A Postmodern Paradox
A Postmodern Paradox
Postmodernism, a paradox in itself, challenges conformity in countless ways. Taking place after World War II, this movement is mainly characterized by its rejection of social constructs and its challenges to traditional forms of philosophy, literature, art, and religious authority. Ironically, while it defied categorizing, it became a category itself. Nevertheless, this movement has had a profound impact on countless literary, cinematographic, art, and philosophic works. Two works that have been profoundly influenced by postmodernism includes Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut, and the film and book The Hours, by Michael Cunningham. While both works have been influenced by modernism in separate ways, they ultimately share its key themes: an abstraction of time, a rejection of reality, and a search for higher purpose. Through the use of postmodernism themes and literary techniques, both the movie and book were able to convey that absolute truth does not exist because it is relative, intricate, and blurred.
Occurring in the post-World War II era, postmodernism can be considered an intentional departure from previously dominant modernist approaches such as scientific positivism, realism, constructivism, formalism, and metaphysics. Through its emphasis and use of power relations, binary classifications, fragmentation, paradox, dark humor, rejection of reality, sociology, linguistics, and subjectivism it constantly attacks contemporary life, art, literature, philosophy, religion, and ethics. In addition, it is characterized by a rejection of reality, claiming that transcultural validity cannot exist since reality is limited by concepts like time and sexuality. It is able to achieve its unique goals in literature and film through numerous literary devices.
In literature, there are several devices frequently used by postmodernist writers to convey some of the main ideas of the movement. Of these devices the use of fragmenting, dark humor, satire,
Postmodernism, a paradox in itself, challenges conformity in countless ways. Taking place after World War II, this movement is mainly characterized by its rejection of social constructs and its challenges to traditional forms of philosophy, literature, art, and religious authority. Ironically, while it defied categorizing, it became a category itself. Nevertheless, this movement has had a profound impact on countless literary, cinematographic, art, and philosophic works. Two works that have been profoundly influenced by postmodernism includes Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut, and the film and book The Hours, by Michael Cunningham. While both works have been influenced by modernism in separate ways, they ultimately share its key themes: an abstraction of time, a rejection of reality, and a search for higher purpose. Through the use of postmodernism themes and literary techniques, both the movie and book were able to convey that absolute truth does not exist because it is relative, intricate, and blurred.
Occurring in the post-World War II era, postmodernism can be considered an intentional departure from previously dominant modernist approaches such as scientific positivism, realism, constructivism, formalism, and metaphysics. Through its emphasis and use of power relations, binary classifications, fragmentation, paradox, dark humor, rejection of reality, sociology, linguistics, and subjectivism it constantly attacks contemporary life, art, literature, philosophy, religion, and ethics. In addition, it is characterized by a rejection of reality, claiming that transcultural validity cannot exist since reality is limited by concepts like time and sexuality. It is able to achieve its unique goals in literature and film through numerous literary devices.
In literature, there are several devices frequently used by postmodernist writers to convey some of the main ideas of the movement. Of these devices the use of fragmenting, dark humor, satire,
Cited: Austin, Greg. "Summary - Postmodern Literature." Postmodern Literature. Hazlenut Publishers, n.d. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://gunn-final.weebly.com/summary.html>. Bryers, Brent. "Postmodernism & Slaughterhouse-five." Week 3: Postmodernism - Slaughterhouse-five. Www.davidson.edu, n.d. Web. 01 June 2013. <https://sites.google.com/site/zscslaughterhousefive/reading-plan/week-3-postmodernism>. Martin, Amis. "Postmodernism." Writer 's History: Postmodernism. Writer 's History, n.d. Web. <http://writershistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=4&id=29&Itemid=42>. Felluga, Dino. "Terms Used by Postmodernists." Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Purdue U. 03 June 2013. <http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/postmodernism/terms/>. Omrani, Vahid. "Slaughterhouse-Five: A Postmodernist Study." Kurt Vonnegut‟s Slaughterhouse-Five: A Postmodernist Study | Hooti | Journal of Language Teaching and Research. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 11 July 2011. Web. 05 June 2013.