Notes and lectures on British literature especially focused on postmodernism
Ulysses, 1984, Waterland, A Clockwork Orange, First Love, Weekend, Changing places
Lecture 1: Theories of postmodernism. James Joyce.
1. Postmodernism
BACKGROUND
ruptured notions of man, humanity, progress, evolution
the end of unified, coherent, universal view of the world
rationality refused – human intellect is not the only significant tool
multivalue logic – a number of existing truths, worlds - pluralism
difficult to define: postmodernism – following modernism – movement of second
half of 20th century (1970s) mainly around 2nd World War
post-modernism – opposition towards modernism – movement that bring something new,
different in the mode (ironic, much more fun) – parody, irony, satire
define in 2 ways- follows modernism (fragmentation of world, value, ideas)
1.1. Theories of postmodernism
FRANÇOIS LYOTARD
postmodern as a historical/ cultural ‘condition’ based on dissolution of
master/grand narratives = “incredulity toward metanarratives”
crisis in ideology when ideology no longer seems transparent
totality, stability and order are maintained in modern societies through the means
of ‘grand narratives’
postmodernism = critique and rejection of grand narratives; favours ‘mini-
narratives’ – situational, local, temporary; making no claim to universality, truth,
reason and stability
reject grand narratives (like democracy is the best form of government) –
postmodernism doesn´t believe in grand narratives
postmodern period is defined by mini narratives, mini stories
,JEAN BAUDRILLARD
‘simulacra’ - there are no originals, only copies
Age of simulation – everything is just copy of something (Disneyland, world that tries to
simulate the real world)
Visual art, painting – one original piece of work (highest value), copies don´t have high value
FREDERIC JAMESON
PM as a movement in arts and culture corresponding to a new configuration of
politics and economics
“late capitalism”: transnational consumer economies based on global scope of
capitalism = postmodernism
“history is only accessible to us in narrative form” = history requires
representation, meditation, in narrative, a story-form encoded as historical
Tries to define the movements and linked these movements with economy; social changes
linked with economic, political changes
1.2. Attributes of postmodernist literature (by I. HASSAN)
CARNIVALIZATION: characters wearing masques, being noisy, the texts being
polyphonic and playful (polyphonic- several narratives, several perspectives, masks refer
to the characters, we don´t know who they are)
CONSTRUCTIONISM: a new world is created, even the external world is seen as an
artificial construct (science-fiction)
DECANONISATION: attempt of writers to be original in a special way by not respecting
traditional rules of writing (also in modernism; tries move away from the literary canon)
FRAGMENTATION: both thematic and formal; a text may open different discourses,
employ different types of narrators, styles, registers, and literary techniques (text broken
into several smaller parts; style can be different in the smaller parts)
HYBRIDISATION: PM texts are hybrids as they do not fit in any pure genre, create a lot
of subgenres, or a mixture of various genres
INDETERMINACY: PM text subverts the rules of logical and chronological order (does
not have conclusions at all, books doesn´t have the real ending; endless cycle of reading)
, PERFORMANCE: active participation of audience; texts become meaningful in the
process of reading - in Lolita- they are trying to persuade the readers; some books have
multiple ending
SELFLESSNESS: loss of identity, double identity, search of identity (who am I?)
UNPRESENTABLE: topic of PM texts which were once considered taboo (death,
violence, sex, ...) - similar to modernism
IRONY: mode of speech in which the meaning is contrary to the words and which seeks
to mock and criticize - more playful than modernism; mock or criticize
IMMANENCE: the divine force, or the divine being, pervades through all things that
exist, and is able to influence them
2. James Joyce - 1882 (Dublin) – 13.1. 1941 (Zurich)
2.1. Life
educated at Jesuit schools – gained a solid background in languages, and religious
and scholastic teachings
University College, Dublin – rejected Catholicism; published articles in
the Fortnightly Review – reject religious ideas; how religion interfere into lives
degree in modern languages; Paris – medicine
June 16, 1904 – Nora Barnacle (wife; his muse) ; expatriates: Switzerland, Italy,
France ; day when they first met; Ulysses ; in Ireland huge celebration (main
setting of his book)
1941 - Joyce died 13 January, at 2 a.m., in Zurich, as a result of a perforated ulcer
Author of the most complicated book; his texts are really difficult to read
Dublin is the main setting for his works; Ireland is the main theme (country highly influenced
by religion) – but he lived outside of Ireland
36 love poems, written to be sung
Chamber Music (1907) largely autobiographical, Joyce playing
the role of the poet and Nora the role of
the beloved
Pomes Penyeach (1927) collection of 13 poems, a distinct
improvement in style, language &
imagery; a darker and more sombre feel
touched by a nostalgia
, explores the artistic estrangement from
society; an artist who must choose
Exiles (1918) between a career that satisfies his wife
& friends, or a life of alienation in the
pursuit of his muse
CRITICISM: mechanical plot, a serious
lack of objectivity, underdeveloped
characters...
Joyce's intention = to write a chapter of
the moral history of his country, Dublin
Dubliners (1914) seemed to him the center of paralysis
4 stages: childhood, adolescence,
maturity and public life
Short stories – the most readable (tries
to use stream of consciousness)
Set in Dublin, follows the citizens who
have problems
Characters are stuck in their life,
make decision
Epiphany
Melancholic, pessimistic, sad
mental and spiritual development of
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Stephen Dedalus, his alter ego - 1st
Man (1918) martyr of freedom (non serviam) -
rebels against his family, his religion,
his nation
character appears in Ulysses
bildungsroman
Stephen wants to become artist, he
wants to leave Ireland to become artist
(rebel)
“I will not serve anything because I do
not believe it”.
16.6. 1904, Dublin; the narrative
parallels Homer's Odyssey; during the
Ulysses (1922) course of a single day, 3 characters
(Leopold and Molly Bloom, Stephen
Dedalus) wake up, have various
encounters in Dublin and drift off to
sleep 18 hours later
Fragmented in structure
Parody in Odyssey – Leopold is
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