Postmodernism
and Popular culture.
M. K.
BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY
Department
Of English
Pipavat
Gopi yogeshbhai
Roll
No :27
Pg
Enrollment No: 15101031
Paper
Name : The Cultural Studies
Topic:
Postmodernism and Popular culture.
Introduction:
Firstly, postmodernism was a movement in
architecture that rejected the modernist, avant garde, passion for the new.
Modernism is here understood in art and architecture as the project of
rejecting tradition in favour of going "where no man has gone before"
or better: to create forms for no other purpose than novelty. Modernism was an
exploration of possibilities and a perpetual search for uniqueness and its
cognate--individuality. Modernism's valorization of the new was rejected by
architectural postmodernism in the 50's and 60's for conservative reasons. They
wanted to maintain elements of modern utility while returning to the reassuring
classical forms of the past. The result of this was an ironic brick-a-brack or collage
approach to construction that combines several traditional styles into one
structure. As collage, meaning is found in combinations of already
created patterns
Preface of postmodearnism:
Postmodernism
is the reaction against Modernism. Postmodernism is hard to define because it is a concept that appears of
study. Postmodernism is a complicated term or set of ideas, one that has only
emerged as an area of academic study since the mid 1980. Art, architecture, music,
film literature, sociology, communication, fashion, and technology. It hard to locate
it temporally or historically because it’s not clear exactly when Postmodernism
begins. Defining postmodernism, first we have to know about modernism and then
we discuss the postmodernism in detail. Postmodernism in literature is usually
associated with (among others) Acker, Barth, Thomas Pynchon, Donald Barthelme,
Jorge Luis Borges, Italy Calvino and John Ash berry.
Modernism:
Modernism began at the end of the 19thCentury and was in flounced by the new technologies and ideologies that permeated the period“ The term modernism is used to identify new and distinctive features in the subjects, forms concepts and style of literature and other arts..”
Modernism began at the end of the 19thCentury and was in flounced by the new technologies and ideologies that permeated the period“ The term modernism is used to identify new and distinctive features in the subjects, forms concepts and style of literature and other arts..”
Some
of the examples of modernist books are as below:
·
“Ulysses” – James Joyce
·
The wasteland
·
Jacob’s room
Top
10 Works of Postmodern Literature:
·
Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable Samuel
Beckett
·
House of Leaves Mark Z. Daniele ski
·
Breakfast of Champions Kurt Vonnegut
·
Labyrinths Jorges Luis Borges
·
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hunter S.
Thompson
·
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis
·
Catch-22 Joseph Heller
·
Gravity’s Rainbow Thomas Pynchon
·
Naked Lunch William S. Burroughs
·
Infinite Jest David Foster Wallace
Characteristics of Modernism.
·
Note of stark realism in writing.
·
Note of pessimism, disillusionment and
melancholy in writing.
·
Sense of fragmentation and loss of
faith.
·
Use of symbol and scientific
methodology.
·
Reflection of the modern chaos and
confusion.
·
The bold treatment of love and sex in
writing.
·
The decay of plot and characters in
writing.
·
Passion for humanity and
humanitarianism.
Postmodernism :
·
Irony, playfulness, black
humor
·
Pastiche
·
Met fiction
·
Historiography met fiction
·
Temporal distortion
·
Paranoia
·
Maximalist
·
Faction
·
Magical realism
·
Participation
What
is Postmodernism?
Postmodern culture in which people live attempt to rethink a number of concepts held deal by Enlightenment, humanism and many modernists including subjectivity, temporarily preferential progress, empiricism and the rules of law. As we all know that the postmodernism arose after the Second World War as a reaction to the perceived failings of modernism whose radical artistic projects had come to be associated with totalitarianism mainstream culture. Postmodernism has been a dominant though not undisputed force in art, music, literature, film,
drama, architecture, and continental philosophy
Postmodern culture in which people live attempt to rethink a number of concepts held deal by Enlightenment, humanism and many modernists including subjectivity, temporarily preferential progress, empiricism and the rules of law. As we all know that the postmodernism arose after the Second World War as a reaction to the perceived failings of modernism whose radical artistic projects had come to be associated with totalitarianism mainstream culture. Postmodernism has been a dominant though not undisputed force in art, music, literature, film,
drama, architecture, and continental philosophy
Salient Features of Postmodernism are normally
though to include We find the ironic play with styles. Citations and narrative
levels. A metaphysical skepticism and Nihilism towards a “ grand narrative” of
western culture. Postmodernist celebrates the fragmented view of
human history, humanity and human values.
Frederic
Jameson sees artistic movements like … Modernism and Postmodernism as cultural
formations that accompany particular stages of Capitalism and are to some
extent constructed by it. “ Invention is the construction of identity” The third phase is dominated by
global consumer capitalism the emphasis placed on advertising and selling
goods, now called the “ Information Age” which is connected with Materialism.
so, In Postmodernism we find three main
areas of capitalism. Like…..
1. Market
Capitalism
2. Monopoly Capitalism
3. Consumer Capitalism
“Sometime
Capitalism is harmful for society” Jean
Francois Lyotard argues that stability is maintained through “ Master
Narratives” stories culture tells itself about its practices and beliefs in
order to keep going. “Democracy will lead to universal human happiness.” Jean
Baudrillard describes the “Simulacra” of
postmodern life which have taken the place of ‘real’ objects.
Example:
If we take the example of video game, and music or etc. we observe that Virtual
reality games adds another dimension to the artificiality of Postmodern life. So,
“ Artificiality turns into reality.” Perhaps Postmodernism is best compared to emergence of computer technology. In future, anything not digitization may cease to be knowledge.
If we take the example of video game, and music or etc. we observe that Virtual
reality games adds another dimension to the artificiality of Postmodern life. So,
“ Artificiality turns into reality.” Perhaps Postmodernism is best compared to emergence of computer technology. In future, anything not digitization may cease to be knowledge.
Postmodernism
:
Let’s discuss the texts of postmodernism. What we
find in Postmodernism text? Postmodernism questions everything rationalist.
Postmodernist literature rejected the Victorian aesthetic of prescripture
morality. “Postmodernism explores the proportionality an irrationality of art.”
Postmodernism reflects both the energy and diversity of contemporary coherence
and depth.
Examples of postmodernism texts are….
1.“Gravity’s Rainbow” Thomas
Pynchon
2. “Infinite Jest” – David Foster Wallace
3. “If on a winster’s Night a traveler” – Italo Calvino
4. “The Name of the Rose” – Umberto Eco
5. “Invisible Cities” – Italo Calvino
6. “Lolita” – Vladimir Nabokov
2. “Infinite Jest” – David Foster Wallace
3. “If on a winster’s Night a traveler” – Italo Calvino
4. “The Name of the Rose” – Umberto Eco
5. “Invisible Cities” – Italo Calvino
6. “Lolita” – Vladimir Nabokov
These are the examples of
Postmodernism texts as well as Popular Culture, also. In those texts, we find
fragmentation, ambiguities and all the characteristics of it. From the Postmodernism
aspects people are free and celebrates their activities and accept the groups.
So, this kinds of literature spread more and more and also accepts by people as
popular culture. So, let’s discuss the popular culture.
Popular Culture :
Popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives attitudes means images and other phenomena. There was a time before the 1960s when popular culture was not studied by academics. When it was, well just popular culture. Generally, popular culture is considered as the cheap literature cheap culture but..Within American studies programs at first and then later in many disciplines including semiotics, rhetoric, literary criticism, films studies, anthropology, history, women studies , ethnic study, and psychoanalytic approaches critic examine such cultural media as pulp fiction, comic books, television, film ,advertising, popular music and computer cyber culture. They assess how such factors as ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, region and sexuality are shaped by the reshaped in popular culture.
There are four main types of popular culture analyses:
Popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives attitudes means images and other phenomena. There was a time before the 1960s when popular culture was not studied by academics. When it was, well just popular culture. Generally, popular culture is considered as the cheap literature cheap culture but..Within American studies programs at first and then later in many disciplines including semiotics, rhetoric, literary criticism, films studies, anthropology, history, women studies , ethnic study, and psychoanalytic approaches critic examine such cultural media as pulp fiction, comic books, television, film ,advertising, popular music and computer cyber culture. They assess how such factors as ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, region and sexuality are shaped by the reshaped in popular culture.
There are four main types of popular culture analyses:
·
Production analyse
·
Textual analyses
·
Audience analyses
·
Historical analyses
Example:
The famous poet :
Nida Fazli
is a poet of various moods and to him the creative sentiment and inner urge are
the sources of poetry. He thinks that the feeling of a poet is similar to an
artist: like a painter or a musician.In contrast he found lyric writing a
mechanical job as he had to fulfil the demands of the script and the director.
Later he accepted the practical necessity of money which comes from lyric
writing and helps one to ponder on creative work
Postmodernists tend to speak more of subject rather
than the humanist
notion of independent individuals.”
notion of independent individuals.”
Postmodern
Justice:
fallible foundations that are “strong enough” External critiques Contingent framework Active justice
fallible foundations that are “strong enough” External critiques Contingent framework Active justice
Postmodern
Arts:
In cultural studies, post modern visual art , sculpture, plastic art and designs may be seen as possessing the following features.
In cultural studies, post modern visual art , sculpture, plastic art and designs may be seen as possessing the following features.
1.
Incompatible styles are a favorite device.
2.
The use of the vernacular and slang in art.
3. A conscious and excessive use of ornamentation, often mixing geometric and non – geometric shapes.
4. An increased use of technological media and electronics.
3. A conscious and excessive use of ornamentation, often mixing geometric and non – geometric shapes.
4. An increased use of technological media and electronics.
Subcultures,
popular culture and Postmodernism:
The arrival of rock music, MTV, films, such as Ridley Scott’s blade runner have created a whole postmodern popular culture. Dick Hedger terms these new forms of cultures, produced by marginalized groups “Subcultures”. These subcultures evade the hegemony imposed by the ‘high’ cultural forms and alter power structures and social formations, leaving the society and all forms in a state of permanent evolution and change where no form occupies any privileged position.
Postmodernists sees representation as an end in itself ,calls into question the notion of a “ Truth” behind signs , images and collapses the distinction between original and copy.
The arrival of rock music, MTV, films, such as Ridley Scott’s blade runner have created a whole postmodern popular culture. Dick Hedger terms these new forms of cultures, produced by marginalized groups “Subcultures”. These subcultures evade the hegemony imposed by the ‘high’ cultural forms and alter power structures and social formations, leaving the society and all forms in a state of permanent evolution and change where no form occupies any privileged position.
Postmodernists sees representation as an end in itself ,calls into question the notion of a “ Truth” behind signs , images and collapses the distinction between original and copy.
Epilogue
:
Thus, we may conclude that Postmodernism rejects any totality of knowledge, ideology, or philosophy. It believes in the contingency of values and the very local nature of the truth. It is self reflexive – refers to itself, Parodies itself – self consciously. In contemporary world the distinction break down. It believes that with the advent of more technology and media, our lives are under constant urveillance.
Thus, we may conclude that Postmodernism rejects any totality of knowledge, ideology, or philosophy. It believes in the contingency of values and the very local nature of the truth. It is self reflexive – refers to itself, Parodies itself – self consciously. In contemporary world the distinction break down. It believes that with the advent of more technology and media, our lives are under constant urveillance.
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