta-narratives do not control mini-narratives (individual postmodernist literary texts), products of present day culture, postmodern experience, stemming from sense of existential uncertainty • PM novels, plays and poems reflect this uncertainty, angst • American authors John Barth, Ishmael Reed • European writers Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Indian writer Salman Rushdie..

  13. Jean Baudrillard • Major theorist of PM • French writer • Simulations (1981) • “ Loss of the Real” • “Simulacra and Simulations”, essay explains this loss. • Further propositions- past era of “fullness”: an era where a sign a surface indication of underlying depth or reality- “an outward sign of inward reality”

  14. Baudrillard…stages of the sign • 4 stages of representation of reality by means of signs • Representation of basic reality • Misrepresentation and distortion of reality • Disguising absence of reality • Total lack of relationship of the sign to any reality at all

  15. Baudrillard ..argument • “Within PM, the distinction b/w what is real and what is simulated collapses. Every thing is a model or an image, all is surface without depth’ • “The culture of hyper-reality”, in which the texts determine , yet undermine the real

  16. Conclusion • The PM view not necessarily dystopic • Carries the message that one could live on • Reflects the experience of cultural change.. • Points to an ongoing transition from post-modernism to post-postmodernism!!

  17. Thank You Further Reference- McHale Brian, The Cambridge Introduction to Postmodernism . Delhi, CUP,2017

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