Streetcar Named Desire Postmodernism
A postmodern cultural perspective in Lolita and A Streetcar Named Desire
Postmodernism has emerged as a reaction to modernism thoughts and "well-established modernist systems". (Wikipedia, 2005) Specific to Nabokov's Lolita and Williams' Streetcar Named Desire is the idea that both of the novels are written under the view of postmodernism as a cultural movement and that they are broadly defined as the condition of Western society especially after World War II (period in which the novel were written; 1947 for Streetcar and 1955 for Lolita).
While modernists viewed people as autonomous (capable of independent rational thought), postmodernists see human identity and thinking as the product of culture. (Xenos Christian Fellowship, 2005). The …show more content…
Her attraction to lowbrow film, especially, draws Humbert's attention. During their travel across the U.S., Lolita's bratty, vulgar, kitsch and consumerist qualities bother Humbert more: the tension between them is fast-growing. "Most tempting to her, too, were those "Colonial Inns", which apart from "gracious athmosphere" and picture windows, promised "unlimited quantities of M-m-m food" [...] A combination of naïveté and deception, of charm and vulgarity, of blue sulks and rosy mirth, Lolita when she chose, could be a most exasperating brat [...] The words "novelties and souvenirs" simply entranced her by their trochaic lilt." (Lolita, p.147-148) This part of the story symbolizes the typical American road "movie" style viewed by an European eye and Humbert's description of their travel constitutes a travelogue of American kitsch. Lolita's attraction to movies is also noteworthy. The kinds of movies Lolita likes (musicals, underworlders, and westerners) are distinctly American, and relate to some of the themes and motifs of Lolita. Popular music is also frequently used in the novel. His humorous parody of the pop song with Carmen " foreshadows his engagement with American culture through Lolita. Humbert's European ear also revises American idiom when he talk about his "west-door neighbor." (Lolita, p.
Postmodernism has emerged as a reaction to modernism thoughts and "well-established modernist systems". (Wikipedia, 2005) Specific to Nabokov's Lolita and Williams' Streetcar Named Desire is the idea that both of the novels are written under the view of postmodernism as a cultural movement and that they are broadly defined as the condition of Western society especially after World War II (period in which the novel were written; 1947 for Streetcar and 1955 for Lolita).
While modernists viewed people as autonomous (capable of independent rational thought), postmodernists see human identity and thinking as the product of culture. (Xenos Christian Fellowship, 2005). The …show more content…
Her attraction to lowbrow film, especially, draws Humbert's attention. During their travel across the U.S., Lolita's bratty, vulgar, kitsch and consumerist qualities bother Humbert more: the tension between them is fast-growing. "Most tempting to her, too, were those "Colonial Inns", which apart from "gracious athmosphere" and picture windows, promised "unlimited quantities of M-m-m food" [...] A combination of naïveté and deception, of charm and vulgarity, of blue sulks and rosy mirth, Lolita when she chose, could be a most exasperating brat [...] The words "novelties and souvenirs" simply entranced her by their trochaic lilt." (Lolita, p.147-148) This part of the story symbolizes the typical American road "movie" style viewed by an European eye and Humbert's description of their travel constitutes a travelogue of American kitsch. Lolita's attraction to movies is also noteworthy. The kinds of movies Lolita likes (musicals, underworlders, and westerners) are distinctly American, and relate to some of the themes and motifs of Lolita. Popular music is also frequently used in the novel. His humorous parody of the pop song with Carmen " foreshadows his engagement with American culture through Lolita. Humbert's European ear also revises American idiom when he talk about his "west-door neighbor." (Lolita, p.